If you’re someone who’s looking to experience ski terrain and a unique display of ski culture, then a Palisades Tahoe ski vacation should be right up your alley. Plus, this Lake Tahoe ski resort offers plenty of lodging and dining options to suit everyone's off-mountain interests.
A lot of skiing’s best and brightest moments have happened here. The first televised Olympics took place at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) in 1960. It is also considered one of the birthplaces of extreme or big mountain skiing thanks to its iconic lines off of KT-22. Many pro-skiers and snowboarders call Palisades home, and on any given day you can see them “ripping” legendary lines from the chairlift. Palisades Tahoe was the late Shane McConkey’s stomping grounds, and you can still experience his fun-loving legacy on a Lake Tahoe ski vacation.
... in beautiful North Lake Tahoe
... legendary runs on some of the most dramatic terrain in the Sierra
... by flying into Reno International Airport
... a diverse offering of activities and dining options
... the steeps off KT-22
... delicacies from fine restaurants in both Olympic Valley and Truckee
... yourself to a relaxing afternoon in the high altitude pool at High Camp
... "Squallywood" by riding up the KT-22 chair on a powder day
With so many current and past ski legends calling Palisades Tahoe home, you can imagine that the terrain trends towards expert. Similar to Jackson Hole, Palisades Tahoe is a skier’s mountain, meaning it’s best enjoyed by hardcore skiers and snowboarders. Experts have options ranging from the fun, groomed steeps of the Women’s Downhill trail to a multitude of chutes, couloirs, huge cliffs and cornices that litter the resort’s ridge-line boundary between KT-22 peak and Granite Thief. The cool thing about this particular destination is that all of these legendary lines are right below the chairlifts, so everyone can experience the “Squallywood” show. If you’re looking to get extreme, there are few resorts that can offer challenge-seekers what Palisades Tahoe can.
Intermediates will also be pleased with the entirely-blue run area between Solitude chairlift and Shirley Lake Express. And beginners will find they too can enjoy watching the daring feats up on the mountain thanks to the Gold Coast Express chairlift, which carries skiers nearly all the way up to the 8,700-foot Emigrant peak, and accesses a myriad of green runs. First time adult and children skiers or snowboarders have two world-class beginner zones at the base of the resort, ensuring they learn in a comfortable environment. Park skiers and snowboarders will also be pleased to know that Palisades Tahoe partners with Snow Park Technologies to design and build state-of-the-art terrain parks, from the challenging Gold Coast parks with their nearly 30 features to the Snoventures Start Park at the base of the mountain.
Mountain Stats
1802'
Vertical Drop
6835'
Base Depth
8637'
Summit Depth
Activities
TerrainPark
No
Tubing
No
Night Skiing
No
Best resort ever!
I went there for the first time ever last year. Wow, what a fun place.
Awesome Snow
Great spring skiing is this massive resort. We had feet of snow when we were there, can't wait to go back.
Great snow, awesome mountain for experts!
Good
4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 5.0 NR NR 4.0 4.0 3.0Squaw Valley is an absolute mecca for expert skiers, with morethan 6,000 skiable acres. Most of the terrain is intermediate or advanced, so there's not a whole lot there for beginners, but there is a bonus: the ski school, and all the beginner terrain, begins on the top of the mountain, so you don't have to miss the views! The gondola will take you right over the area that inspired Walt Disney's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, so even if you're not a skier, it's worth the ride up! Don't forget to check out the Olympic Museum, too, as Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.
The village area is undergoing some renovations that will make it even more beautiful, but there are lots of different lodging options that are available! The ski school, as previously mentioned, is fantastic, and it's a breeze getting your gear at the rental shops in the village. After a long day, don't forget to check out Rockers and the Plumpjack Hotel for a great apres scene!
Best to go mid-week for fewer crowds, as everyone drives in from all around California to ski Squaw on the weekends.