Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort

This is it: the granddaddy of all Tahoe ski resorts. The one that if it were a person, it would have some seriously amazing stories to tell around the campfire. 

The newly renamed Palisades Tahoe has come a long way from its humble 1949 beginnings when the resort featured a single chair lift, one rope tow, and a lodge. Today, it’s one of the leading ski destinations in the world thanks to its range of year-round recreation and premier accommodations. Situated in the heart of Olympic Valley, Palisades Tahoe is best known for its role as host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, an event that launched the resort into the international spotlight — but now it’s also known as the spring skiing capital, boasting the longest skiing and riding season in Lake Tahoe. In fact, the season was recently extended into May, with special openings announced for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The summit of the resort’s highest mountain, Granite Chief, peaks at 9,006 feet for a vertical rise of more than 2,800 feet. The resort’s 42 lifts comprise the world’s most advanced lift system and offer access to 270+ trails on which skiers and boarders will find steep chutes, wide, impeccably groomed boulevards, open glades, and deep powder pockets. The ski area also hosts the only funitel in the United States — a special cableway (different from a gondola lift) that makes for quick and easy access to high altitudes. Extreme riders will also find terrain parks filled with rails, jumps, and half-pipes. Twenty-five percent of the mountain’s trails rank as beginner, 45 percent qualify as intermediate, and 30 percent are designated as advanced, but that’s just the beginning of the experience at Palisades Tahoe.

As befitting a world-class destination resort — and small town unto itself —  Palisades Tahoe has earned numerous awards and accolades from various websites and publications, including SKI Magazine’s top 30 resorts and Freeskier Magazine’s top 10.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe Lodge

When you stay at the Palisades Tahoe Lodge, forget about the idea of roughing it in the woods. Here, you’re pampered in luxury in a resort where even the most basic accommodations are pretty spectacular. The typical room in the Village includes a balcony, kitchen, and fireplace. The lodge itself boasts eight outdoor hot tubs, multiple fitness centers, and a billiards lounge for those cozy winter evenings after a day on the slopes. As a bonus, guests of the Village at Palisades Tahoe Lodge generally qualify for discounts on lift tickets and area sightseeing tours around Lake Tahoe.

Palisades Tahoe Lift Tickets

Palisades Tahoe lift tickets are valid at both Palisades Tahoe and Alpine, and range from one- to three-day passes all the way up to season passes, including military, senior, and adaptive options. The resort also offers adult ski school and snowboard lessons for individuals and groups, including those for children ages 2 to 13 and private family lessons. For the most up-to-date information on lift tickets and season passes, contact Palisades Tahoe at (800) 403-0206.

Things to Do Near Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe is known for its endless amenities at the spectacular base Village and at High Camp, which is accessed by the resort’s Aerial Tram. From disc golf and roller skating to the Olympic Museum and beyond, there’s as much to experience off the slopes as on.

Shopping

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is home to shopping destinations from small boutiques to well-known shops like Patagonia and The North Face. Whether you’re looking for a place to buy gear, get into some snowboard and ski rental equipment, or explore local shops, the Village is the place to kick off your day.

Sightseeing

If you’re looking for fantastic views, Palisades has them in abundance. The resort’s Aerial Tram skims over views of Lake Tahoe, the Base to Base Gondola offers peeks at the wilderness between Palisades’ two mountains, and the Funitel displays the resort’s namesake Palisades rock formation.

Restaurants

Between the Village and the resort’s High Camp, Palisades Tahoe has a vast array of dining. Grab signature cocktails at the Alpine Bar or choose from more than three dozen apres-ski lunch and dinner spots for the whole family.

Explore The Great Outdoors

Only 30 minutes from Incline Village, Nevada, and North Lake Tahoe, Palisades Tahoe is conveniently located so you can explore the surrounding areas after you get off the mountain, too. North Lake Tahoe is known for its world-famous hiking trails, scenic views, and crystal-clear water. Swim, paddleboard, or kayak on Lake Tahoe, take a guided tour of the area, bike through Tahoe’s steep trails, and more.

Nearby Hotspots

Just a short drive or shuttle away are the Nevada towns and cities of Incline Village, Reno, Sparks, and Carson City — all great places to stay, shop, eat, and experience culture and outdoor recreation. While you’re at Palisades Tahoe, take a day trip to Reno and check out the Truckee Riverwalk, head to the other side of the lake for Incline Village’s small-town apres-ski vibes (where you can stay at the stunning Hyatt Lake Tahoe), or explore Nevada’s capital city full of history and charm.