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Overview

Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort Overview

Palisades Tahoe is an internationally renowned ski resort in North Lake Tahoe, California. It spans more than 6,000 skiable acres after the two ski resorts joined forces in 2011. The ski resort features 42 lifts and 270 trails as well as the European-inspired Village at Palisades Tahoe featuring nearly 60 restaurants, bars, boutiques, and art galleries.

Palisades Tahoe ski area snowfall averages 450 inches each season, offering skiers and riders one of the longest ski seasons in Lake Tahoe (often through the 4th of July) and establishing the mountain as a top destination for spring skiing and boarding. Palisades Tahoe also boasts one of the region’s only mountain-top beginner areas and several intermediate skier havens, including Shirley Lake and the newly renamed Pacific Crest Bowls.

Palisades Tahoe has everything from groomers to chutes, and visitors are guaranteed to find something suitable for their skill set. Access either mountain's base by hopping aboard the free Palisades Tahoe/Alpine shuttle between ski resorts.

Inside Scoop

Things to Do at Palisades Tahoe

► Palisades Tahoe Essentials & Non-skiing Activities

Take an Aerial Tram ride to see memorabilia at the free Olympic museum from when the resort was the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Enjoy a soak surrounded by 9,000-foot peaks at the heated pool and hot tub complex at Palisade's Tahoe High Camp. (Non-skiers can access this via the Aerial Tram.)

Stroll around Palisades Tahoe's engaging and family-friendly base village, buzzing with live music, a bungee-jump tramp for the kids, and countless tail-wagging dogs.

Play at Palisades Tahoe's SnoVentures zone, where kids ages 6 to 12 can tube, roast marshmallows, and steer mini snowmobiles on a groomed track. SnowVentures also has a live DJ and glittering LED lights on select weekend nights for an all-ages Disco Tubing party.

► Top Winter Events at Palisades Tahoe

Palisades Tahoe is the place to be in the springtime. Enjoy free live music every spring at The Village at Palisades Tahoe. And don’t miss the Annual Cushing Crossing, the original pond skimming event that started a spring resort ritual.

► Ski School

Both Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows offer a variety of ski and snowboard lesson options for any skill level. They even have advanced-level mountain guide programs for those who want to enjoy the best of Lake Tahoe's skiing and snowboarding.

Restaurants

Best Restaurants and Bars at Palisades Tahoe

► For Breakfast

Located in the base village a short walk from the lifts, Mountain Nectar offers fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies, as well as coffee, tea, bagels, wraps and tables for sitting down with children.

For a fast cup of coffee and a muffin, Starbucks is located in the base village, with the world's first ski-through location on the mountain as well.

► For Lunch

The Arc in the Gold Coast mid-mountain lodge is the place to gather without leaving the slopes. The menu features Kobe beef burgers, Asian bowls, soups and more.

► For Dinner

PlumpJack Café is located a short walk from the lifts and village lodging. The menu changes seasonally, with a focus on local ingredients and novel wine pairings chosen by the sommelier. Daring foodies will go for the crispy veal sweetbreads, while meat lovers will enjoy the ribeye with bacon confit potatoes and haricots verts.

Located in the Resort at Palisades Tahoe, Six Peaks Grille features biodynamic seafood and produce. Starters include the wine-braised short ribs with black truffle cheese, and mains featuring a variety of heritage meats and a uniquely prepared Columbia River sturgeon.

22 Bistro is located in the village near the KT-22 lift. Specializing in tapas and social plates, as well as reasonably priced salads and burgers, 22 has a children’s menu and a to-die-for dish of potato-bacon donut holes.

Fireside Pizza in the base village serves up gourmet pizza and pasta and is ideal for budget-conscious families. Fireside is known for its sourdough crusts, and their signature pie is the pear and gorgonzola.

► Après Ski & Nightlife

With a large outdoor seating area, Le Chamois is the main gathering spot for beer drinkers and is one of northern California’s largest sellers of Budweiser. Regulars buy the $40 Buddy Pass, good for 20 pints of Bud.

Duck inside to warm up and sit down in the Loft Bar, which is decorated with ski schwag from the 1970s and earlier eras.

Just around the corner from Chamois, PlumpJack Bar located at PlumpJack Café has a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. for those seeking a more formal setting.

Cornice Cantina is a great option for après on the sundeck or late-night drinks indoors. DJs spin dance music on Friday and Saturday nights, making the “Cantina” a favorite local hangout for off-duty patrollers and Palisades Tahoe employees. It’s located in the middle of the East parking lot, a five-minute walk from the base village lodgings.

In the heart of the village, the Auld Dubliner is modeled after a rural Irish pub and features live music on weekends as well as a large beer and whiskey selection.

Transportation

Airports:

Reno-Tahoe International Airport is 42 miles away and offers direct flights from Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Minneapolis and more, served by American, United, Alaska, US Airways, Southwest, Delta and Continental airlines.

Sacramento International Airport is 96 miles away and offers nonstops from Washington, DC, New York, Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu and more, served by United, Frontier, Delta, Hawaiian, US Airways, AeroMexico, American, JetBlue, Continental, Alaska and Southwest airlines.

 

Airport Transfers:

North Lake Tahoe Express (530-584-3922) offers shuttles from Reno-Tahoe airport for $40 one-way, $75 roundtrip. For faster service try Fast Taxi Airport Shuttle (530-583-6699). Reno-Tahoe has eight rental car agencies including Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Avis and more. Resort at Palisads Tahoe offers a free shuttle for its guests.

 

Getting Around:

It’s possible to stay in the base village and walk everywhere, though Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) runs to the nearby tourist towns of Truckee and Tahoe City for those who want to get out and about.

Best Time for Snow

Average Snowfall

107"
67"
44"
22"
1"
33"
Nov
80"
Dec
86"
Jan
85"
Feb
89"
Mar
32"
Apr
11"
May
1"
Jun

Total Lifts: 36

Gondolas & Trams
3
High Speed Sixes
4
High Speed Quads
6
Quad Chairs
1
Triple Chairs
12
Double Chairs
5
Surface Lifts
5

Elevation

Base
6200'
Summit
9050'
Vertical Drop
2850'

Important Dates

November 27, 20242024/11/27
Projected Opening
May 25, 20252025/05/25
Projected Closing
196
Projected Days Open
212
Days Open Last Year
75
Years Open
450"
Average Snowfall
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