#9 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Lake Tahoe’s Palisades Tahoe – host of the 1960 Winter Olympics – became one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. in 2012.
Palisades Tahoe, formerly know as Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, now spreads out across two mountains, with more than 270 trails on 6,200 skiable acres accessed by 43 lifts. The area sees an average snowfall of 450 inches, and the resort features a vertical drop of 2,850 feet from a 9,050-foot summit. Best of all, the slopes offer beautiful views of Lake Tahoe’s pristine blue waters.
While the resort is known for its extreme runs Palisades Tahoe isn’t just for advanced skiers. The High Camp village is a great base for beginners and intermediate skiers, with four lifts providing access to shorter, more gentle runs. High Camp even has a hot tub and swimming pool.
There are plenty of rental operations to choose from, including Palisades Tahoe Ski & Snowboard Rental, near the Village at Olympic Valley. There is a child rental and ski lift package available. From child and adult private lessons, family lessons to season-long camps, the resort’s Ski & Snowboard School Program accommodates just about everyone. Night skiing until 7 p.m. is offered on select dates, while those not interested in skiing or snowboarding can go tubing or snowmobiling. Palisades Tahoe is an Ikon Pass destination and Mountain Collective member resort.
Palisades Tahoe has a long season that begins in mid- to late November and often runs until the end of May (the resort features snow-making across 1,000 acres). While the winter holidays are always popular for ski trips, it’s the spring conditions from March onward – and the bonus of being able to ski in a T-shirt – that tends to attract the crowds.
All tickets and packages can be booked online or by calling 1-800-403-0206, and discounts are available for those who book in advance. Packages include the Tahoe Super 4-Pack, with discounted rates on tickets for four days or more, and the Romantic Getaway Package, which includes a two-night stay and two massages at the Trilogy Spa. Ikon Pass holders save 20 percent on lodging if booked Sunday to Thursday.
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How to get thereBy car, Palisades Tahoe is 42 miles from Reno, 96 miles from Sacramento and 196 miles from San Francisco. The closest airport is the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which has daily departures to major U.S. hubs. Some area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. Paid shuttle services, like the South Tahoe Airporter, are also available. Another option is flying into Sacramento International Airport, just under two hours from Palisades Tahoe.
Once at the area, there is a free shuttle between the base areas of Palisades Tahoe beginning at 8:30a.m., with the last shuttle leaving the mountain at 4:30p.m. A SnoVentures shuttle also runs continuously through the area.
There are numerous accommodation options for most budgets close to Palisades Tahoe. The Village at Palisades Tahoe has ski-in/ski-out condominium suites with fireplaces and kitchenette facilities, not to mention communal features like hot tubs, fitness areas, and laundry services. The cozy PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn on Squaw Valley Road has hotel rooms, family suites and penthouse suites with in-room dining, plush robes, and an on-site cafe and bar. PlumpJack also welcomes pets.
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Northstar California
|
Homewood |
Sugar Bowl
|
Donner Ski Ranch | Tahoe Donner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical Drop (ft) | 2,280 | 1,650 | 1,500 | 750 | 600 |
| Skiable Area (ac) | 350 | 450 | 500 | 400 | 400 |
| Number of Trails | 100 | 67 | 103 | 52 | 17 |
| READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE | READ MORE |
