First Timer's Guide to Palisades Tahoe, California

Palisades Tahoe is the crown jewel of California. From being the filming site for Hot Dog... The Movie, G.N.A.R., and the recent ski comedy Weak Layers , Palisades Tahoe continues to be the proving ground for professionals and local heroes alike.

While the resort has changed names, its 6,000 acres of terrain (making it the largest ski resort in California) remains the stomping ground where Shane McConkey, the Gaffney brothers, Jonny Moseley, Travis Ganong, Amie Engerbretson, and countless others went--and made it--big.

It is not uncommon to see big-mountain ski royalty like Noah Gaffney descending McConkey's while you're riding up KT-22. You might see Michelle Parker weaving her way through The Fingers , and then run into professional hucker Connery Lundin at The Slot, all in a single day.

While Palisades Tahoe may not be the best place to score fresh tracks on a powder day, due to the sheer crowding and fame the name entails, it is certainly the best place for testing one's limits, making a name for oneself, and getting heckled (which you will).

Palisades Tahoe Terrain Breakdown

The ski area formerly called Alpine Meadows is now referred to simply as Alpine. It is technically part of Palisades Tahoe, as the the once separate resorts are now linked by the Base to Base Gondola, but this guide will focus solely on The Palisades (Olympic Valley) side of the resort.

Palisades Tahoe's terrain is big-mountain and freeski oriented, and usually thought of in sections as opposed to trails. For instance, The Fingers is not a trail, but actually an area of the resort referencing many different lines, none of which are explicitly marked with signage. Guidebooks and word of mouth instructs advanced skiers on how to descend this big-mountain-style terrain. There are different levels of difficultly, like climbing's V-scale, that allows skiers to push themselves at their own risk.

In conversation, Palisades Tahoe's terrain is often split into the Lower Mountain, or terrain accessible from the base, and the Upper Mountain, which denotes trails and terrain accessible only by taking a lift, gondola, or tram up to them prior.

Skiers should approach the terrain with their timeframe in mind. If one has an hour or two, their time is best spent using the Lower Mountain lifts, and if one has a whole day, they can work their way around the entire mountain however they choose without limiting themselves to either the upper or lower section of the resort.

During severe storms, the Upper Mountain may be closed as staff digs out facilities and lifts go on wind hold. Check Palisades' social media channels on storm days for operations updates. Lifts such as Shirley and Gold Coast can open, and offer plenty of low-angle powder fun when they do!

Most likely, the weather will be the deciding factor on how you spend your time at Palisades Tahoe. On warmer and sunnier days, the snow becomes wet at lower elevations, forcing skiers to higher altitudes for lighter, less sticky snow.

Palisades Tahoe Lower Mountain Lifts & Terrain

The Lower Mountain lifts include Resort Chair, Far East Express, Exhibition, Red Dog, KT-22, Wa She Shu, the Funitel, Olympic Lady (only on weekends), and the Base to Base gondola, which has a mid-station at the top of KT-22. Advanced skiers will want to stick to Red Dog, KT-22, and the Base to Base Gondola.

Red Dog services mostly gladed terrain and holds snow on powder days. It is a shorter lift, but is quite fast, and can be used for hot laps.

KT-22, or the mothership, is the most famous lift at Palisades Tahoe. On powder days, wait times can exceed one hour, but on weekdays, there is rarely a line at all. KT-22 provides access to Eagle's Nest , The Nose , The Fingers , West Face , and several noteworthy trails including Chute 75 , G.S. Cliffs , and Rock Garden . If you know where to go, KT-22 can provide fun all day long.

Olympic Lady, or Oly Lady, is a rarely-run but thrilling chair. The old-fashioned two-seater is a throwback to early resort days, and services plenty of difficult terrain. All of its terrain is, however, accessible from KT-22.

The Funitel, often referred to by locals as "The Funi", is a slow and scenic ride to the Upper Mountain lifts including Gold Coast and Headwall. Wa She Shu provides access to these same areas, but is a lift ride instead of a gondola ride.

Palisades Tahoe Upper Mountain Lifts & Terrain

Notable upper mountain lifts include Headwall, Siberia, Gold Coast, Granite Chief, Solitude, and Silverado.

The most iconic terrain at Palisades Tahoe is the hike-to area, and the resort's namesake, The Palisades . Best accessed from the top of Siberia Express, The Palisades offer a proving ground for professional and aspiring freeskiers. With terrain ranging from expert to genuinely extreme, The Palisades provides lines with large, mandatory cliffs, steeps, chutes, and difficult moves to descend from the top.

From Daydreams to its real debut in the early '80s, when Warren Miller filmed Scot Schmidt dropping down its awe-inducing face, The Palisades has been the crux of ski films for decades. There are signed, legitimate trails, such as The Box and Extra Chute , as well as countless skier-created lines such as Beck's Rock .

Headwall is perhaps one of the most loved lifts at the resort; its praises have even been sung by Scott Gaffney . Headwall provides access to Light Towers , Cornice II Bowl , The Slot , and much more. The snow off Headwall is often icy and bumpy, and the visibility can be especially low, so it is best to score it on specific occasions.

Gold Coast Express may seem like an intermediate lift, but that is because the real terrain takes physical work to reach. At Gold Coast's unloading zone, a sign becomes visible signifying if Mainline Pocket is open for hiking. If it is, gear up for a steep but relatively short hike to some of the most thrilling lines the resort has to offer. If you are not feeling up to it, join the cheering crowd below in typical Palisades Tahoe fashion as pros huck themselves off the steeps and do tricks for everyone's admiration.

Silverado is another rarely-spun but highly rewarding lift, with access to rare terrain. Silverado services Kathmandu , Medusa , Bailey's Cirque , and a host of non-resort named lines made famous by ski legends from the past. Silverado is another old-school-feeling lift, and while the ride up is slow, the descent down is anything but.

Granite Chief is a soulful three-seater servicing exclusive terrain on the looker's right side of Palisades Tahoe's Upper Mountain. With an optional hike up Granite Chief Peak at the top, powder days can mean long lines and memorable skiing for this far part of the resort. With glades, cliffs, and smaller hits, the terrain off Granite Chief is just as heroic, but with more of a small-resort feel than the rest of the mountain.

Palisades Tahoe Stats

*Stats reflect Olympic Valley/Palisades Mountain only.

Vertical: 2,850 ft.

Skiable Terrain: 3,600 ac.

Average Snowfall: 400 inches

Lifts: 29

Trails: 170+

Snowmaking: YES

Night Skiing: NO

Mega-Pass: Ikon Pass

Palisades Tahoe Insider Scoop

Mainline Pocket is most popular at the start of the season because it provides big-mountain feeling lines while most of the resort is still closed due to a lack of snow. By the middle of the season, when other areas such as Granite Chief and The Palisades open up, Mainline Pocket becomes far less travelled.

If you are up for the hike, it is a great place to grab some adrenaline-packed, and often still snow-filled, lines. You may even make friends up there since those who make the trek are likely going to hang out for a bit at the top.

For the best views on the mountain, head up on Headwall Express, then turn left towards The Slot for a stunning view of the lake, or turn right to watch skiers send it off The Palisades when there is enough snow. The top of KT-22 also has impressive views of the crystal blue lake on a clear day.

The 'Perfect Day' at Palisades Tahoe

My perfect day at Palisades Tahoe is based on doing the least amount of walking possible. Starting off with a short walk from the parking lot to a ride up Red Dog, I like to ski the glades down to KT-22. Then, KT provides a plethora of terrain, but I will ski down West Face to seamlessly make it to the base of Headwall.

Once I've ridden up Headwall, I will either attempt Light Towers if there is enough snow and I am feeling bold, or for a more relaxed day, simply enjoy Cornice II Bowl and the various chutes offered by Headwall's iconic terrain. No day at Palisades Tahoe is incomplete without a trip to Granite Chief and at least one bootpack, so I will take Headwall up again, ski the North Bowl towards Gold Coast Express, ride it, and then traverse over to Granite Chief for some more glade skiing and potentially a hike up to Granite Chief Peak if it is open.

From there, it is an easy ski back to the parking lot by taking Shirley and skiing Tower 16 on your way down. Throw another chute in there and you have a solid day of skiing with little to no wasted time walking or boot packing around.

Best Après Spots at Palisades Tahoe

When you ski hard, you play hard, and you will definitely be skiing hard at Palisades Tahoe. While partying is hardly the draw for this Californian resort, compared to nearby party-heavy Mammoth, there are a few solid après options right at the resort.

Le Chamois, often referred to as " The Chammy " by locals, is a pumping bar scene near the base of the Funitel. It feels slightly fratty with people congregating in large groups outside, music blasting, and people drinking all day and all night. It is a great place to go with friends and larger groups, or for a longer and more intense day of hanging out after skiing.

The Slot Bar, located in the village at Palisades Tahoe, is a smaller and more intimate ski bar where locals and pros alike mix after a long day of skiing. With POWDER covers taped to the ceiling, a dog wandering around the bar, and a shot bell, The Slot is where people come for one drink but end up staying because they had three more and got hooked into conversations with some of the best skiers in the world. It does get quite packed, so be prepared to muscle your way up to the bar. If sweating, being in cramped quarters, or fighting to buy a drink isn't your thing, you may want to avoid this one.

The KT Base Bar is an outdoor setting to watch skiing and kick back with friends at the base. Located, as the name implies, at the base of KT-22, it is where ski instructors, families, and guests gather to drink beer and watch people descend the steeps of KT. Sometimes, there is live music or a DJ, and events often take place here.

The Plaza Bar is a bit of a local secret, but no one would mind it getting out. Located inside of the base lodge (and close to restrooms) Plaza Bar presents a milder way to unwind after a long, cold day of skiing. Pull up a stool and sit next to some locals while ordering an IPA. It is not rowdy, but it is what you would expect a small ski bar to be.

We hope this guide comes in handy for scheduling your first trip to Palisades Tahoe, California. Have fun, be safe, and don't forget to practice your Pro Callouts!

Related: Palisades Tahoe Announces Opening Day for Winter '24/'25 Season