Location

If you’re looking for deep snow, challenging terrain, and world-class facilities, Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, formerly called Squaw Valley, is the place to be. With a base elevation of 6,200 feet and the highest run topping out at 9,050 feet, there’s a lot of terrain to cover. Located just off Highway 89, eleven miles south of Truckee, California, this winter wonderland is a scenic 4-hour journey from San Francisco and just an hour’s drive from Reno Tahoe International Airport.

Resort Statistics

The snow season kicks off in late November, stretching through to early May. In exceptional years, the slopes stay open until the 4th of July. With an annual snowfall exceeding 400 inches, it’s a winter sports enthusiast’s dream. Open from 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon every day, the resort features 23 chairlifts, 4 carpet lifts, a tramway, a gondola, and the only funitel in the United States. With two terrain parks and over 171 runs, there’s a trail for every skill level. You can choose from 43 beginner trails, 75 intermediate runs, or 51 advanced slopes.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices vary, with weekday off-peak rates as low as $142, and holiday weekend rates reaching $279. For the frequent skier or snowboarder, multi-day tickets and season passes offer the best value, with some granting you access to ski resorts around the globe. Click here to access the ticket purchase page on the Palisades website.

Parking

While parking is free during weekdays, it’ll set you back $30 dollars on weekends unless you arrive after 1pm on Saturday or Sunday or unless you book online in advance. Half of weekend parking spots are given out for free starting at noon and running until 7pm on the Tuesday prior to the weekend you will be visiting. These free tickets are first come, first served, so log in early to ensure you get a parking pass and avoid the $30 fee. Click here to access the ticket reservation page.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The Good: Fantastic snow for 5 to 7 months of the year; a huge variety of runs and terrain; gorgeous views of the Sierra Nevada range; lots of places to relax, eat, and drink; accommodation on-site and in the nearby towns of Truckee and Tahoe City.

The Bad: Very expensive ticket prices, wildly expensive accommodations on-site, paid parking on weekends, and often very crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.

The Ugly: On busy weekends and holidays, traffic to get to the resort often backs up all the way to Highway 80 (11 miles), which can put a huge dent in the amount of time you end up being able to ski/snowboard. We suggest using one of the free shuttle buses from Truckee or Tahoe City so that you don’t have to deal with parking when you finally get to the resort.

Our Recommendation

Bite the bullet, max out your credit card, and visit Palisades. You’ll get consistent, world-class skiing and state-of-the-art facilities and will have memories that will long outlast the pain in your wallet.