Palisades Tahoe & Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), California, is a legendary resort steeped in Winter Olympic history and extreme skiing lore. Located on the north-western side of Lake Tahoe and an easy 40-minute drive from Reno Airport.

It is famous for being one of the snowiest resorts in the state, renowned for huge snowfalls of 40 feet (12 m) each year followed by long spells of sun and blue sky. What’s more, it is huge: Palisades Tahoe ski area’s 3600 acres (1455 hectares) and is linked with neighboring 2400 acre (970 hectare) Alpine Meadows to create a massive 6000 acre (2430 hectare) domain of skiing and riding across 2 mountains and 14 zones. Another bonus is that Palisades Tahoe’s beginner and expert slopes are equally superb.

Many historic moments in skiing have taken place at Palisades Tahoe. The greatest of these was hosting the entire 1960s Winter Olympics Games, which was also the first televised Olympics. Squaw’s chairlifts were regarded as engineering marvels when installed and helped put North American skiing on a map long dominated by the European Alps.

Squaw Valley is seen as the birthplace of extreme skiing in the late 70s and early 80s thanks mainly to young maverick Scott Schmidt launching himself off a 67-degree face of rock and snow in 1983. The feat was captured on film by the late Warren Miller and featured in his movie Ski Time, cementing Squaw’s reputation as a daredevil freeskiing mecca.

A renowned on-slope feature of Palisades Tahoe is High Camp, literally a recreation area in the sky sitting at 8200 feet (2500 meters) and reached by the resort’s famous Aerial Tram. High Camp has a swimming pool, restaurants, and a free Olympic museum and overlooks the surrounding Sierra Nevada panorama and Lake Tahoe.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is a traffic-free zone brimming with lodging of all styles, plus good restaurants, cafes, and sandwich places with healthy options reflecting the big-city expectations of local visitors who come largely from San Francisco.

Palisades Tahoe Lodging & Accommodation Options

Palisades Tahoe Statistics

Skiable Terrain	4,000 acres (1618 hectares)
Vertical	870 m (2,850 ft)
Top Elevation	2,760 m (9,050 ft)
Base Elevation	1,890 m (6,200 ft)
Average Snowfall	1,140 cm (448in/37ft)
Beginner Terrain	15%
Intermediate Terrain	35%
Advanced Terrain	50%
Trails	177+
Parks	3
Winter lifts Total	42
Gondolas Trams	2
Chair Lifts	34
Surface Lifts	7
Lift Capacity	58,000
Longest Run	5.1 km (3.2 mi)
Mountain Restaurants	16
Snowmaking	1000 ac (404 hectares)
Season Opens	16 November, 2018
Season Closes	2 June, 2019 (Estimated)

How To Get To Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows

Flying Into Palisades Tahoe

There are nonstop flights to Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows from 22 U.S. Cities And One International City. The following cities are: Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Boise (BOI), Chicago (MDW), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Dallas (DAL), Denver (DEN), Guadalajara (GDL), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), Long Beach (LGB), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Oakland (OAK), Phoenix (PHX), Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC)

Driving To Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows

Reno 1 hour 42 miles (67 km)
Sacramento 2 hours 96 miles (154 km)
San Francisco 4 hours 196 miles (315 km)
San Jose 4.5 hours 228 miles (366 km)
Los Angeles 7.5 hours 496 miles (799 km)
San Diego 10 hours 616 miles (991 km)

Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows Things To Do, Actives & Tours

Aerial Tram Rides
Location: 1990 Squaw Peak Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Description: Skiers, riders, and sightseers alike will love the panoramic 10-minute ride that climbs above a snowy mountainscape of granite rock and the iconic Tram Face.
Phone: +1 800-403-0206

High Camp Pool & Hot Tub
Location: 1960 Squaw Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Stunning views from the swimming pool & hot tub.
Phone: +1 800-403-0206

Lake Tahoe Snow Tubing
Location: SnoVentures Activity Zone 1653 Squaw Valley Loop Olympic Valley, CA 96146
A fun mountain adventure for the whole family.
Phone: +1 800-403-0206

Olympic Museum
Location: 1960 Squaw Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Learn about the 1960 Winter Olympics that took place at Squaw Valley.
Phone: +1 800-403-0206

Sky Jump
Location: 1960 Olympic Valley Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Get tips and pointers to anyone wanting to learn how to do a front or back somersault.
Phone: +1 530-581-7563

Climbing Walls
Location: 1960 Squaw Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Kids and grown ups can have a blast climbing the variety of routes on the Headwall Climbing Wall.
Phone: +1 530-581-7563

Palisades Tahoe Alpine Restaurants, Bars & Nightlife

Coffeebar
Location: Olympic Valley
Food: Gourmet and caffeinated beverages
Bar: Yes-Beer and wine
Phone: +1 530-580-4200

Auld Dubliner Irish Pub And Restaurant
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Irish Cuisine
Bar: Yes

Cornice Cantina
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Mexican
Bar: Yes

Dave’s Deli
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Quick snacks and hearty sandwiches
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-581-1085

Early Ups
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: Coffee, hot drinks, pastries, and oatmeal
Bar: No

Euro Crepe
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: French specialty
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-581-0600

Euro Snack
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Belgian waffles and Hot dogs
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-581-0600

Euro Sweets
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Frozen yogurt, specialty candies, and chocolates
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-581-0600

Fireside Pizza Company
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Pizza, Pasta, and Salad
Bar: Yes-Wine and beer
Phone: +1 530-584-6150

High Camp Marketplace
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Sandwiches and salads
Bar: No

K|Tchen
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Mexican cuisine
Bar: No

Last Chair Bar
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: Mexican
Bar: Yes

Le Chamois & Loft Bar
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: European
Bar: Yes
Phone: 530-583-4505

Meadows Café
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: Burgers, pizza, salads, and fries
Bar: No

Mountain Nectar
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Smoothies, juices, baked bagels, coffee, and tea
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-584-6161

Plaza Bar
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Pizza
Bar: Yes

Plumpjack Café
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: American cuisine
Bar: Yes
Phone: +1 530-583-1578

Soupa
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Sandwiches and baked goods
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-584-6190

Starbucks
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Coffee and breakfast items
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-584-6120

Stoked Oak
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: BBQ
Bar: Yes

Suko Yama Sushi
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Japanese cuisine
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-584-6020

The Arc At Gold Coast
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Asian cuisine
Bar: No

The Chalet
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: European cuisine
Bar: Yes

The Pocket
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: American cuisine
Bar: Yes

Treats Café
Location: Alpine Meadows
Food: Desserts
Bar: No

Twenty-Two Bistro And Bar
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: American cuisine
Bar: Yes
Phone: +1 530-584-6170

Uncorked Wine Bar & Shop
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: American cuisine
Bar: Yes
Phone: +1 530-584-6090

Wildflour Baking Company
Location: Squaw Valley
Food: Baked goods
Bar: No
Phone: +1 530-583-1963

Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows Shopping

Alice’s Mountain Market
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Grocery
Phone: +1 530-581-2014

Dorinda’s Chocolates
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Chocolates
Phone: +1 775-432-2024

Estelle Sports
Location: Alpine Meadows
Shop: Winter apparel, sunglasses, snowboard accessories
Phone: +1 530-581-8323

Gallery Keoki
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Photograph
Phone: +1 530-583-1404

Kalifornia Jean Bar
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Clothing boutique
Phone: +1 530-581-5326

Lather & Fizz Bath Boutique
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Bath boutique
Phone: +1 530-584-6001

Mind Play
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Toys and books
Phone: +1 530-584-6133

Oakley
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Oakley apparel
Phone: +1 530-452-4378

Parallel Mountain Sports
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Outerwear and accessories
Phone: +1 530-452-4478

Patagonia
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Outdoor clothing, gear
Phone: +1 530-452-4455

Plumpjack Sport
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Sportswear
Phone: +1 530-584-6181

Spirits Of The Valley
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Liquor store
Phone: +1 530-581-2014

Spruced Gift & Home
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Home decor
Phone: +1 530-584-6253

Squaw One Logo Company
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Clothing and souvenirs
Phone: +1 530-584-6250

Squaw Valley Outfitters
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Helmets, eyewear, base-layers, and footwear
Phone: +1 530-452-4379

Surefoot Custom Bootfitters
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Ski boots
Phone: 530-581-2421

The Ledge Boardshop
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Board Shop
Phone: +1 530-452-4477

The North Face
Location: Squaw Valley
Shop: Outdoor gear
Phone: 530-452-4365