Industry News
At Palisades Tahoe, CA you’ll discover hardcore skiers, wicked terrain, big cliffs, flat landings, and a flair for showmanship. Commonly referred to as “Squallywood” before its name transitioned from Squaw Valley to Palisades in September 2021, the vibrant spirit of the “Squallywood” mentality remains as potent as ever.
My journey as a skier began at Sugarbowl Ski Resort, CA nestled on top of Donner Pass. As I progressed in my skiing and sought to push my limits, I felt the call to embark on new and more challenging terrain. I knew Palisades was where I’d find that next level of exhilaration. At Palisades, I have pushed my skiing limits farther than I could have imagined (much thanks to being heckled from the chairlift) and have found an even deeper passion and love for skiing.
Palisades Tahoe is just over 11 miles from downtown Truckee, which doesn’t seem far, but on a bluebird day, expect to be sitting in traffic for hours on Highway 89 trying to get into the resort. Regardless of the traffic problems, when you turn into Olympic Village, which sits at a base elevation of 6201′, you will look up onto the tram face, and all that inner rage will be revamped into pure stoke. With over 2850’ of vertical and over 29 lifts, there is a plethora of terrain and radness to be found.
On a powder day, the lift line for KT-22, one of the most famous chairlifts in the world, begins hours before the lifts even start spinning. Here you will find locals who have been showing up hours early on every powder day for years, ready to ski their favorite lines. When the chairlift pops, the finger show begins. The base of KT-22 sits right below an iconic cliff face called “the fingers”, and the lift goes directly over it. On any given day, you will be able to witness skiers and snowboarders hucking themselves over huge airs and straight lining terrifying chutes for the crowd of hundreds below to enjoy.
Palisades Tahoe has terrain for every kind of skier. From Chute 75, which provides skiers with over 1800 vertical feet of bumps and in parts as steep as 38 degrees, to park jumps and rails over in the Gold Coast Park. There is endless terrain and zones to explore at Palisades; the only question is, are you up for the task?
Mountain Stats:
Nearest City: Truckee (Roughly 11 miles)
Average Snowfall: 400 inches
Vertical Drop: 2,850 feet
Top Elevation: 9,050 feet
Base Elevation: 6,200 feet
Skiable Area: 3,600 acres
Trails: 86 (25% Beginner, 45% Intermediate, 30% Advanced)
Lifts: 29
