Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley)

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Heather Burke
SnowPak Local Insider
Heather Burke

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Pros
  • Largest ski resort in California
  • Legendary reputation for high snowfall and notorious steeps
  • High standard of grooming on steep trails
Cons
  • Crowds and long lines on powder days

Overall

4.4

Squaw Valley combined with Alpine Meadows becomes the largest Californian ski resort of legends, home of the world’s first double chair in 1949, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and training ground to pro skiers. Although both are technically separate ski areas, there are plans to connect the two via gondola. Nonetheless, both are covered by the same lift ticket which gives you massive 6,000 ac to explore!

Best month to go

Mid-February to Mid-March

Mid Feb to Mid March are the best months to visit. There is nothing worse than holiday crowds to add to the terrible lift queues at Squaw Valley during Christmas and New Years.

FLY TO

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

DRIVE/SHUTTLE/TAXI TO

Squaw Valley (Palisades Tahoe) (1 hour)

Base of Squaw Valley (Walk)

  • Expensive and often limited lodging
  • Ski-in/ski-out accommodation available
  • Most convenient location to the slopes

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Alpine Meadows (1-2 mi)

  • No ski-in/ski-out lodging
  • Limited range of chalets and vacation rentals including Airbnb's
  • Less dining options than Squaw Valley

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Truckee (10-15 mi)

  • Small town with affordable accommodation
  • 20-30 minutes drive away with ski traffic
  • Has more variety of dining, bars and shopping than Tahoe City

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Tahoe City (5-10 mi)

  • Closer to the ski resort than Truckee
  • 20-30 minutes drive away with ski traffic
  • Affordable accommodation and has amazing views of the lake

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For beginners

Squaw Valley is where beginners will want to go! Most of the green slopes here are in the upper mid-mountain so beginners can join the more experienced skiers higher up! Hop aboard the Big Blue Express lift to access some of the best long green runs here!

For intermediates

We'd pick Alpine Meadows over Squaw Valley for intermediates as the runs are generally less crowded and there are tons of blues to cruise. Our favorites here include the Rock Garden Run off the Summit Express lift or Outer Limits off the Lakeview Chair for stunning vistas of Lake Tahoe. In Squaw Valley Lakeview Run and Knob Hill are great long runs worth trying out but our to-die-for run here is The Attic.

For experts

Both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have expert terrain but if we had to pick one, it would be Squaw Valley. Notorious for its steeps, Squaw Valley's best chutes and cliffs can be accessed by the KT-22 Express lift! The Silverado lift is also perfect for those looking for some crowd-free shredding. Otherwise, in Alpine Meadows, the powder-filled Beaver Bowl and Estelle Bowls are incredible!

Find freshies

Freshies are easy to find even days after a storm. If you're up for a hike, the advanced rated Beaver Bowl and Estelle Bowl off the Summit Express lift in Alpine Meadows has plenty of hidden powder stashes!

Ditch the crowds

Crowds are inevitable on powder days and they're especially worse in Squaw Valley. Squaw Valley is also notorious for their terrible lift lines with the Gold Coast Funitel and Shirley Lake Express being two of the busiest lifts! Avoid them during peak times if you hate long waits!

Non skiers

Non-skiers will have a range of things to do here including dogsledding and Nordic skiing. There are also Casinos over in Stateline Nevada or if you're lucky enough to be visiting in April, the annual WinterWonderGrass California Music and Brew Festival at Squaw Valley is tons of fun for everyone!

Families

Both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are quite family-friendly, though Squaw Valley has more facilities suitable for children as well as a larger ski school. Squaw Valley's base village also easy to walk around and has an abundance of restaurants for fuelling up.

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Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley) Reviews

Fabulous 4.3 / 5
based on 57 reviews

How well the resort caters for beginner skiers / boarders

Beginners

How well the resort caters for intermediate skiers / boarders?

Intermediates

How well the resort caters for advanced skiers / boarders

Advanced

How accessible and convenient it is to get to this resort from a major destination

Accessibility

Quality of the off-piste terrain

Side/Backcountry

Overall value for money of the resort

Value for money

Quality of lifts, lift speed and lift layout in the resort

Lifts

Quantity and quality of the snow

Snow

How uncrowded is the resort

Uncrowded

Après ski and dining options

Town

Services and facilities e.g. child care, tubing, health care, equipment hire

Facilities

How family friendly is this resort?

Family Friendliness
Very Good!4 / 5Nov 15, 2013
JJohn
Sick hike-to terrain, uncrowded slopes, steeps to scare you and storms that dume feet.
Superb!5 / 5Nov 04, 2013
JJohn
Great terrain, generally great snow, great accomodations and dining at resort and nearby, fun shopping, great ski school concept (Buy 2 hour lesson and start any time during the day), terrific instructors, caring and knowledgeable ski patrol (my son took a ride on one of their sleds and what looked like a serious accident turned out to be just a... More
Superb!5 / 5Jan 15, 2013
PPatricio
Lots of great steeps and Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Superb!5 / 5May 29, 2012
MMichelle
Perfect - all around. Close to airport, excellent roads, ski-in/out, excellent lodging and food. 5 STAR!
Very Good!4 / 5May 25, 2012
KKatie
We love it at Squaw, we were there April 16th and the snow was great, the sun was shining and the day was perfect!
Very Good!4 / 5Apr 07, 2012
AAdam
I love the number of choices accesible from one close parking lot, and the beauty of Lake Tahoe
Poor!2 / 5Sep 26, 2011
GGeorge
Very Challenging. The snow is less consistent.
Poor!2 / 5Sep 24, 2011
EEric
Snow is not as great, but the terrain is awesome
Poor!2 / 5Aug 20, 2011
PPete
Bottom 1/2 can be sluggish while the top is excellent.
Superb!5 / 5Jun 27, 2011
KKen
When the snow is plentyful and deep... There is no better place on earth.