Build your Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley) Ski Trip
Learn more about Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley)
- Largest ski resort in California
- Legendary reputation for high snowfall and notorious steeps
- High standard of grooming on steep trails
- Crowds and long lines on powder days
Overall
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!
Mid-February to Mid-March
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
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
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
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
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.