Palisades Tahoe Expert Skiing

As one of the birthplaces of extreme skiing, a Palisades Tahoe ski vacation is a resort that every expert will want to tick off their “list.” Palisades Tahoe’s horseshoe ridgeline is littered with terrain nuggets—like cliffs, chutes, couloirs and steep bowls—sure to get even the most seasoned skier’s heart pounding. The Palisades Tahoe expert skiing scene is just that, a scene. Palisades Tahoe has been a home base to many of the world’s best extreme, also known as big mountain athletes for the last two decades, including the late and beloved Shane McConkey. Palisades Tahoe’s iconic cliff-zone Palisades, became a place for expert skiers to show off their skills, impress their peers and make chairlift spectators laugh. Naked cliff-drops near within view of chairlifts are a commonplace event at Palisades Tahoe hence the coined term Squallywood.

Palisades Tahoe Expert Terrain

As you travel along Palisades Tahoe’s tram you begin to see all the expert terrain options. Granite Chief, which is the resorts highest peak at 9,000, and Palisades is a coveted Squallywood zone. A run down one of Palisades chutes or even off a cliff, or a cornice will get you in the mood for Palisades Tahoe’s best terrain, as the chairlift riders cheer on skiers or snowboarders willing to brave the challenging terrain. . If the snow is falling you’ll want to head to The Fingers in the early morning, which is located off of the KT-22 chairlift around mid-mountain. Black diamond Siberia Bowl is also another coveted zone early on a powder morning. If you’re idea of expert terrain is leg-burning bumps, a run down Mosely’s Run (after Olympic mogul champ Jonny Mosely) is in high order. If you like to hike, you’ll want to head to Granite Peak, which is accessed via around Granite Chief. This is a great afternoon adventure on a powder day, especially in Hidden Valley’s many protected glades. The area sees less skiers and snowboarders, making it worthwhile exploit for those who want to earn their turns. You’ll find some of Palisades Tahoe’s deepest conditions in this area.

To learn more about Palisades Tahoe expert skiing call, or chat with, one of Ski.com’s knowledgeable Mountain Vacation Specialists.