Palisades Tahoe’s historical decision to change its name in 2021 was a springboard for a series of major enhancements the storied California ski area has since made.
The most significant was the addition last December of the $65 million Base to Base Gondola connecting the resort’s two base areas, the Village at Palisades Tahoe and the Alpine Lodge, giving skiers and snowboarders 6,000 acres of combined terrain for the first time.
The project is one that resort officials say has been a goal since Palisades opened in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe in 1949 as Squaw Valley -- a name ownership decided to change because the term “squaw” is a derogatory reference to Native American women -- through hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics and the official merger of the two mountains in 2011.
Previously, guests had to drive or take a shuttle between Alpine and Palisades. The 2.4-mile gondola ride between the two base areas takes about 16 minutes and offers fantastic views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and nearby Lake Tahoe. There is a midstation stop at KT-22, with access to expert-only trails.
Shortly after the Gondola opened, Palisades debuted its rebuilt Red Dog chairlift, which has been operating since before the Olympics and was last renovated in 1989.
The Red Dog reopened Jan. 15 after nearly nine months of construction and testing, much of it during some of the biggest snowstorms the Lake Tahoe region had experienced in years.
The three-person lift was replaced with a high-speed, six-seat chairlift that takes just five minutes to get to the top of Snow King. The lift was also moved from its previous location to just 250 feet from the parking lot, making the mountain easier to access.
Palisades Tahoe’s rebuilt Red Dog lift opened in January. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Palisades Tahoe
Fun for nonskiers, too
The addition of the Gondola means there are now three enclosed lifts at Palisades Tahoe that nonskiers can use for a day of views and education about the region.
Palisades offers a Sierra Sightseeing Package with access to its Aerial Tram, Gondola and Funitel. The Aerial Tram takes riders up from the Village at Palisades Tahoe to High Camp, which sits at 8,200 feet.
The tram ride offers views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains, and it ends at High Camp, home to the Olympic Museum, showcasing memorabilia from the 1960 Winter Olympics, and the Washoe Tribe Display, which discusses the tribe’s history in the region and provides background on the Palisades name-change decision. The ski resort is situated on the Washoe’s ancestral homelands.
The 10-minute Funitel takes skiers and riders from the Village to the Gold Coast ski area. Nonskiers along for the ride will enjoy terrific views of the mountains and steep mountain faces, including the Palisades, the resort’s namesake rock formation that is popular with daredevils.