The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California has some of the best skiing in the world. Alpine Meadows is part of the recently renamed Palisade Ski resort just west of Lake Tahoe in Eastern California.
Alpine Meadow Ski Resort offers world-class snow and terrain, comfortable lodgings, and lots of great food. Read on to learn all there is to know about staying and skiing at Alpine Meadows.
Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort
In 2021, Alpine Meadows and the nearby Squaw Valley Ski areas were renamed to become the Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort. This name change happened at the same time as construction began on a gondola connecting the two ski areas.
The Alpine Meadows ski area is still known as the Alpine Meadows side of Palisades, but Squaw Valley is now referred to as the Olympic Valley side.
Together, these two ski areas offer over 6000 skiable acres and forty-four lifts, so you have a huge area for skiing and tons of incredible terrain.
Skiing at Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows is located on the southern side of Palisades Tahoe Resort, and it offers access to 2,400 acres of amazing skiable terrain. Less than 15 minutes from Tahoe City, this ski area offers easy accessibility in a beautiful location.
Alpine Meadows Lift Ticket
Lift tickets at Palisades Ski Resort give you access to both the Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley sides of the mountain.
Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect for single-day lift tickets to ski at Alpine Meadows. Tickets are less expensive on weekdays and more expensive during holiday weekends. (2023)
|
AGE GROUP |
RATES |
| ADULT (18-69) | $199-$269 |
| YOUNG ADULT (13-17) | $179-$242 |
| CHILD (5-12) | $139-$188 |
| SENIOR (70+) | $179-$242 |
| 4 & UNDER | Free |
You can visit Palisades Tahoe to learn more about Alpine Meadows day passes.
Alpine Meadows Four-Day Passes
The Alpine Meadows Tahoe Super 4-Pack offers a way to get four days on the mountain at a significant discount from single-day prices.
The Tahoe Super 4-Pack gives you four days of skiing for $145 each. There is also a Midweek 4-Pack that gives you four days of skiing on any Monday-Friday day for $120 each.
Alpine Meadows Pass
Alpine Meadows has season passes at competitive prices if you live or are staying nearby for a longer period of time and want to get lots of skiing in. (2023)
| AGE | PRICE |
| Adult (18+) | $1599 |
| Young Adult (13-17) | $1299 |
| Child (5-12) | $899 |
| Senior (70+) | $1299 |
| 4 & Under | Free |
If you have the Ikon, pass, it is also valid at Palisade Tahoe and the Alpine Meadows ski area. Make sure to check on the season blackout days though, because the Ikon pass doesn’t work on these days.
Lodging at Alpine Meadows:
Alpine Retreat Luxury Rental
The Alpine Retreat Luxury Rental is the closest lodging to the Alpine Meadows ski area. If you want the convenience of waking up and walking to the base of the ski resort, this is the place to stay.
River Ranch Lodge
The River Ranch Lodge is 5 minutes down the road from the Alpine Meadows base. This lodge fills up quick, so make sure you book your room far in advance. They also offer discounts on lift tickets to Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort.
The Village at Palisades Tahoe
The Village at Palisades Tahoe is the lodging owned and run by the Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort. There are many benefits to this like being able to ski right out your door to the resort and access to other resort amenities.
If you have a Palisades season pass or an Ikon pass, you can get significant discounts on lodging, so this is definitely a place to check out.
Mother Nature’s Inn
Finding a place to stay right at the Alpine Meadows Mountain Resort can be very expensive, especially during peak season. Located just fifteen minutes away in Tahoe City, Mother Nature’s Inn is a great option for a more affordable place to stay while still being just a short drive to the resort base.
Dining at Alpine Meadows
There is a huge range of great places to eat at Alpine Meadows. From on-mountain lodge food to delicious meals in town, here are some places to check out.
Chalet at Alpine Meadows
Located near the base of the Yellow and Scott lifts halfway up the mountain, the Chalet at Alpine Meadows is a great place for food and drinks on the mountain. This Bavarian-style restaurant offers fantastic food and beers and is a perfect place for taking a break on the slopes.
Mogrog Cafe
The Mogrog Cafe at the base of the Alpine Meadows area is a great place to get delicious German-inspired breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
River Ranch Lodge
I mentioned the River Ranch Lodge as a place to stay, but it is also a restaurant with amazing food just a few minutes down the mountain. If you’re looking for a burger, steak, or salad after a day on the slopes, this is a fantastic restaurant to check out.
Front Street Station Pizza Company
For a fantastic dinner in town, check out the Front Street Station Pizza Company in Tahoe City. This spot was voted in the best top 10 ski resort pizza spots and is hard to beat.
Alpine Meadows Festivals
If you are looking for exciting events, live music, and local food at Alpine Meadows, there are festivals throughout the year.
- WinterWonderGrass is a springtime event with awesome live music, food, and drinks. It takes place at the end of March. This is definitely worth checking out if you also want to get in some spring skiing.
- The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival is a huge Earth Day Celebration that’s all about protecting and enjoying the planet. It takes place in the Village at Palisade Tahoe.
- The Made in Tahoe Festival is an awesome event celebrating local music, art, food, and more. This is a great event for getting to know the Tahoe area
Alpine meadows elevation information
One of the key factors that make this resort unique is Alpine’s meadows base elevation of 6,835 feet.
At such a high elevation, the resort receives an abundance of snowfall each winter, allowing for excellent ski conditions and a long ski season. Additionally, the high elevation also means that temperatures are cooler, resulting in a slower snow melt and allowing the resort to maintain its snow coverage well into the spring.
The high base elevation also plays a role in the types of vegetation that can thrive in the area which also provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including pikas, marmots, and mountain goats.
Overall, the high base elevation of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort plays a critical role in creating the unique and beautiful alpine environment that the resort is known for. It offers optimal snow conditions for skiing and snowboarding and a unique ecosystem for the plants and animals that call it home.
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