Mammoth Mountain vs Palisades Tahoe
Mammoth Mountain has more vertical (3,100 ft vs 2,850 ft); Palisades Tahoe has more skiable terrain (6,000 acres vs 3,500 acres); Palisades Tahoe has more lifts (34 vs 25). Both are on the Ikon Pass. Snow usually peaks in December at both.
The mountains
| Mammoth Mountain | Palisades Tahoe | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Eastern Sierra, California | Lake Tahoe, California |
| Vertical drop | 3,100 ft | 2,850 ft |
| Summit | 11,053 ft | 9,050 ft |
| Base | 7,953 ft | 6,200 ft |
| Skiable acres | 3,500 | 6,000 |
| Trails | 150 | 270 |
| Lifts | 25 | 34 |
| Average snowfall | 400 in. | 400 in. |
| Pass | Ikon | Ikon |
| Usual season | Nov 8 – Jun 1 | Nov 22 – May 25 |
| Fly into | MMH, RNO, LAX | RNO, SMF |
Resort statistics are approximate and change year to year.
Month by month
Typical snowfall, crowds and trip prices (flights and lodging against each resort's yearly average).
| Month | Snow | Crowds | Trip price |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 48 / 48 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -17% / -17% |
| December | 84 / 84 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +19% / +19% |
| January | 80 / 80 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +18% / +18% |
| February | 80 / 80 in. | Packed / Packed | +22% / +22% |
| March | 64 / 64 in. | Packed / Packed | +33% / +33% |
| April | 28 / 28 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -6% / -6% |
Pairs read Mammoth Mountain / Palisades Tahoe.
This week
- Mammoth MountainOpens ~Nov 8
- Palisades TahoeOpens ~Nov 22
Grades for the next few days from Veabird's snow model, updated Oct 3, 19:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.
Good to know
- Mammoth Mountain: Long season, often into June.
- Mammoth Mountain: Five hours' drive from Los Angeles; limited flights into MMH.
- Palisades Tahoe: Two base areas (Palisades and Alpine) linked by gondola.
- Palisades Tahoe: Storm closures on I-80 are common; carry chains.
Questions
- Is Mammoth Mountain or Palisades Tahoe better?
- Mammoth Mountain has more vertical (3,100 ft vs 2,850 ft); Palisades Tahoe has more skiable terrain (6,000 acres vs 3,500 acres); Palisades Tahoe has more lifts (34 vs 25). Both are on the Ikon Pass. Snow usually peaks in December at both.
- Which is less crowded, Mammoth Mountain or Palisades Tahoe?
- They are about equally busy over the season (very busy on average).