Palisades Tahoe vs Heavenly
Heavenly has more vertical (3,527 ft vs 2,850 ft); Palisades Tahoe has more skiable terrain (6,000 acres vs 4,800 acres); Palisades Tahoe has more snow in an average season (400 in. vs 360 in.). Palisades Tahoe is on the Ikon Pass and Heavenly on the Epic Pass. Snow usually peaks in December at both.
The mountains
| Palisades Tahoe | Heavenly | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Lake Tahoe, California | Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada |
| Vertical drop | 2,850 ft | 3,527 ft |
| Summit | 9,050 ft | 10,067 ft |
| Base | 6,200 ft | 6,540 ft |
| Skiable acres | 6,000 | 4,800 |
| Trails | 270 | 97 |
| Lifts | 34 | 27 |
| Average snowfall | 400 in. | 360 in. |
| Pass | Ikon | Epic |
| Usual season | Nov 22 – May 25 | Nov 22 – Apr 19 |
| Fly into | RNO, SMF | RNO |
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 / 43 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -17% / -21% |
| December | 84 / 76 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +19% / +12% |
| January | 80 / 72 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +18% / +12% |
| February | 80 / 72 in. | Packed / Very busy | +22% / +16% |
| March | 64 / 58 in. | Packed / Packed | +33% / +26% |
| April | 28 / 25 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -6% / -9% |
Pairs read Palisades Tahoe / Heavenly.
This week
- Palisades TahoeOpens ~Nov 22
- HeavenlyOpens ~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
- Palisades Tahoe: Two base areas (Palisades and Alpine) linked by gondola.
- Palisades Tahoe: Storm closures on I-80 are common; carry chains.
- Heavenly: Lake views; casinos and nightlife in Stateline.
- Heavenly: Summer is busy at South Lake Tahoe.
Questions
- Is Palisades Tahoe or Heavenly better?
- Heavenly has more vertical (3,527 ft vs 2,850 ft); Palisades Tahoe has more skiable terrain (6,000 acres vs 4,800 acres); Palisades Tahoe has more snow in an average season (400 in. vs 360 in.). Palisades Tahoe is on the Ikon Pass and Heavenly on the Epic Pass. Snow usually peaks in December at both.
- Which is less crowded, Palisades Tahoe or Heavenly?
- They are about equally busy over the season (busy on average).