Skip to ContentAlpine Meadows is the Alpine mountain of Palisades Tahoe. Palisades Tahoe’s statistics page lists it at 2,400 skiable acres, a 6,835-foot base, an 8,637-foot peak and a 1,802-foot vertical rise.
Checked November 2, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- 2,400skiable acres (official)
- 1,802 ftvertical rise (official)
- 109trails (official)
- 8,637 ftpeak, Ward Peak (official)
Quick Facts
- OperatorSame as Palisades Tahoe; the resort page credits Alterra Mountain Company.
- ElevationsBase 6,835 ft, peak 8,637 ft (Ward Peak); Scott Peak 8,289 ft (official).
- SeasonWinter November to mid-May, lifts 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to weather (official).
- Terrain109 trails and 7 bowls on the Alpine side (official).
- Drive from RenoAbout 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min (our estimate, no live traffic).
The 1982 Avalanche
On March 31, 1982 an avalanche struck the base area and seven people died, according to Wikipedia’s article on the resort; an employee was rescued after five days. We include this because it is part of the place’s history and because avalanche safety is real mountain business. We have not read an official page for the details, so this is a secondary source and we leave out the names.
Opened 1961
Wikipedia reports that Alpine Meadows opened for the 1961-62 season with three lifts. That date is secondary.
Official site: Palisades Tahoe: Mountain Statistics.
What We Could Not Confirm
These items were not read on an official page when we checked, so we do not state them as fact. Who can confirm each one is named.
- The resort’s own history of Alpine Meadows (palisadestahoe.com).
- Current lift count for 2026-27; the statistics page shows 13 lifts for this mountain.
More to Explore
- All Tahoe Ski Areas Compared
- Palisades Tahoe
- Northstar California
- Sugar Bowl
- Royal Gorge Cross Country
- Boreal Mountain Resort
- Soda Springs Mountain Resort
- Donner Ski Ranch
- Truckee
- Lake Tahoe
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alpine Meadows still its own resort?
It is one of the two mountains of Palisades Tahoe. Passes and tickets are sold under the Palisades Tahoe name.
Sources
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Alpine Meadows,” itsreno.com, checked November 2, 2026.