Day Trek: Palisades Tahoe

It's the 5:00AM departure, fueled by the promise of a snow day ahead. It's the pink alpenglow on mountaintops as the sun rises overhead. It's the bustling ski lodge at 9:00AM—parents tugging mittens on rosy-cheeked kids. It's the tiny little skiers scrolling ribbons down slopes, drafting winter poetry with every swoosh and skid.

So, what is it about a ski day at Palisades that inspires that special kind of unbridled joy? It's all those little things. And more.

Just three and a half hours (depending on how strategically you plan your departure time...) from San Francisco, Palisades Tahoe is one of the go-to skiing destinations for city-dwellers seeking a mountain escape.

But how feasible is a day trek to Palisades? We put the question to the test this past weekend, and I'm happy to share it is not only 100% feasible, but also stress-free and enjoyable. If you, too, feel the call of cold air on your face and snow powder in your lungs, then read on for my guide on how to do a ski day at Palisades in a day.

Pre-Ski Day

Ski lift tickets

Unless you have an Ikon Pass (which has full access to Palisades Tahoe), you'll need to purchase a lift ticket for your day of skiing. Lift ticket prices vary by day and can get very expensive, so I recommend planning ahead or taking advantage of limited time offers, like discounted 4-day lift packs (which is what I opted for since I missed the Ikon boat this season). If all else fails, you also always have the option to purchase a lift ticket upon your arrival at the resort.

Parking reservations

Palisades requires parking reservations for weekend days. Pro tip: set a recurring alarm for Tuesdays at noon and 7:00PM—that is when Palisades drops a limited number of free parking reservations at the Alpine Meadows and Palisades base areas. Free reservations sell out very quickly (I tried to score one at 12:03PM and they were already sold out), so make sure you are logged into your HONK account and ready to go when the clock strikes time. If you do miss out on the free parking reservations, you'll need to pay $30 to secure your spot.

Gear checklist

I am unabashedly that person that has a ski day checklist on her Notes app that she checks every time before heading out for a day on the slopes. (There are few things worse than getting to the mountain and realizing you forgot your boots...especially after a three-hour drive!)

Here's my run-down of must-haves for a day of skiing:

• Skis: I use Atomic Backland 107s with shift bindings and I absolutely love them. It's the perfect versatile ski and binding pair for long resort days and leisurely ski tours.

• Boots: I have Atomic Hawk Ultras with a boa and they are WONDERFUL. Like my skis, they can transition from ski touring boots to resort boots and back. And they are, dare I say, quite comfortable, too.

• Poles: I use Atomic Backland FR SQS telescopic ski poles. I purchased these on the advice of a friend (along with all of my other Atomic gear) and have zero complaints!

• Helmet: you can't go wrong with a Smith helmet to protect your noggin.

• Goggles: I have some hand-me-down goggles from who-knows-where. As long as you have the right lens color for the conditions, you should be good to go.

• Mittens: If you, too, struggle with Raynaud Syndrome (frozen finger tips and poor blood circulation), I recommend using mittens instead of finger gloves—they're warmer, cozier, and (I think) cuter.

• Ski kit: I've worn my little lavender The North Face ski kit for three years now, and though it is permanently stained with dirt (dirt? in the snow? apparently so), it still does the trick.

• Pass/Lift Ticket: lest we forget!

• Water: it's easy to get dehydrated up high.

• Emergency granola bar: avoid hanger at all costs—there's too much fun to be had!

How to Ski Palisades Tahoe in One Day (from SF!) With Timestamps

4:30AM: Wake up!

5:15AM: Depart San Francisco—it's early, but it's worth it.

7:00AM: Do yourself a favor and stop at The Pour Choice in Auburn. It's an adorable and beautifully curated little coffee shop just off the highway. I always order the Field Spice Latte, which tastes like a hug in a mug. It's the perfect fuel for the second half of your journey.

9:00-9:30AM: Arrive at the resort. The exact arrival time will vary depending on weather and road conditions. When we went, it was snowing and there were chain/4WD checks, so the journey was a tad longer than expected (about 4 hours instead of 3.5).

9:30AM: Grab your lift ticket from the kiosks in front of the ski lodge, then hit the slopes!

But where to ski?! We skied all around the Alpine Meadows side of the mountain, which has an abundance of wide-open blue runs—perfect for our relaxed, fun-first ski day. My favorite runs of the day were off the Lakeview and Sherwood lifts. There is something truly magical about making turns down a slope with a view of the vast blue lake below.

1:00PM: There's something to be said for some classic ski lodge chicken tenders and fries, but I'm personally a proponent of the bring-your-own-charcuterie assortment of snacks.

3:00PM: Head out for your final favorite run of the day (I went for the Summit lift at Alpine) and soak in your last few turns.

3:30PM: Leave the resort and head back to the city. The lifts don't close until 4:00PM, but we left a tad early with the hope of avoiding traffic on the way home.

7:00PM: And you're already back in the city! And back in time for homemade dinner, too, if you so choose (a warming bowl of soup and a cup of tea is my personal favorite post-ski day meal). I was honestly amazed by how seamless and stress-free our timing turned out to be. (I know this may not always be the case, but it is good to know a traffic-free journey is possible!)

And there you have it—a point-to-point itinerary for a successful day trek to Palisades.

If you, like me, can only go so long without needing to feel that fresh bite of mountain air in your lungs and that whipping cold wind on your face, then you can take comfort in knowing that a day in Tahoe is always within reach. So the next time you hear the mountains calling, the next time a ski day beckons, just know that you can go—and make it back in time for a cup of soup, too.

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What other day trek guides would you like to see? I'm always open to ideas—send me a DM @summer_atwood.