For powder hounds seeking a premier backcountry experience
Backcountry access through the resort is only available at Palisades Tahoe. Located on private land, Palisades has closed borders (which means you can’t just duck under a rope to find untracked snow). The mostly private designation for skiing is a shame because the resort is surrounded by some epic backcountry terrain.
Some guiding companies do have an agreement with the resort to use their lift system to access more remote backcountry areas. That way, reaching Granite Chief Peak, which sits at 9,000 feet, becomes a cakewalk instead of a full day’s walk. There are three main areas to explore in Alpine Meadows: Tram Ridge, Munchkins, and the famed National Geographic Bowl.
Our favorite of the three, the advanced and remote Nat Geo, has everything from wide open bowl runs to tight chute squeezes to rocky, steep descents which offers plenty of opportunities to explore along the bowl ridgeline. We usually drop down, then hike back up a few times before skiing all the way back to the resort. While the lift does do part of the heavy lifting, every turn still has to be properly earned.