Whether you're looking for a leisurely alpine stroll, a family-friendly adventure, or a challenging summit climb, Palisades Tahoe offers unforgettable hiking experiences across eight legendary peaks. Ride the iconic Aerial Tram to High Camp or start from The Village and discover miles of scenic trails surrounded by granite peaks, alpine lakes, wildflowers, and breathtaking Sierra views.

Summer Trail Map

HIKING TRAILS FROM HIGH CAMP

Ride the iconic Aerial Tram to High Camp and begin your adventure at 8,200 feet. Explore alpine meadows, granite ridgelines, scenic overlooks, and breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe on trails ranging from easy loops to rewarding summit hikes.

High Camp Loop
Easy ~ 1.0 Miles ~ +190' / -180'

Begin at the High Camp trailhead and walk downhill on the dirt road, then right and slightly uphill on another road to the trail branching to the left. The trail winds through wildflowers and large white pines, red firs, and a huge juniper around the back of the water tower, to a view of granite and volcanic peaks and ridgeline views of Lake Tahoe. Follow the trail through a wide meadow of mule ears back to High Camp.

Emigrant Peak (Monument)
Moderate ~ 0.8 Miles ~ +705' / -315'

This trail begins at the monument on the ridge to the left of the top of the Emigrant lift. Start on the trail above the monument (Tevis Cup Trail), crossing the slope from left to right until it joins the PCT. Do not hike down the steep swale next to the fence. From the PCT intersection, hikers can go south to Five Lakes and Alpine Meadows or north to Donner Summit.

Siberia Basin Loop Trail
Moderate ~ 2.5 Miles ~ +900' / -230'

Begin at the High Camp trailhead following the High Camp Loop trail under the Big Blue lift around to the road. Curve left off the road onto the Siberia Basin Loop trail. This trail crosses a meadow filled with a variety of wildflowers and expansive views. The trail loops before the steep area and meanders back to the Siberia Ridge Road, higher up the slope. Follow the road around the top of the High Camp meadow and back to High Camp.

Siberia Ridge Road
Moderate ~ 2.0 Miles ~ +690' / -490'

The trail begins at High Camp through the meadow to the top of the Gold Coast lift. Turn left around the meadow to follow Siberia Ridge Road next to sheer volcanic cliffs. Before reaching the top of Siberia lift, the trail turns right around the back of the peak and onto the road. The end of the trail features 360-degree views. The return trip is either back on the same trail or from the top of Siberia lift to the intersection with the Western States Trail.

Emigrant Peak Trail
Moderate ~ 1.4 Miles ~ +500'

Begin at the High Camp trailhead and hike across the meadow and up the road to the sign for Emigrant Trail. Turn right up the dirt road and trail that forks to the left into a stand of trees and up to the peak and monument.

Western States Trail Connector
Moderate ~ 2.0 Miles ~ +30' / -500'

This trail cuts across Siberia Bowl and continues downhill to intersect with the Western States Trail. Take Western States Trail uphill to Siberia Ridge Road and back to High Camp.

Shirley Lake & Solitude Trail Loop
Moderate ~ 2.3 Miles ~ +400' / -500'

Start at High Camp with a moderately steep downhill to Shirley Lake through granite outcrops, firs and hemlocks. Climb back up to High Camp on the steep and rockier Solitude Trail where there are many seasonal wildflowers.

HIKING TRAILS FROM THE VILLAGE

Prefer to start your hike from Olympic Valley? These iconic trails begin right from The Village and take you through forests, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and legendary Sierra terrain.

Trollstigen Trail
Easy ~ 0.7 Miles ~ +100' / -115'

This trail begins at the top of the small chairlift at SnoVentures at the east end of the parking lots. It winds through shady forest and ends at Everline Resort.

Shirley Canyon Trail
Strenuous ~ 3.5 Miles ~ +1,920' / -85'

Start at the Aerial Tram and follow Shirley Canyon Road to the trailhead. Climb through granite boulders and large Jeffrey Pines to a wooded trail along Shirley Creek. Then ascend a large granite slab with expansive views of Olympic Valley to another wooded trail to arrive at Shirley Lake, just below the bottom of the Solitude lift. From here, take Solitude Trail or Shirley Canyon Trail to High Camp, or return to The Village on the same trail.

World Cup Trail to Western States Trail
Moderate/Strenuous ~ 3.8 Miles ~ +670' / -760'

This trail climbs on World Cup Trail from The Village, turn left on the Western States Trail then through a mixed conifer forest, with views across Olympic Valley, and gradually down to a trailhead on Hwy 89 between Palisades and Alpine. The hike can be extended across Hwy 89 to the Tahoe Rim Trail. There’s a small parking area south of the Hwy 89 trailhead to accommodate a car shuttle for a one-way hike.

Western States Trail
Strenuous ~ 5.1 Miles ~ +2,835' / -665'

Begin across from the KT-22 lift on the World Cup Trail to the intersection with the Western States Trail. Turn right onto the trail. The trail hugs the high points of the southern side of the valley until it turns west under the Siberia lift to the Siberia Ridge Road.

Thunder Mountain Trail
Moderate/Strenuous ~ 3.4 Miles ~ +2,240' / -385'

This trail begins directly across from the base of the KT-22 lift. It climbs up through multiple ecosystems, including meadows, forest and granite. After the first mile, it crosses a creek on a bridge with a small waterfall. This trail features expansive views for most of the hike and has a more gradual ascent than the Shirley Canyon Trail.

Granite Chief Trail
Strenuous ~ 5.7 Miles ~ +2,270' / -460'

This trail starts near the Olympic Village Events Center. Cross numerous seasonal creeks and one permanent creek in the center of an open meadow. Then climb up granite steps and steeply through the woods to intersect with the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn left (south) on the PCT through beautiful granite formations and under the Granite Chief lift and down to an open meadow.

To get to High Camp, follow the directions for the PCT to Emigrant Peak (Watson Monument), then from Emigrant Peak to High Camp for an additional 2.2 miles.

Discover the Sierra

Every trail offers something different. Keep your eyes open for colorful wildflowers, towering pines, alpine wildlife, and sweeping mountain landscapes that make hiking at Palisades Tahoe unlike anywhere else.

Wildflowers
Depending on the season, you'll discover vibrant blooms throughout the mountain including lupine, mule ears, mariposa lilies, buckwheat, and dozens of other native Sierra wildflowers.

Wildlife
Palisades Tahoe is home to yellow-bellied marmots, black bears, coyotes, mountain cottontails, birds of prey, and countless native species. Please observe wildlife from a safe distance and help protect their natural habitat.

Trees
Explore forests filled with Jeffrey pines, white pines, mountain hemlock, red firs, junipers, and other native Sierra trees that have adapted to the rugged alpine environment over thousands of years.

Summer Experience

Summer is here! Check out the best activities in Olympic Valley and our suggested itineraries to maximize your fun.

Tram tickets

Take a scenic Aerial Tram ride to High Camp with views of Lake Tahoe.

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Ikon Pass App

The Ikon Pass app has replaced the Palisades Tahoe app. Now there's 1 great app to max your fun locally and unlock the best of every Ikon Pass destination worldwide.

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Ride the Aerial Tram to 8,200' and experience the beauty of High Camp.