Snowbirds and powder hounds rejoice! Winter is just around the corner which means it’s time to start planning your winter trips. Take in a ski movie premiere, wax those skis, and get ready for another legendary season. Here’s the Truckee Tahoe ski resorts opening dates for the 2023-24 ski season and what to expect for opening day.
What To Expect
While snowflakes can fall in some years as early as September, all ski resort opening dates are at the whim of Mother Nature. Resorts will begin making snow as soon as the weather allows. Don’t expect the entire mountain to be open but rather a handful of trails. On the other end of the spectrum, sometimes the Sierra has a trick up its sleeve, and we receive a big early storm as it did in 2021 and Palisades started turning lifts in October. In summary, all the Truckee-Tahoe opening dates listed below are tentative so check with the resort before arriving.
Think Of It As A Test Flight
Most likely, opening day isn’t going to be about skiing waist deep powder. But instead, a dry run to make sure everything is working correctly. If you have a season pass, it’s a good idea to log into your account(s) ahead of time and make sure your pass info is up to date. Are your ski boots fitting correctly? Do your pants still fit comfortably? Are those skis feeling sluggish on the snow? Your goggles may have worked fine last year but now they’re fogging up. Or maybe you just can’t find your jacket. Truckee’s gear boutiques and ski shops are some of the best in the country. This is your opportunity to find what you need and support the local community.
Embrace Après
Après & skiing have been intertwined since the advent of sliding down a mountain was perfected. And in Truckee, the spirit of après is in its soul. You may come for skiing, but on Opening Day, the focus should be on celebrating a new beginning to the ski season. Concentrate on reconnecting with friends and catch up on what they’ve been doing during the off season. Use this trip to give yourself some “Me” time and a bit of self care. Explore some of the new restaurants that have opened in the past few years. And try our award-winning breweries and wine bars.
Be Flexible
As we said earlier, opening day at the ski resorts is dependent on Mother Nature. Daylight might be more of a commodity, but similar to spring skiing, this time of year offers the opportunity to do a few activities in the same day. Go snowboarding in the morning followed by a bike ride. In the afternoon, let your kid be a kid at Tahoe’s only children’s museum - KidZone or enjoy a stroll in Donner Memorial State Park.
Ski Area Parking Reservations Required on Weekends and Holidays
To help mitigate traffic and road congestion, Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California are implementing reservations-based parking plans for weekends and holiday peak periods. If you’re planning a trip to Truckee-Tahoe during those times, it’s critical to plan ahead and make your parking reservations WELL IN ADVANCE. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to book lodging and make dinner reservations too.
- Palisades Tahoe Parking Reservations: Paid Parking Reservations go live on Monday, October 30th and FREE reservations will go live on Tuesday, November 28th.
- Northstar California Parking Reservations
Scheduled Opening Dates (Updated Dec 8th)
Check the Truckee-Tahoe Travel Alert for weather and snow updates. Here's the latest on what you can expect on the slopes this winter. *All opening dates are weather and conditions dependent, and subject to change.
Palisades Tahoe
OPEN
All downhill ski fans listen up. The Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup is back for a second year as a stop on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Tour! The event returns Feb. 23-25, 2024. Palisades continues to invest in its infrastructure by replacing the 25 -year old Funitel Haul Rope with a new galvanized one that spans almost seven miles. The upgrade follows last year’s additions of the long-awaited Base to Base Gondola helping give skiers and snowboarders uninterrupted access to all 6,000 acres for both Palisades Tahoe and Palisades Tahoe Alpine as well as the upgrade of the Red Dog lift to be a high-speed six-pack.
Northstar California Resort
OPEN
New this season is the Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket technology that will be available to guests on the new My Epic app. With this technology, guests will be able to store their pass directly on their phone, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free, via Bluetooth® Low Energy technology.
Sugar Bowl Resort
OPEN
California's pioneer in downhill skiing, Sugar Bowl Resort isn't just a classic. It's a timeless icon. Established in 1939, this year it’s celebrating its 85th anniversary to show that just like a cardigan, it never goes out of style. As they embark on this exciting journey, they've welcomed fresh faces to their leadership team and invested in epic on-mountain experiences. Think new snow grooming tech, a ski racing venue, and a cozy warming hut. They’ll also be sweetening up their offerings at Sugar Rush tubing and snow play park.
Boreal Mountain California
OPEN
Opening day is ON at Boreal Mountain California! The Castle Peak Quad will be spinning from 9am - 8pm, providing terrain access to South 40 and Big Blue with 15 terrain features (subject to change). Rentals, retail, the Boreal Eatery, and Hub & Spoke (bar only) will also be open to power your turns all day!
GoTime Tickets continues this season by allowing you to pick the time you want to start. The later in the day it is, the more you’ll save. Another option is the Play Forever Fridays which happen once a month and provide you the opportunity to pick up a lift ticket for ONLY $25. $5 of each ticket sold goes back to a local nonprofit picked for the month.
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort
OPEN
For the 2023/24 season, Tahoe Donner is beefing up their kids' programs as well as their senior race programs. Committed to being “the best place to begin,” they offer ski instruction for children as young as 3 years old. Get to Tahoe Donner using TART Connect this winter, Truckee's free on-demand shuttle!
Diamond Peak
OPEN
Visitors at the Base Lodge Provisions food court will immediately spot the recent remodel. They’ve given the space a stylish facelift for aesthetics and practicality. The new design is focused on getting everyone in and out faster so you can spend more time playing in the snow. This includes optimizing food storage and prep areas for efficiency in the back as well. In addition to the spiffy new look, the resort has also leveled up with an eco-friendly PistenBully 600 W winch cat. This powerful beast packs higher power and torque, all while reducing exhaust emissions and sipping fuel frugally. Skiing just got a whole lot greener and smoother!
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center
OPEN
Over at the XC Ski Center they’re determined to kick off the season with a bang. Their goal is to be the first on the trails by using their dedicated snowmaking system, promising top-notch early-season trail conditions. If that wasn’t enough, they’re also introducing a new XC Masters Training Group every Friday morning.
Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort
OPEN
The largest cross-country ski center in North America is making big strides this winter. They've upgraded their fleet with the addition of a brand-new Prinoth Husky X snowcat, exclusively assigned to keep our cross-country trails pristine. This cutting-edge snowcat follows Tier 4 emissions standards, meaning it's an eco-hero. With a whopping 90% reduction in emissions, they're not just grooming trails. They're taking care of the environment too.
