Operations Update: The Last Dance

The good times at Palisades Tahoe roll on. The show goes on, and the art of sliding a piece of wood down a mountain continues. After a season full of uncertainty, our teams are doing everything possible to keep us skiing and riding through Memorial Day Weekend. This season delivered just about every emotion possible. We went from a below-average start, to massive storms, to spring conditions arriving way earlier than expected, all while constantly wondering what curveball Mother Nature would throw at us next. Yet somehow, here we are still lapping turns deep into May. That’s the resilience of the Spring Skiing Capital®.

If you haven’t been out here recently and you’re currently debating whether to click into your skis or dust off the mountain bike, our answer is simple: Do both. Multi-sport season is in full effect right now, and honestly, if you’re not squeezing at least two activities into a single day, are you even doing it correctly?

The weather has been glorious, the vibes are high, and the turns on the mountain have been ridiculously fun. While a lot of us will never come close to the feeling of getting barreled at Teahupoʻo or laying down stylish sprays on a perfectly peeling wave, the good news is the Shirley Wiggle has transformed into a surfy experience of its own. Slushy walls of snow creating endless opportunities to slash your way down the hill have made Shirley one of the most fun zones on the mountain right now.

The snowpack is melting fast, but are still an abundance of exceptional turns out there waiting to be had. So get out here and enjoy it while we still can. Because somehow, we’re down to just a little over a week left of the 25/26 season.

Weather & Conditions

The weather lately has been about as good as it gets for this time of year.

High pressure continues to settle over the Sierra, bringing mostly sunny skies, warm afternoons, and classic spring conditions through the weekend and into early next week.

Expect:

Highs in the 60s down at the base

50s up on the upper mountain

Calm weather and plenty of sunshine

Spring Turns Are in Prime Form

The daily cycle right now has been lining up beautifully. Cooler overnight temps are helping firm things up in the mornings before the sun softens the snow into smooth, playful turns throughout the day.

Lift & Terrain Operations

We miss you already Sibo. After delivering some all-time spring laps over the past few weeks, Siberia officially spun for the final time earlier this week. From steep soft turns to legendary sessions off the Palisades during some April pow days, that chair absolutely carried the vibe this spring and we know a lot of people got some unforgettable laps in out there.

Shirley Wiggle Season Is in Full Effect

If you’ve been thinking about getting a few more Shirley laps in consider this your sign. The Shirley Wiggles have reached peak spring form lately with playful slushy walls offering surf style turns. We anticipate to keep Shirley running as long as we can but coverage continues to thin quickly. Patrol will assess day by day

Terrain Parks

Gold Coast Park continues to feel like a full-on spring session every single day. The park crew has kept the setup looking incredible deep into May, and the vibe out there has been unreal lately. Don’t be surprised if you roll through the park and suddenly realize you’re sharing laps with a handful of pros casually reminding everyone exactly why they’ve got the sponsors they do. Gold Coast will remain spinning until closing day.

Lift and terrain status may change throughout the day. For the most up-to-date information, please check the Ikon Pass App or the Mountain Report before and during your visit.

Lift & Trail Status

Events & Activities

Made in Tahoe Spring Festival (May 23–24)

Closing weekend feels extra special with the return of the Made in Tahoe Spring Festival in The Village. This free two-day celebration brings together everything that makes Tahoe what it is: local artists, live music, breweries, food vendors, small businesses, and community organizations all coming together for one giant springtime Tahoe hangout. No better way to close out a ski day than trading your boots for flops and wandering through The Village with a local beverage in hand, listening to live music, and soaking in the atmosphere with the Tahoe community.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Multi-sport season is fully alive right now. Ski a few laps in the morning, then spend the afternoon cruising on an E-Bike, playing pickleball, riding the scenic Aerial Tram, or just soaking up the sunshine.

Events Calendar

Activity Finder

Spring Safety

Spring conditions continue to bring a little bit of everything, so staying aware out there is key. Expect firm mornings that soften into corn snow throughout the day, which can make for incredibly fun conditions but also changing surfaces as the day goes on. Be sure to adjust your speed and terrain choices as conditions evolve. Off-piste areas may still hold variable snow and natural hazards like rocks, stumps, and uneven terrain just below the surface.

Save Your Gas Money

Looking to keep things simple (and maybe save a few bucks at the pump)? There are plenty of easy ways to get to the mountain without driving yourself:

The TART bus is available from Truckee and Tahoe City

Resort transportation, including the Mountaineer, is available for guests staying in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows

The Final Push

It’s hard to believe we’re already here. After a season full of uncertainty, surprise storms, spring chaos, and somehow still finding ourselves skiing and riding deep into May, we’ve officially entered the final stretch of the 25/26 season.

A lot of us don’t seem quite ready to let go yet. Once the lifts stop spinning, ski and snowboard season kind of starts to feel like a long-distance relationship. You still love each other deeply, you’re just separated by months of waiting, reminiscing about good times, and scrolling through old clips wondering how something so beautiful had to end. So before we all trade snow reports for surf cams and ski boots for flip flops, now’s the time to squeeze every last bit of fun out of this season.

For some of you, this is also the final push to make some serious movement on the Ikon Pass app leaderboard. It’s coming down to the wire. And yes, that’s me sitting there in the #3 spot. I ride every single day to make sure these ops blogs are authentic to current conditions and not just some AI-generated piece pretending to know what a stylish spring carve feels like. So if you see me out there taking “research laps,” just know I’m working very hard for the people.

See you out on the hill.