Operations Update: Closing Time

Our 2 minus 1 lap is approaching, and the last dance is officially upon us. The final opportunity for chairlift banter, and laps with your crew is here. While Closing Weekend may not offer top to bottom terrain like midwinter, that has never really been what these weekends are about. It’s about the moments that made this season memorable. The kind of days that constantly put smiles on our faces and remind us why we care so deeply about sliding on snow in the first place.

This season of uncertainty has finally reached its closing chapter. What a weird and wildly resilient season it turned out to be. From a below-average start, to massive storms, to long stretches of warm weather and occasional rain, the 25/26 season constantly kept us guessing. Some may look back at this winter and call it disappointing. But if you were out there embracing the chaos and making the most of every condition Mother Nature threw our way, you might feel differently.

Despite it all, Palisades Tahoe will finish this season having operated 170 days of skiing and riding. If someone told us that in March, it probably would have sounded impossible. Getting to this point took an incredible amount of effort from our on-mountain teams. From Patrol crews adapting to rapidly changing conditions, to Terrain Park teams keeping the parks firing deep into spring, to Grooming crews farming and moving snow until they hit dirt, this season was only possible because of the people working behind the scenes every single day. So if you’re out here taking final laps this weekend, take a moment to appreciate the MVPs who helped keep this community sliding on snow all season long.

Throw those boots on one last time and be part of the Closing Weekend celebrations before we all spend the next few months fantasizing about our next stylish carve.

Weather & Conditions

Bryan’s final forecast of the 25/26 ski season has officially arrived, and honestly, it feels pretty fitting that we’ll be sliding into Closing Weekend with classic Tahoe spring weather.

Expect:

Mostly sunny skies

Highs in the 60s down at the base

50s up on the upper mountain

And potentially even 70 degrees in The Village by Closing Weekend

One Last Corn Harvest

The daily cycle has still been delivering quality spring skiing and riding. Cooler overnight temps continue to help firm things up in the mornings before the afternoon sun softens the snow into smooth, surfy turns.

A Season Like No Other

The final snowfall total for the season landed at 363 inches on the upper mountain, roughly 85% of average snowfall.

And somehow, that number still doesn’t fully explain how strange this winter really was.

This season brought:

A late start

Massive December and February storms

Zero inches of snow in March

An above-average April

Long dry spells

Record warmth

And somehow still… all-time powder days mixed in between it all

But despite all the unpredictability, the season still delivered unforgettable days, deep powder, spring slush laps, and a whole lot of memories. And really, that’s what it’s all about.

Lift & Terrain Operations

For Closing Weekend, Shirley Lake and Gold Coast will remain spinning for skiing and riding operations.

Shirley continues to offer some of the most fun turns on the mountain with soft surfy wiggles, playful slush walls, and groomers that have been absolutely ripping.

Gold Coast Park is still in full party mode. The terrain park crew has continued putting out an incredibly fun setup deep into May, and the spring park scene has been firing with everything from mellow progression features to larger jumps and rails keeping the sessions alive until the very end.

Plenty of good turns still left on the menu.

Looking Ahead to Summer Operations

As the ski and snowboard season wraps up, the adventures are far from over. Summer operations are right around the corner, and the Aerial Tram will continue offering access to High Camp, scenic views, hiking trails, and alpine adventures throughout the summer season.

Summer 2026 Tram Schedule

Memorial Day (Monday, May 25): Tram open

May 29 – June 14: Open Friday–Sunday only

June 19 – September 7: Open daily

September 8: Tram closes for the summer season

26/27 Ikon Pass holders can ride the Tram all summer long. The hiking trails are already starting to fire, wildflowers are beginning to bloom, and the mountain is quickly transitioning into summer mode.

Events & Activities

Made in Tahoe Spring Festival (May 23–24)

This free two-day event transforms The Village into a giant Tahoe community hangout featuring local artists, live music, breweries, food vendors, small businesses, and community organizations all showcasing what makes this place so special.

There may not be a better Closing Weekend formula than spring laps in the morning followed by wandering through The Village with live music playing and a beverage of choice in hand.

Choose Your Own Adventure

While winter may be winding down, multi-sport season is just getting started. The Village Activity Center is quickly becoming the hub for all things summer, making it easier than ever to turn an ordinary day into a full-blown Tahoe adventure.

Events Calendar

Activity Finder

Spring Safety Check

Expect firm mornings that soften into corn snow throughout the day, creating incredibly fun conditions but also changing surfaces as the day goes on. Be sure to adjust your speed and terrain choices as conditions evolve throughout the day. 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

Until Next Time

What a ride it’s been.

These ops blogs started as a way to keep everyone informed about conditions and operations, but over the course of this season they became something much more fun. A place to celebrate the weirdness of this winter, laugh at the chaos together, appreciate the hard work happening behind the scenes, but deep down, get this community fired up to go skiing and snowboarding every single week.

Thank you for reading these blogs week after week. Thank you for sharing the stoke, the memories, the lift line convos, and most importantly, the love for this place that constantly makes all of us want to come back for one more lap. Whether you were out there every single day or only made it up a handful of times this season, hopefully these blogs helped capture what made this winter special: the people, the vibes, and the best friggin feeling in the world of sliding on snow.

Soon enough, we’ll be sitting on beaches, riding bikes, hiking trails, and invested in the summer season. While we may be enjoying the moment and embracing the changing of seasons, we’ll all continue to fantasize over the next time Earth’s greatest substance falls from the sky. That long-distance relationship with winter never really gets easier. So for one final time this season: throw those boots on and enjoy Closing Weekend at the Spring Skiing Capital®. Thanks for continuing to make this place legendary.