Sierra Sightseeing Pass: Full-Day Itinerary on the Base to Base Gondola, Aerial Tram, and Funitel

One of the best ways to see the Lake Tahoe region and the surrounding mountains is from one of our three enclosed lifts. Palisades Tahoe has the unique position of having a Gondola, an Aerial Tram, and a Funitel, and you can ride all three of them when you visit us. Our Sightseeing Package gives you all-day unlimited access to ride these three lifts as much as you want. If you’re not in the mood to ski or snowboard, or you’re looking for a different perspective on how to enjoy Palisades Tahoe, we’ve got the perfect itinerary crafted for you:

I. The Aerial Tram

Start your morning off with our most popular sightseeing option, the Aerial Tram. This ride takes you from 6,200 feet elevation in The Village at Palisades Tahoe up to 8,200 feet, where you can see the stunning Sierra Nevada all the way to Desolation Wilderness, and the gleaming blue of Lake Tahoe from above. Up at High Camp, you’ll want to check out:

The Olympic Museum. This free museum showcases memorabilia from the 1960 Winter Olympics, which were hosted here at Palisades Tahoe.

The Washoe Tribe Display. This free display was co-curated with the Washoe Tribe and discusses the tribe’s vibrant history in the area, as well as provides some background on Palisades Tahoe’s name change.

Terrace Restaurant. Combine world-class cuisine with a mountain casual dress code! The Terrace features panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras.

High Camp Marketplace. If you’re in need of a coffee or a quick snack, swing by our High Camp Marketplace for hand-crafted beverages and one of our many grab-and-go options.

Alexander’s Bar. If you are craving a drink in an intimate bar with craft cocktails, this is the place to be. Overlook Olympic Valley with a specialty drink and bar snacks.

What To Expect for Your Aerial Tram Ride

The Aerial Tram is typically open from 9am-4pm in the winter, weather and conditions permitting. On windy or stormy days, the Aerial Tram sometimes closes.

The Aerial Tram leaves every 15-20 minutes from both The Village at Palisades Tahoe and High Camp. The first ride up is at 9am and the last ride down is at 4:20pm.

The Aerial Tram ride is just under 10 minutes each way.

The Aerial Tram cabins can hold up to 85 people at one time.

II. The Base to Base Gondola

After you’ve ventured to High Camp, you’ll want to jump on the newly-opened Base to Base Gondola. This lift was a dream in the making for more than 70 years, and opened at long last in December 2022. The Base to Base Gondola travels between our two mountains, connecting The Village at Palisades Tahoe and the Alpine Lodge. The Base to Base Gondola crosses from the resort’s property through private land, offering views of untouched wilderness and glimpses of Lake Tahoe in the distance.

What to Expect for Your Base to Base Gondola Ride

You’ll first travel from The Village up to the top of KT-22, one of Palisades Tahoe’s most legendary (and most advanced) chairlifts. You won’t disembark here — Just take in the sights and you’ll continue on.

After passing through one more mid-station, you’ll find yourself exiting the Gondola on the deck of the Alpine Lodge. On a sunny day, this is a fun place to sit and enjoy some food or a beer while watching skiers and snowboarders make their way back to the base area.

The Base to Base Gondola is open from 9am-4pm daily in the winter, weather and conditions permitting. On windy days, the Gondola may only open for skiing and riding, not for sightseeing.

The Base to Base Gondola takes 15-20 minutes each way. It leaves constantly; You may walk right up and enter the next cabin as soon you have scanned your ticket.

Cabins can hold up to 8 seated people at one time.

III. The Funitel

The Funitel is the powerhouse of skiing and riding at Palisades Tahoe. This lift takes people from The Village at Palisades Tahoe up to the Gold Coast area and is especially popular right at 9am. This is why we recommend saving the Funitel for the afternoon. While there aren’t museums or non-ski activities at the top of the Funitel, there are great views, especially of our namesake, The Palisades, a rock formation that hosts serious powder-day throwdowns with some of the best skiers and riders in the game. Plus, the Gold Coast area has a sunny deck and multiple dining options for you to choose from.

What to Expect from your Funitel Ride

The Funitel is open 9am-4pm daily in the winter, weather and conditions permitting. The Funitel usually can withstand wind the best out of the three enclosed lifts, but it does go on wind hold sometimes.

The Funitel takes about 10 minutes to get you to the top of the mountain or back down.

Funitel cabins can hold up to 25 people, but it is usually less when you account for ski equipment.

There are both seated and standing lines for the Funitel; make sure you pay attention to the signage if you’d like to be seated for the ride!

On busy days, you may not get a cabin all to yourself.

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