Take to the Trails: High Camp

If you’re looking for some high elevation views with low hiking effort, Palisades has got you covered. From the Base Area, you can take our Aerial Tram up to High Camp, the starting point for many beautiful trails with views of the Lake and some of our highest peaks. Check out the field of Mules’ Ear in the meadow, hike to the top of Emigrant Peak, stride along in the Siberia Basin, or scout your Palisades line on the Siberia Ridge. There are many options to add more mileage or loop back whenever you want. See more full reviews of the High Camp Trails below.

High Camp Loop

Name | Distance (full loop) | Elevation Gain | Difficulty | Highlights/Notes
High Camp Loop | 1 Mile | 190 Feet | Easy | Field of Mule’s Ear, No Snow

From the top of the tram building, you walk right out onto the High Camp Loop Trail. You can do this loop on its own, connect it to other trails, or sign up for a free guided tour with a naturalist to hike it! The loop begins on a gravel road along the ridge right above the gnarliest double black diamond terrain Palisades has to offer. As you walk the ridge, take a moment to look down at the steep sections of skiing below, then continue up along the gravel path to the top of the Silverado chair. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildflowers popping up. If you are on a guided hike, our naturalists will tell you their names. They’ll also point out all sorts of cool stuff on the side of the trail! Like the burn scar on a tree that was struck by lightning, or how the willows crowd around the seasonal stream running through the meadow. You’ll circle back to High Camp by walking under the Mountain Meadow chair and through the field of Mule’s Ear wildflowers. This is a quick trail filled with fun sights for the whole family. We highly recommend taking a free guided tour to get the most out of your time in this unique environment.

Emigrant Peak Trail

Name | Distance (one way) | Elevation Gain | Difficulty | Highlights/Notes
Emigrant Peak Trail | 1.4 Miles | 500 Feet | Moderate | Views from the Peak, Some Snow

If you want to extend your trail travel and bag a peak while you’re up high already, Emigrant has got your name on it. At 8,774 feet, Emigrant Peak is our third-highest mountain at Palisades Tahoe, and the summit boasts beautiful views in every direction. To get there, you can start on the High Camp loop up to the cutoff just before the top of the Big Blue Chair. From here, you’ll follow the gravel road underneath the Emigrant chair lift, then turn right to enter the switchbacks, which lead you up to the peak. This section is short but steep. Be sure to bring water and wear good shoes while traveling on the trail. Once at the top, take in all the sights before heading back down the switchbacks to High Camp or keep the adventure going by heading towards Siberia.

Siberia Basin and Ridge Trails

Name | Distance | Elevation Gain | Difficulty | Highlights/Notes
Siberia Basin Loop | 2.5 Miles (full loop) | 200 Feet | Easy | Great route through the ski trails, Lots of snow
Siberia Ridge Road | 2.1 Miles (one way) | 690 Feet | Moderate | Wa She Shu Peak Option, Some snow

The main face of Siberia is no joke. If you have skied here before, you know how steep and fun that groomed black diamond face can be. However, don’t let that winter picture stop you from checking this spot out in the summer. We have two trails to choose from that lead you over to close-up sights of the Palisades, from above or below.

The first option is the Siberia Basin Loop. This loop easily connects to the High Camp Loop, so it can be a simple addition if you get to the junction and are eager for more. The basin trail takes you across the mountain towards the Palisades. You’ll move under the Emigrant chairlift, then under Gold Coast before looping up and around back to the gravel road to High Camp. The loop adds 1.5 miles to the High Camp Loop and is a great option if you want some more trail and a little added elevation.

The second option is to check out the Siberia Ridge Road, a continuation of the gravel road. This road goes from High Camp, under Emigrant Peak Trail, and up to the top of the Siberia chair. You will walk under large rock walls and high peaks on your right, with epic views of the lake to the left. Once you reach the top of the Siberia lift, look down the face to see how steep it is in the summer! Here you can turn back and walk towards High Camp, or head up to the top of Wa She Shu Peak. The gravel road will take you around the back and all the way up. You can explore the flat top of the mountain, once used as a weather research station, and scout your line down the chutes. Be careful and check the time, the last tram downloads at 5pm!

High Camp is your one-stop shop for a scenic ride, a bite to eat, and a bit of adventure. Come and learn from our naturalists on the High Camp Loop. Extend your hike through the Siberia Basin or get your peaks in with Emigrant and Wa She Shu. There are plenty of options for activity here in the summer. And the best part is that there is something for every ability level. Hiking isn’t your jam? Hang out at High Camp, where we have activities like roller skating and mini golf. You can always meet up with the hikers later at Granite Bistro or the Marketplace for a meal with an epic view.

The options are endless, and they start with one iconic ride. Get your fast pass for hiking with our Aerial Tram and we will see you on the trails!

Summer Report

Palisades Tahoe Hiking Guide

Aerial Tram Operations

Lake Tahoe Packing Guide