Palisades vs. Heavenly
If you hold Ikon or Epic, your pass decides this. If you hold neither, go to Palisades for sheer amount of terrain and Heavenly for the longest runs and a town to come back to.
Last reviewed Nov 7, 2026 · Independent, not affiliated with any resort
How we'd decide
These two sit on opposite passes and opposite ends of the lake, so most people aren't really choosing between mountains. They're choosing a side. Palisades is Ikon and sits on the I-80 side, off SR-89. Heavenly is Epic and sits above South Lake Tahoe on the US-50 side. Don't plan on doing both from one base, because crossing the lake in a storm can be a real problem.
On size, Palisades wins the count: 6,000 acres, 39 lifts and 288 trails against Heavenly's 4,800 acres, 28 lifts and 111 trails. Those Palisades figures combine both sides of the resort, Palisades and Alpine, linked by the Base-to-Base Gondola. Heavenly wins on height, with 3,500 feet of vertical to 2,850 and a 10,067-foot summit.
Palisades is the shorter drive from the Bay Area, about 3 hr 39 min from San Francisco to Heavenly's 3 hr 58 min with no traffic. Where you sleep matters more. Olympic Valley puts you at the Palisades lifts with a village around you, and South Lake Tahoe gives you the busier strip, the casinos and the most affordable rooms on the lake.
The numbers, side by side
Palisades
Heavenly
Drive time, no traffic or chain controls
Resort stats last re-checked Jul 15, 2026. Terrain shares are the resorts' own numbers (advanced includes expert) and may not add up to 100%. Snowfall numbers vary by source, so take them as rough. Opening dates still ahead are targets, and snow can move them.
Parking
Palisades
Reservations are required on weekends from Dec 5, 2026 to Apr 11, 2027, and every day of the holiday periods: Dec 19 to Jan 3, Jan 16-18 and Feb 13-21. Most are free, including Carpool 4+, and paid spots you can book ahead are $30 a day. Free reservations for the coming weekend open Tuesdays at noon and 7pm. After 1pm on those days parking is free with no reservation, and non-holiday weekdays need none. Parking without a reservation, or not cancelling an unused one by 9am, brings a $100 violation.
Official parking page ↗(opens in a new tab)Heavenly
California Base parking needs a reservation on weekends from Dec 12, 2026 to Apr 4, 2027, plus Dec 19 to Jan 3 (not Christmas Day), Jan 18, Feb 15 and Feb 19. It's $20, free with 4+ people (still reserve) or after 11:30am. Bookings are open. Boulder and Stagecoach lots stay free.
Official parking page ↗(opens in a new tab)Before you drive, check live chain control and the snow report. To price the trip, try the trip cost estimator.
Common questions
- Is Palisades or Heavenly bigger?
- By acres, Palisades, at 6,000 against 4,800, counting both of its sides together. By vertical, Heavenly, at 3,500 feet against 2,850.
- Which gets more snow?
- Palisades reports about 400 inches a year and Heavenly about 251. Those figures vary by source, so treat them as a rough guide rather than a reason to choose.
- Can I ski both on one trip?
- Only with a move in the middle. Base on the side you'll ski most, and treat crossing the lake as a day you commit to, not a routine.
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