2024 Local Host City: Olympic Valley

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Halfway between Truckee and Lake Tahoe is Olympic Valley, home of famed and blissful Palisades Resort*. Visit the scenic mountain resort of Olympic Valley for endless outdoor adventures. From skiing and snowboarding to wilderness hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, the area is a sought-after year-round destination. Olympic Valley rose to fame in 1960 when it hosted the Winter Olympics. Palisades Tahoe is located within the ancestral territory of the Washoe people.

The heart of Olympic Valley is the Palisades Resort, a ski resort spread across six striking mountain peaks. Palisades Tahoe is the largest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region, with an impressive 6,000 skiable acres. The more than 70-year-old resort celebrates a rich history to accompany the 1960 Winter Olympics, such as being named the Spring Skiing Capital and home to dozens of Olympic and World Cup athletes across multiple snow sports. With an average annual snowfall of 400 inches, Palisades frequently operates the longest ski and snowboard season in Lake Tahoe, attracting approximately 600,000 skiers a year.

Though snow sports are the primary activity, from country skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, and snowshoeing, the Olympic Valley area is home to an outdoor paradise once the snowmelts, including an extensive Sierra trail network that includes hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Follow trails through the colorful alpine meadows of the Granite Chief Wilderness or rent a bike to explore the family-friendly biking trails along the Truckee River.

After a day full of recreational activities, visit the Village at Palisades. The Village at Palisades Tahoe offers year-round events and over 50 bars, restaurants, and retail outlets in Bavarian-style buildings, many which are locally owned and operated. Enjoy spa treatments, take part in yoga classes, or ride the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram to High Camp, an activity center set on an 8,200-foot-high peak. Check out the work of extreme sports photographer, Keoki Flagg, in the Keoki Gallery.

Reach Olympic Valley by flying to Reno-Tahoe International Airport or Sacramento International Airport. Olympic Valley is a short drive from the beaches of Tahoe State Recreation Area, including Hurricane Bay.

Fun Fact: Palisades Tahoe is designated a California Historical Landmark and named a Pioneer Ski Area of America.

(*In 2021 the resort changed its name, trading in a harmful slur for a name that better reflects its values and legacy.)