Granite Chief
Palisades Tahoe
About this zone
This is classic Palisades backside skiing: quieter, more exploratory, and a little removed from the main flow. Getting here takes effort—up high, over Shirley, and down the backside—but once you arrive it feels like a different mountain. The terrain is mostly northeast-facing with a mix of trees, rolling pitches, and tucked-away lines, blending semi-developed trails with plenty of off-piste options. Main Backside and High Voltage form the obvious spines and see the most traffic, while the real character of the zone shows up when you stay high, traverse, and start poking around. Everything eventually funnels back toward Shirley and Granite, which makes it feel contained but still expansive.
Best When
This zone shines after storms and on cold, clear days when north-facing snow stays chalky or soft long after other areas have baked out. It’s a good place to lap if crowds are heavy elsewhere, assuming you’re willing to pay the access tax. Advanced skiers looking to explore will get the most out of it by traversing far skier’s right and dropping in later, where terrain opens up into favorites like Corkscrew and Black Forest. Grooming is inconsistent, so expectations should be flexible; when it’s untracked or lightly skied, it feels almost backcountry-adjacent.
Watch Out For
Access is slow and visibility can be flat when weather rolls in, which makes navigation trickier than it looks. Off the main routes, cliffs and rock bands come into play quickly, especially farther skier’s right, so first laps should be conservative. Dropping too early pulls you into Magoos, which may not be what you intended. Snow coverage matters here, and thin conditions can expose rocks in a hurry. This is advanced terrain that rewards patience and familiarity rather than blind charging.
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