Palisades Tahoe to Close 2025–26 Season Early

Palisades Tahoe, the self-proclaimed "Spring Skiing Capital of North America," announced Tuesday that it will shutter its lifts for the 2025–26 season roughly a month earlier than planned. The move follows a record-breaking March heatwave that has decimated the Sierra Nevada snowpack, forcing the region’s largest resort to abandon its traditional Memorial Day closing target.

Historically the last major resort in the Lake Tahoe region to close each season, Palisades had originally aimed to operate through May 25. However, management confirmed that operations will now likely conclude in late April, though a specific final day remains fluid depending on how much of the remaining snow survives the coming weeks.

A "Crashed" Snowpack

The decision comes as a direct response to a "marathon" heatwave that has seen March temperatures average 44°F—a staggering 9.3°F above the historical mean.

The impact on the mountain has been visible and swift:

• Snowpack Levels: The resort’s base has plummeted to just 20% of the seasonal average.

• Driest March on Record: Meteorologists report that 2026 is on track to be the driest March for the region since daily record-keeping began in 1970.

• Terrain Loss: Popular lower-mountain thoroughfares, including the iconic Mountain Run, are already riddled with large dirt patches. As of this week, only 30% of the resort’s trails remain open, with operations largely consolidated to high-elevation zones like Gold Coast and Shirley Lake.

"Mother Nature Wins"

The early closure is a significant blow to a resort that prides itself on its longevity. In recent high-snow years, Palisades has famously stayed open through the Fourth of July.

The resort had been targeting a Memorial Day closing date of May 25 but said conditions have forced it to revise that timetable and is now aiming to operate only through “late April,” a date the resort cautioned is not guaranteed and remains dependent on weather.

Resort officials pointed to an unusually warm, dry March that accelerated snowmelt across the Sierra Nevada, leaving exposed and patchy terrain and shrinking base depths on many runs. Forecasters have recorded temperatures well above average for the month, and operators said even late‑season storms are unlikely to meaningfully reverse the rapid melt.

“We always welcome late‑season storms, but with warmer temperatures that snow tends to melt quickly,” a Palisades Tahoe spokesperson said, noting the resort would continue to operate “as long as conditions allow” while prioritizing guest and employee safety.

The early closure at Palisades follows a string of premature shutdowns and revised closing dates across the Tahoe region this spring as resorts contend with a volatile pattern of heavy early‑season snowfall followed by prolonged warm spells and dry stretches that have rapidly diminished snowpacks. Industry forecasters say the pattern underscores growing challenges for spring operations in the region.

Palisades Tahoe said it will continue to monitor forecasts and conditions and will update guests and pass holders through its website and social channels.

A Regional Trend

Palisades is not alone in its struggle. The unprecedented spring warmth has triggered a domino effect of early closures across the Tahoe Basin:

• Homewood and Sierra-at-Tahoe both ceased operations on March 22.

• Heavenly and Northstar are currently projecting mid-April closures, significantly earlier than their usual windows.

• Alpine Meadows, Palisades’ sister resort, is now targeting April 5 for its final day.

Despite the shortened season, Palisades Tahoe intends to host its scheduled spring events through the end of April, including the Toyota U.S. Mogul Freestyle Championships, as a final send-off to a challenging winter.