Jackson Hole vs Palisades Tahoe
One calibrated, SNOTEL-backed look at snowfall, forecast accuracy, and access — so you know which to ski.
Jackson Hole
WY · 10,450 ft
Palisades Tahoe
CA · 9,050 ft
pending
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Jackson Hole | Palisades Tahoe |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Wyoming WY | Tahoe CA |
| Summit elevation | 10,450 ft 6,311 ft base | 9,050 ft 6,200 ft base |
| NWS accuracy grade | A NWS underpredicts | Pending limited verified storms |
| Calibrated season snowfall | 27" 20 storms | 38" 11 storms |
| Avg storm-day rate | 1.3"/day | 2.7"/day |
| Best storm | 70/100 Significant | 81/100 Epic |
| Verified storms | 119 SNOTEL-verified | 111 SNOTEL-verified |
| Community reports | 960 TGR posts | 198 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | JAC | RNO |
| Drive time | 0.25h 10 mi · JAC | 0.83h 42 mi · RNO |
| Access difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Pass | Ikon | Ikon |
Snowfall totals and NWS grades come from the same SNOTEL-verified data on each resort's own page. Blank or “pending” cells mean the data is still being verified — we never fill them with estimates.
The Verdict
Jackson Hole carries a verified NWS accuracy grade of A; Palisades Tahoe's grade is pending on limited verified storms.
Palisades Tahoe got more snow this season — 38" of calibrated snowfall versus 27" at Jackson Hole. Palisades Tahoe also averaged 2.7"/storm-day.
Jackson Hole is the easier trip — about 0.25h from JAC (Jackson), versus 0.83h from RNO for Palisades Tahoe.
Best for
Jackson Hole — quick-strike trips — the easier drive at ~0.25h from JAC.
Best for
Palisades Tahoe — chasing the biggest totals — it out-snowed Jackson Hole this season.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelJackson Hole
Ski during active snowfall when others bail for lighter crowds.
Palisades Tahoe
Monitor Pali Face opening time (often 11:30 AM with metered access).
FAQ
Does Jackson Hole or Palisades Tahoe get more snow?
Palisades Tahoe got more snow this season — 38" of calibrated snowfall versus 27" at Jackson Hole. Palisades Tahoe also averaged 2.7"/storm-day.
Is Jackson Hole or Palisades Tahoe easier to get to?
Jackson Hole is the easier trip — about 0.25h from JAC (Jackson), versus 0.83h from RNO for Palisades Tahoe.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Jackson Hole or Palisades Tahoe?
Jackson Hole carries a verified NWS accuracy grade of A; Palisades Tahoe's grade is pending on limited verified storms.
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