Tahoe Via Ferrata
Private 4-Hour Tour
Private 4-Hour Tour
2 person – $430/person
3 person – $336/person
4 person – $290/person
5 person – $261/person
6 person – $243/person
2 person – $483/person
3 person – $381/person
4 person – $331/person
5 person – $300/person
6 person – $280/person
Take your mountain experience to new heights by climbing the iconic Tram Face at Palisades Tahoe Resort!
Owned and operated by Alpenglow Expeditions, the Tahoe Via Ferrata is a fixed climbing route on a towering granite peak known as the Tram Face. Via Ferrata, which means “Iron Road” in Italian, is a protected hiking and climbing experience that is accessible to all ability levels. Equipped with steel cables, bridges, and permanent steel anchors, the Via Ferrata aids climbers in ascending steep terrain without the need of prior climbing experience or technical knowledge.
All groups are professionally guided up one of our four routes while secured to the rock with specialized equipment including a harness, safety lanyard and helmet. The Tahoe Via sets itself apart from other Via Ferratas with its “Continuous Lifeline System”. With this system, climbers never detach from the rock and feel secure throughout the whole experience.
Read more below to learn what to expect!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR 4 HOUR SESSION
Booth Arrival / Check In
All tours begin when climbers arrive at our booth in Tram Plaza at the start of their indicated reservation time. Check in happens immediately with our office staff and climbers will then be introduced to their climbing guide for the day.
Please arrive promptly at your scheduled start time, there’s no need to come early since we’ve built-in extra time to get geared up. Be aware that if you are more than 15 minutes late, you will miss your ride to the base of the climb and forfeit your spot on the tour.
Gearing Up
Once introduced to their climbing guide, all climbers are geared up with a rental harness, lanyard, and helmet. The safety equipment rentals are included in the cost of the tour. All climbers will quickly get fitted and the guide will go over proper fit as well as the safety features of each item.
If climbers do not have proper shoes, or want to upgrade their footwear, we offer special Via Ferrata shoe rentals for $10/day.
4×4 Mountain Shuttle
As soon as everyone is geared up, the group will head up the mountain in one of our 4×4 vehicles to the start of the climb. During the drive to the base of the routes, we pass through the heart of the Palisades Tahoe ski area while enjoying fantastic views of the valley, forests, cliffs, and creeks. After a 10-minute drive, a short walk brings us to the base of the Tahoe Via Ferrata.
Start the climb
At the base of the routes, our climbing guide will orient climbers to the “Continuous Lifeline System” with a brief overview of all safety systems. All of the climbing routes start with a short beginner section called “Flamingo Buttress” to allow new climbers to practice sliding their carabiner along the cable before going higher.
Climb One of Two Routes
During each session, our guides assess their group after climbing the Flamingo Buttress and choose the route that fits best with everyone’s pace, ability, and comfort. One route is not harder than the other, and they both possess unique features and experiences.
Route Description: The Sundial Arête
After moving through the Flamingo Buttress, the start of the Sundial Arête shares the first 100’ with the Skyline Traverse before taking a right. Climbing through steepening terrain directly above the Village at Palisades Tahoe, climbers begin slowly gaining exposure from below. After a short but nearly vertical section, the route begins to weave back and forth among granite towers. Climbers won’t forget to wave hello to the world-famous Palisades Tahoe Tram as it passes overhead full of amazed onlookers. Nearing the top of the Tram Face, climbers find themselves scrambling along a rocky ridge with incredible views of Shirley Canyon. Topping off the route, climbers cross a final airy and steep span, ending on a tiny bluff dubbed the “Island in the Sky”. It’s at this point that both routes rejoin before finishing together with one last airy section of climbing.
Route Description: The Skyline Traverse.
Sharing the same section of climbing for about 100’ as the Sundial Arete, the Skyline Traverse breaks left while evoking an exploratory feel as it ventures up towards a series of slabs and ledges. After navigating the lower slabs, climbers will encounter a narrow chimney feature climbing right through the mountain. Once through the chimney section, the route moves through another ledge system before arriving at a bridge called “Monkey in the Middle”. Climbers will cross one at a time while posing for those instagram photos. Continuing to move up, it seems at each corner there is another angle to see and another playful section of climbing. Once near the top of the route, climbers must cross the 50-foot-long “Super Monkey Bridge,” using only one cable for their feet and one cable for hands. Once complete, the route joins the Sundial Arête for one final airy span directly below the large tram tower sitting atop the cliff.
Descent from the Summit
After summiting, groups will enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of Olympic Valley while taking some photos to remember the experience.
From here, a short but beautiful hike along the ridge offers stunning views of Shirley Canyon, KT-22, and many other surrounding peaks. The hike ends at a mountain road where our 4×4 vehicle will be waiting to give a quick ride back to the village, where climbers can turn around and view the epic face they just climbed. Gear gets returned to the office, and future climbing plans are made.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
RECOMMENDED FITNESS LEVEL
HEIGHT & WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Book My Via Tour Now
Private 4-Hour TourTruly World-Class Experience
This is an absolutely incredible addition to Palisades and Lake Tahoe. Truly WORLD CLASS experience. From folks in the office, to Scotty and Sydney (our guides), everyone was wonderful. The staff knows their stuff and the actual experience of standing on and traversing across the fabled Tram Face, unreal! This is not just a Tahoe “must do,” but one for California!
Brandon W.
Absolutely Unforgettable
I am not going to lie I am a little scared of heights, and I had so much fun! Our Guides were amazing, and to experience the tram face this way was absolutely unforgettable. With no hesitation, I would recommend you do this.
Brooklyn N.
Great Experience With The Whole Family
We had a blast on the course with Jarad as our guide. He was very patient with us the whole trip and was very knowledgeable about the process. The course did have some challenging parts but everyone in our party was able to complete the whole course. This is a great activity and would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun adventure. Thanks again Jarad!
Nancy B.
A Fun Activity For People Of Varying Ages And Fitness Levels.
We had a great day climbing the Via with Tim. His instruction was very clear and we quickly got the hang of it. It felt like just the right mix of slight challenge but basically very comfortable. The holds are all in the right places. It was a beautiful day and the views were spectacular. A fun activity for people of varying ages and fitness levels.
Gary S
Beyond My Expectations
We had the best time EVER!!! It was beyond my expectations of what I thought it would be like. Our guide (Dave Nettle) was AMAZING!!! He made the adventure so fun for our family (myself, my sister and my 18 year old daughter). Dave was so knowledgeable, experienced, and best of all FUN. Not to mention that he made us feel safe and secure as there were some pretty exciting (challenging) parts on the climb. I would LOVE to do it again and maybe try a different course. But I highly recommend it to everyone. You will not be disappointed!!
Susan W.
Best Thing We’ve Ever Done
This was without a doubt the best thing we’ve ever done at Palisades, and we are Lake Tahoe regulars going back 20 years. Unbelievable that we can climb this part of Squaw. Exhilarating but felt perfectly safe the entire time. Want to take all our friends here!
Peter H.
For Experienced Climbers And First Timers
This was so much fun! My guide Sam was awesome. He really took the time to explain everything and lead me though the course safely. This was my first experience doing any climbing other than 3rd class scrambles. I’d recommend this to experienced climbers looking for a fun afternoon or someone who’s simply looking to climb for the first time. The staff and owners of Alpenglow are serious cool people! I’m looking forward to more adventures with Alpenglow in the future.
Matthew W.
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We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your activity purchase against unforeseeable circumstances. We recommend Spot as a provider of trip insurance. Spot is a 3rd party provider and is not affiliated with Alpenglow Expeditions – please refer to the Spot website or contact Spot directly for all terms and conditions.
Yes! We welcome outside guides and their groups through our guest guide program. This program is open to IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guides, as well as AMGA-certified Rock or Alpine guides. Groups must be booked on a private basis. Please call the office for more information: 877-873-5376
Non-private groups must have a minimum of 2 participants to depart. The maximum group size is 6 participants per guide, and larger groups/families will go out with several guides.
Private groups have no minimum size but will operate at a 6 participants per 1 guide ratio.
Yes! We can accommodate up to 144 people per day. Visit our Group Options webpage for more info. Please contact the office for group bookings of 13+: 877-873-5376.
There are morning and afternoon time slots every day of the week, from 8am to 3pm, every hour on the hour!
Participants can reserve online at TahoeVia.com or by calling the Alpenglow Expeditions office at 877-873-5376. Clients can also stop by the Alpenglow office in the Village at Palisades Tahoe.
Please see the Equipment list above for a detailed list of what you should bring on the Via Ferrata. All technical equipment (harness, helmet, and lanyards) is provided by Alpenglow Expeditions and included in the pricing.
The Tahoe Via Ferrata is for everyone (as long as they are taller than 3’11”)! No prior experience is necessary and nearly all ages can participate. Please note that climbers under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult for any tour on the Via Ferrata. Additionally, due to the manufacturer’s limitations, participants who weigh less than 88 lbs or more than 250 lbs must be booked in a private group. The guide will add a second rope to the participant that is outside the weight limitations in the steeper, more vertical sections. This will not impact your ability to participate!
Alpenglow Expeditions offers a 2-hour tour, 3-hour tour, and a 4-hour tour in both group and private settings. These times include gearing up in the office and driving to the base of the climb. Check out our “What to Expect” video for more information.
Weather events such as lightning, rain, and snow may cause delays on the routes. Climbers will only depart if safe climbing conditions exist. When preparing for your climb, please dress appropriately for the day’s weather. Check your confirmation email for a link to the local weather report.
No. All participants must be guided by an Alpenglow Expeditions Via Ferrata guide with AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association) training.
Via Ferrata connects participants to the rock 100% of the time through a specifically designed lanyard. These lanyards, which attach to the steel cable, will arrest the fall. Check out this video to see how our “Continuous Lifeline System” works.
The Tahoe Via is a very unique experience, most comparable to rock climbing. The Via Ferrata routes help participants learn to navigate the rock face on the protected climbing route with permanent steel anchors and cables that keep them safely connected to the rock 100% of the time. All climbs will be led by Alpenglow Expeditions’ experienced team of AMGA-trained guides.
The Tahoe Via Ferrata is located at Palisades Tahoe Resort in Olympic Valley, California. The climbing experience will start at our booth in Tram Plaza and end at the Alpenglow Expeditions office in The Village at Palisades Tahoe. Both Via Ferrata routes ascend what is known as “Tram Face,” which towers directly above the base area of the resort, offering stunning views of the valley and the surrounding Sierra Nevada.
All Tahoe Via experiences will begin at the Alpenglow Expeditions booth located in the Tram Plaza Village at Palisades Tahoe. Once registration and safety demonstrations are complete, participants will be shuttled to the base of the routes in a 4×4 adventure vehicle.
More Via Ferrata Tours
Private 2-Hour Tour
2-Hour Tour
Private 3-Hour Tour
3-Hour Tour
