Winter touched down in the Sierra Nevada range on Oct. 17, bringing below-freezing temperatures and a few inches of white fluff. The highest peaks received the season’s first snow-dusting, and crews at Heavenly Ski Resort and Palisades Tahoe revved up their snowmaking machines.
If the cool weather continues, skiers and riders will be making turns before Thanksgiving. Mammoth Mountain plans to be the first California resort to open on Friday, Nov. 15. Heavenly and Northstar are shooting for Wednesday, Nov. 20, and Palisades Tahoe will spin its lifts on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
But “it takes more than snow” to make a great ski day, says Mike Reitzell, outgoing president of the nonprofit industry association Ski California. Resorts have invested in significant upgrades for the upcoming season, from increasing snowmaking capacity to installing state-of-the-art chairlifts.
The staff at Mammoth Mountain spent the offseason replacing Chair 1, aka Broadway Express, with a high-speed six-passenger detachable chairlift. Big Bear Mountain Resort installed a new six-passenger chairlift at Bear Mountain. The Central Sierra’s Bear Valley also invested in new chairlifts.
“New chairlifts really make a difference,” Reitzell says. “Faster chairs mean less waiting, faster opening times, and a more comfortable ride.”
Season pass holders will have more resorts to choose from this winter. Sierra-at-Tahoe has joined the Ikon Pass along with Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, and Big Bear Mountain Resort. Bear Valley Mountain Resort is now a member of the Cali Pass, along with Dodge Ridge, China Peak, and Mountain High.
“The value of a season pass is really high for guests, especially if you ski or ride five days or more in a season—it’s a much better value than buying daily lift tickets,” Reitzell says. “Now if you’re driving up from, say, Sacramento, you can go up Highway 50 and use your Ikon pass at Sierra, or you can drive up I-80 and use it at Palisades.”
Below are some of the new offerings and happenings at 10 California ski resorts. Keep in mind that opening dates are weather-dependent and subject to change:
Badger Pass, Yosemite
Spend the night in Yosemite Valley’s lodgings and ride the free shuttle bus to Badger Pass Ski Area. With rentals, lessons, and 10 slope runs of varying difficulty, Yosemite’s ski area is a great place for beginners, and it also boasts nearly 100 miles of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Guided trips are available. Opens: Dec. 13
Bear Valley Mountain Resort, Bear Valley
Under California Mountain Resort Company’s new ownership, Bear Valley has installed a new triple chair for beginners and a new fixed-grip quad chair serving intermediate and advanced terrain. New food service options include a pizza bar in the day lodge. Cali Pass holders now have unlimited access to Bear Valley. Opens: TBD
Big Bear Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake
Each of Big Bear’s three mountains—Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain—have benefitted from major capital improvements in the past few years. This December, Bear Mountain will debut its new Midway high-speed six-passenger chairlift. Ikon Pass holders get unlimited skiing and riding at Big Bear. Opens: TBD
Boreal, Truckee
The only California resort to offer night skiing and riding seven days a week, Boreal will celebrate its 60th anniversary season this year. Play Forever Fridays will take place one day each month with $25 lift tickets for everyone. Opens: Nov. 22
Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe
Heavenly’s California Lodge will debut Golden State Kitchen, a new eatery featuring healthier fare. Events like the Air & Après big-air competition, Brews and Views, and Heavenly Holidays will return this winter, and the resort will continue its reservations-based parking program on weekends and peak periods. Guests can sign up for My Epic Gear, a membership program that combines gear rental with premium valet services. Opens: Nov. 22
Kirkwood, Carson Pass
Kirkwood will institute a new reservations-based parking program this winter with a mix of free and paid parking options on weekends and peak periods. Planned events will include a New Year's Eve celebration with torchlight parade and fireworks, Banked Slalom, and Slush Cup. Expedition Kirkwood programs offer advanced coaching and guided backcountry experiences. Opens: Dec. 6
Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth’s new Chair 1 (Broadway Express) will start spinning on Nov. 15 with an uphill capacity of 3,000 people per hour, a 25 percent increase over its predecessor. The resort has also committed $3.5 million to improve its snowmaking capacity. Non-skiing families can play at the revamped Woolly’s Adventure Summit: Zoom down groomed lanes in the Tube Park, zip around on the new Mountain Coaster, or cozy up at the snack bar. Opens: Nov. 15
Mountain High Resort, Wrightwood
The Los Angeles–area resort was threatened by September’s Bridge Fire, but it came through unscathed and plans to reopen as scheduled to celebrate its 100th season. The festivities kick off Dec. 7 with live music, gear demos, an apres-ski cocktail party, and discounts for anyone who shows up for the day wearing a retro costume. Opens: Late November
Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Mt. Shasta
Six miles south of Mount Shasta’s 14,179-foot volcanic summit, Mt. Shasta Ski Park offers twilight skiing until 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Gray Butte lift, opened in 2022, opens up 230 acres of new terrain, including backcountry access. The whole family can zoom down 300-foot-long, side-by-side tubing lanes. Opens: TBD
Northstar California, Truckee
For the second consecutive year, a reservations-based paid parking program will be in place on weekends and peak periods. The Castle Peak lot will remain free every day with no reservations required. Skiers looking to dine in Northstar Village will find signature cocktails and cozy meals at Wild Pine and Vous. Guests can sign up for My Epic Gear, a membership program that combines gear rental with premium valet services. Opens: Nov. 22
Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley
On-mountain investments include $1.4 million in snowmaking upgrades, plus the purchase of three new grooming snowcats. Little Bear Café will open across from the Tram, offering baked goods, coffee, salads, and sandwiches. Palisades Tahoe will continue its reservations-based parking system that launched last winter; guests visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and select holidays must reserve either a free or paid parking spot in advance. The free Park & Ride shuttle will run on Saturdays and Sundays between Tahoe City, Truckee, and Palisades Tahoe. Shuttle riders receive a $10 voucher for food and beverage at any Palisades café. Opens: Nov. 27
Sierra-at-Tahoe, Twin Bridges/South Lake Tahoe
During the offseason, Sierra-at-Tahoe has invested in new snowmaking equipment and repaired and repaved its parking lots and entrance road. Planned winter events include Subaru Winterfest, Vans Methodology, and Boarding for Breast Cancer. The resort is now part of the Ikon Pass program, joining Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth, Snow Valley, and Big Bear. Opens: Dec. 6
Sugar Bowl, Norden/Donner Summit
Sugar Bowl has expanded snowmaking capacities at its Sugar Rush tubing area, which has 10 tubing lanes plus a snow-play area for young children. The resort continues to renovate its historic 1939 Village Lodge Hotel with a revamped lobby and espresso bar. Opens: Nov. 29
