Dreaming of California Skiing 

Northstar California Ski Resort, like many popular California ski resorts, will now require reservations for parking on weekends and peak periods. Photo Northstar California.
Northstar California Ski Resort, like many popular California ski resorts, will now require reservations for parking on weekends and peak periods. Photo Northstar California.
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Winter touched down in the Sierra Nevada range on Oct. 17, bringing below-freezing temperatures and a few inches of white fluff. 

Despite being a La Nina winter, which usually means dryer and warmer temperatures, California ski season has seen most resorts open in December. 

The forecast for January is all over the map with experienced forecasters still taking a “wait and see attitude.” 

Despite the uncertainty in the weather California ski resorts have realized “it takes more than snow” to make a great ski day, said 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,” he said.

New Lifts

The staff at Mammoth Mountain spent the offseason replacing Chair 1, the 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.”

Strap on Your Skis or Boards

Here are your ski resort options you’ll want to explore during this year’s ski season. 

Mountain High Resort

24510 CA-2, 

Wrightwood, CA 92397

www.mthigh.com

The resort was threatened by September’s Bridge Fire, but it came through unscathed and reopened as scheduled on Nov.22 to celebrate its 100th season. Mountain High is SoCal’s “closest to the snow” ski resort. 

Big Bear Mountain Resort

Snow Valley

35100 CA-18,

Running Springs, CA 92382

Snow Summit

880 Summit Blvd.,

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Bear Mountain

43101 Goldmine Drive,

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

www.bigbearmountainresort.com

The 2024-25 ski season at Bear Mountain in Big Bear opened Dec. 13.

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 and Bear Mountain has opened its new Midway high-speed six-passenger chairlift.

Chateau Big Bear 

42200 Moonridge Road, 

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

https://chateaubigbear.com

If you are looking for accommodations in Big Bear during ski season the iconic Chateau Big Bear is a boutique hotel located below the ski slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest. It has just reopened after a three-year renovation. The historic property has been infused with contemporary comfort. The new Australian owner kept elements of the original design, including a grand Tiffany dome, now housed in the hotel’s bistro and valued at over $400,000.  

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area

10001 Minaret Road,

Mammoth Lakes CA 93546

www.mammothmountain.com

Mammoth’s new Chair 1 (Broadway Express) will offer 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.

Badger Pass Ski Area 

7082 Glacier Point Road,

Mariposa, CA 95389

www.facebook.com/badgerpassski/

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. Currently Badger Pass still doesn’t have enough snow for downhill or Nordic skiing and remains closed. 

Bear Valley Mountain Resort

2280 CA-207, 

Bear Valley, CA 95223

www.bearvalley.com

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.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park

4500 Ski Park Highway, 

McCloud, CA 96057

www.skipark.com

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. 

Northstar California Ski Resort

5001 Northstar Drive, 

Truckee, CA 96161

https://www.northstarcalifornia.com

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.

Boreal Mountain Ski Resort

19749 Boreal Ridge Road, 

Soda Springs, CA 95728

www.rideboreal.com

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. 

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

1501 Kirkwood Meadows Drive,

Kirkwood, CA 95646

www.kirkwood.com

Like many popular ski resorts in California Kirkwood, in the Carson Pass, will institute a new reservations-based parking program this winter with a mix of free and paid parking options on weekends and peak periods.

Tahoe

Skiing in the Tahoe area has become so popular that many Californians realize it is now more of a “special occasion” ski area. Long lift lines and routinely gridlocked traffic has made even the most dedicated skier think twice about traveling to Tahoe’s sought after slopes. Ski resorts have upgraded food offerings and invested money in additional snowmaking capacity. 

However, if you must go, explore these options:

Heavenly Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe 

www.skiheavenly.com

Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley

www.palisadestahoe.com

Sierra-at-Tahoe, Twin Bridges/South Lake Tahoe

www.sierraattahoe.com

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