Dodge Ridge
862 acres, 67 runs, 487m vertical. Central Sierra day-trip resort 3 hours from Bay Area. Powder Alliance.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Dec 2026
Closes
15 Mar 2027
Days open
78
Annual snow
29ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Dodge Ridge operates across 862 acres in California's Central Sierra Nevada with 67 runs split evenly between intermediate and advanced terrain. The resort spans 487 vertical metres from a 2,012-metre base to an 8,200-foot summit, with 20 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 40 per cent advanced terrain. Average annual snowfall exceeds 8.9 metres, though the relatively low base elevation means reliance on natural snowfall rather than extensive snowmaking. The 2025-26 season ran from 27 December to 15 March, covering approximately 11 weeks of operation.
Terrain is divided into three zones: the frontside served by Chairs 1 through 6, the Prospector zone accessed by Chair 7, and the backside Boulder Creek Canyon zone reached via Chair 8 and a T-bar. Granite Bowl off Chair 8 contains the most challenging terrain with steep pitches and boulder fields. Stagecoach, the resort's longest run, stretches 3.2 kilometres from summit to base. Trail ratings skew forgiving, with many black runs comparable to blue terrain at larger resorts.
The atmosphere centres on accessible family skiing rather than après or village amenities. The Helm Family Lodge anchors base facilities with ticket services, rentals and dining at the Creekside Cafe and Bistro. The Waystation mid-mountain lodge at 2,134 metres provides a stopping point along the Prospector zone. Lift queues remain minimal outside holiday periods, and grooming operations typically prepare 50 to 60 runs daily during good snow years.
Dodge Ridge participates in the Powder Alliance, offering three free days to pass holders from 22 reciprocal resorts, and accepts Indy Pass for two days. The Cali Pass grants unlimited access here plus Bear Valley, China Peak and Mountain High. Located 48 kilometres east of Sonora on Highway 108, it serves as the closest ski area to the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley. The resort suits beginners through intermediate skiers seeking uncrowded slopes and value pricing.
1,598ft
Vertical
67
Runs
862 acres
Skiable
29ft
Annual snow
Powder Alliance
Pass
The Terrain
67 runs across 862 acres skiable
Dodge Ridge spreads over 862 acres (349 hectares) on the Highway 108 side of the Sierra Nevada, falling 1,600 ft (487 m) from an 8,200 ft (2,499 m) summit to a 6,600 ft (2,012 m) base. Its 67 runs divide 20% beginner, 40% intermediate and 40% advanced, with no expert category, so the black diamonds are modest by Tahoe standards. Terrain is organised around numbered chairlifts: Chairs 1 to 6 serve the front side, Chair 7 the Prospector zone, and Chair 8 and a T-bar the Boulder Creek Canyon backside.
Terrain falls into three zones. Granite Bowl, off Chair 8, is the steepest ground, with steep pitches and boulder fields. A T-bar installed in 2011 opened Second Summit terrain above Granite Bowl, doubling the length of three of the steeper runs. Stagecoach and Separator run below the base of Chair 7, so lapping them takes a two-lift ride. The Prospector zone off Chair 7 and the backside off Chair 8 both reach summit terrain, with the most consistent vertical drop of about 1,100 ft. Dodge Ridge suits family groups, intermediates building confidence and advanced skiers looking for a day without big-resort logistics.
Terrain split
67
runs
67 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 20%
Intermediate27 runs · 40%
Advanced27 runs · 40%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Dodge Ridge
The 2025-26 season operated from 27 December through 15 March, closing early due to unseasonably warm conditions. Typical seasons run mid-December through late March depending on snowfall, with opening dates historically ranging from late October in exceptional years to mid-February during drought conditions. The resort recorded 436 centimetres of total snowfall during the 2025-26 season. Low elevation and minimal snowmaking mean operational dates vary significantly year to year.
Annual snowfall averages 8.9 metres, with the summit at 2,499 metres and base at 2,012 metres both sitting below elevations where Sierra Nevada snowfall typically becomes reliable. Rain events affect all elevations during marginal temperature periods. The 2022-23 season delivered over 700 inches of snowfall, whilst the 2010-11 season recorded 643 inches. By contrast, the 2013-14 drought year prevented opening until 12 February. Peak snowfall historically occurs during the first week of March, averaging 66 centimetres.
January through February offers the most reliable snow coverage and coldest temperatures. Spring conditions develop by mid-March with freeze-thaw cycles. Midweek visits remain uncrowded even during peak season, with Saturdays and holidays seeing the only significant lift queues on Chairs 3, 7 and 8. Granite Bowl requires substantial base depth to open, typically becoming accessible mid-season. Grooming crews prepare the majority of trails nightly when snow conditions permit.
The resort hosted terrain park events including Boxzilla, which lines up every box feature in a 30-metre sequence, and banked slalom competitions. Five terrain parks range from beginner progression features through advanced options. Tubing and sledding operations run weekends at the base area. Night skiing infrastructure exists but scheduling varies by season. No major festivals or concert series anchor the calendar.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Dec 2026
Opens
15 Mar 2027
Closes
78
Days open
29 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Dodge Ridge, and where to stay
Dodge Ridge sits in the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County at an elevation of 2,012 metres, positioned between Lake Tahoe 80 kilometres north and Yosemite National Park 58 kilometres south. The resort operates under U.S. Forest Service special use permit on 862 acres of public land. Pinecrest Lake and the unincorporated community of Pinecrest lie 7 kilometres west. The surrounding terrain consists of pine forest and granite outcroppings typical of the Central Sierra Nevada.
Sonora, the nearest full-service town with 5,000 residents, sits 48 kilometres west via Highway 108. Sonora provides supermarkets, petrol stations, hotels and the closest major services. Strawberry, a tiny hamlet 7 kilometres from the resort, offers limited lodging and dining. Pinecrest provides cabin rentals, a small commercial district and the Pinecrest Campground operated by the Forest Service. No slopeside lodging exists at Dodge Ridge itself, though overnight RV parking operates in the upper carpark for a fee with a four-night maximum stay.
Highway 108 provides sole access from the west, as the road closes for winter 13 kilometres east of the resort at the Highway 108 Sno-Park. The route from Sonora takes 50 minutes in good weather. From Sacramento, the drive covers 208 kilometres via Highway 99 and Highway 108, requiring approximately three hours. The San Francisco Bay Area lies roughly 240 kilometres west, making this the closest ski area to most Bay Area population centres. Traffic on Highway 108 remains light compared to Interstate 80 routes to Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento International Airport sits 208 kilometres northwest, serving as the primary gateway with major airline connections. San Francisco International Airport lies 275 kilometres west. Fresno Yosemite International Airport sits 160 kilometres south. Modesto, 130 kilometres west, offers limited commercial flights. No public transit or scheduled shuttle services connect airports to the resort. Rental car remains the standard transfer method, with chains required during winter storms.
Where to stay
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