California, Usa · Powder Alliance
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 67 runs across 862 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 13 beginner runs to find your feet and 27 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
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
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Dodge Ridge, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Dodge Ridge Lift Tickets
Dodge Ridge lift tickets & passes
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 27, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Dodge Ridge typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from US$45, with peak rates up to US$85.
Powder Alliance6 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 13–64
Adult Daily Ticket
US$65up to US$85 peak
Full-day access to Dodge Ridge's 800+ acres of skiable terrain. The most easily accessible resort in the Sierras, close to major cities from Santa Cruz to San Jose with 1,600 vertical feet.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Daily Ticket
US$55up to US$65 peak
Discounted daily lift access for seniors at Dodge Ridge. Enjoy family-friendly skiing at the most accessible Sierra Nevada resort with stunning mountain views.
Buy passChild 6–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$45up to US$55 peak
Child-friendly lift tickets for Dodge Ridge's beginner-friendly slopes. Perfect for families with kids learning to ski at California's most accessible mountain resort.
Buy passChild 0–5
Kids 5 & Under Free
Free
Complimentary lift access for children 5 and under at Dodge Ridge. Free skiing with proof of age, making Dodge Ridge perfect for family ski trips.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 13–64
Dodge Ridge Season Pass
US$379up to US$479 peak
Unlimited access to Dodge Ridge for the entire 2025/26 season. Enjoy 800+ acres of skiing at the most accessible Sierra resort with convenient access from Northern California.
Buy passAdult 13–64
Cali Pass
US$599up to US$699 peak
Unlimited skiing at 4 classic California resorts: Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge, China Peak and Mountain High. Plus 3 days each at 16 Powder Alliance resorts worldwide.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Dodge Ridge day pass cost?
Dodge Ridge day passes range from US$45 to US$85 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Dodge Ridge lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Dodge Ridge lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Dodge Ridge, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Dodge Ridge lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Dodge Ridge - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Dodge Ridge lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Dodge Ridge offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Dodge Ridge directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Dodge Ridge.
More Dodge Ridge intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.