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 2025 - 2026
Opens
27 Dec 2025
Closes
15 Mar 2026
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 2025 - 2026
27 Dec 2025
Opens
15 Mar 2026
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
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
18 July 2026
Lift tickets
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 passDodge Ridge lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Dodge Ridge closed on Mar 15, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$45, with peak rates up to US$85.
Lift 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.