California, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Mammoth Mountain
3,500 acres, 945m vertical, 400 inches annual snow. California's highest resort with terrain parks and Ikon Pass access.
Season 2025-2026
Opens
14 Nov 2025
Closes
25 May 2026
Days open
192
Annual snow
33ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mammoth Mountain spans 3,500 acres across California's Eastern Sierra with a summit at 3,369 metres and a base at 2,424 metres, delivering 945 metres of vertical drop. The resort operates 180 named runs distributed across 15% beginner, 48% intermediate, 24% advanced and 13% expert terrain. Annual snowfall averages 10.16 metres at the base, rising above 400 inches at upper elevations where the summit reaches 11,053 feet. The 2022-23 season recorded over 700 inches at Main Lodge, marking the snowiest winter on record.
The mountain's 65% north-facing aspect ensures reliable snow preservation from November into June, with terrain spreading horizontally across four distinct base areas. Chair 23 accesses steep chutes and exposed upper bowls above treeline, whilst Chair 22 serves wind-sheltered expert runs including the Avalanche Chutes on Lincoln Mountain. The Panorama Gondola reaches the summit in seven minutes, connecting to Cornice Bowl and advanced alpine terrain. Unbound Main Park anchors a terrain park system comprising 10 parks, two halfpipes, over 100 jibs and 50 jumps across 100 acres.
Main Lodge sits at 2,743 metres and serves as the historic hub, whilst Canyon Lodge and Eagle Lodge provide family-oriented beginner zones with dedicated learning areas. The Village at Mammoth connects to Canyon Lodge via a 15-passenger gondola, creating pedestrian access between lodging and slopes. Weekends draw crowds from Los Angeles and Southern California, though the resort's sprawling layout disperses skiers efficiently. Wind frequently closes upper lifts during storms, sending advanced riders to the protected Chair 22 zone.
Mammoth is included on both the Ikon Pass with unlimited access and the Mountain Collective with two days. The 2025-26 season opened 14 November and runs through 25 May, with extensions possible into June or July during heavy snow years. The resort attracts Olympic athletes training in its world-class terrain parks and suits intermediates seeking long groomed runs, experts chasing steep lines, and families requiring varied terrain. Altitude, massive acreage and exceptional park infrastructure define the Mammoth experience.
3,100ft
Vertical
180
Runs
3,500 acres
Skiable
33ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
180 runs across 3,500 acres skiable
Mammoth Mountain spreads 180 runs across 3,500 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 48%, with 27 beginner runs to find your feet and 66 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
180
runs
180 runs across 4 grades
Beginner27 runs · 15%
Intermediate86 runs · 48%
Advanced43 runs · 24%
Expert23 runs · 13%
Time it right
When to visit Mammoth Mountain
The 2025-26 season opened 20 November following snowmaking preparation and runs through 25 May 2026, with daily lift operations from 7:30am to 2:00pm during spring hours beginning in May. Mammoth typically operates from early November into June, with exceptional years extending into July or August. The 1994-95 season opened 8 October and closed 13 August, whilst 2017 closed 6 August and 2022-23 ran until 6 August following record snowfall. Season length averages over 200 days.
Annual snowfall averages 400 inches at base elevations, exceeding 10 metres total accumulation and rising past 500 inches at the 11,053-foot summit. The 2022-23 winter delivered over 700 inches at Main Lodge and nearly 900 inches at the summit. February and March historically produce the heaviest snowfall, with the first week of March averaging 43 centimetres. November typically receives 32 inches, whilst December through February each deliver 67 to 71 inches. Snowmaking covers 33% of terrain, establishing a reliable early-season base.
January and February offer peak powder conditions, whilst March balances fresh snow with increasing sunshine. April and May deliver spring corn snow under bluebird skies, with temperatures rising but coverage holding at altitude. The resort benefits from 300 days of annual sunshine. The 2025-26 season received 87 inches in February alone, securing a Memorial Day closing despite a slower early winter. Mammoth's east-side Sierra location captures Pacific storms whilst the 2,424-metre base elevation prevents rain.
Night of Lights returns 14 December annually at Canyon Lodge with fireworks and family activities. Elevation Mammoth gay ski week runs 12-16 March 2025. Ikon Pass holders receive Early Ups exclusive morning access on select dates with complimentary breakfast at McCoy Station. The resort does not offer night skiing but extends spring hours to maximise morning corn snow. Chair 1 banner breakthrough and opening day ceremonies feature Woolly the mascot and complimentary beverages.
Season 2025-2026
14 Nov 2025
Opens
25 May 2026
Closes
192
Days open
33 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mammoth Mountain, and where to stay
Mammoth Mountain rises from the eastern slope of California's Sierra Nevada range in Mono County, 58 kilometres southwest of the Nevada state line. The resort sits above the town of Mammoth Lakes at 2,424 metres base elevation, surrounded by the Inyo National Forest and Long Valley Caldera volcanic landscape. The summit reaches 11,053 feet, making Mammoth California's highest lift-served ski area. Volcanic geology defines the terrain, with the mountain itself a lava dome complex.
Mammoth Lakes town lies 6.4 kilometres from Main Lodge along Highway 203, offering lodging, dining and services for a resort community. The Village at Mammoth provides slopeside accommodation, restaurants and pedestrian access via gondola to Canyon Lodge. Los Angeles sits 307 miles south via US 395, Reno 168 miles north, and San Francisco 360 miles west during winter when Tioga Pass through Yosemite closes seasonally. Highway 395 runs north-south through the Eastern Sierra, providing primary access.
The drive from Los Angeles takes five hours via Interstate 14 north to Highway 395, passing through the Owens Valley with views of the White Mountains and Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. From Reno the journey requires three hours south on US 395, passing Mono Lake and the ghost town of Bodie State Historic Park. San Francisco requires six to seven hours in winter via Highway 99 or Interstate 5 east, then Highway 395 south, as Tioga Pass closes from approximately October through May.
Mammoth Yosemite Airport sits 10 minutes east on Highway 395 with seasonal United Airlines service from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, plus Advanced Air from Carlsbad and Hawthorne. Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop operates 45 minutes south with year-round United flights from San Francisco and seasonal Denver service beginning December. Mammoth All Weather Shuttle, Mammoth Taxi and rental cars serve both airports. Eastern Sierra Transit Authority operates free shuttles between Reno Airport and Mammoth. Winter driving requires chains during storms.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mammoth Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Mammoth Mountain's ski season?
Mammoth Mountain's season typically runs from November 14 to May 25, roughly 192 days, weather and conditions permitting.
How much skiable terrain does Mammoth Mountain have?
Mammoth Mountain has about 3,500 acres skiable across 180 runs.
How many lifts does Mammoth Mountain have?
Mammoth Mountain operates 31 lifts in total.
How much snow does Mammoth Mountain get?
Mammoth Mountain averages around 400 inches (33.3 feet) of snowfall per season.
Where can I buy Mammoth Mountain lift tickets?
Lift tickets for Mammoth Mountain can be purchased directly from the resort online, or in person at the ticket office. See the full pricing breakdown on the lift tickets page.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
19 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On
Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.
8 Aug 2026
Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift
Silvretta Montafon wants to retire one of its most distinctive lifts. The plan: a single 10-person gondola running direct from Schruns to 1,870 metres, replacing both the two-stage Hochjoch cable car and the 1985 Kropfen chairlift in one move. Capacity jumps from 620 to 3,000 people an hour, and the mid-station transfer disappears entirely. The public hearing lands August 27, 2026 - construction hasn't been confirmed yet, though lift databases are pointing to 2027.
5 Aug 2026
Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years
Dolomiti Superski's general assembly has unanimously re-elected Andy Varallo for a third consecutive term, running through 2029. Alongside the leadership renewal comes a bigger shift: a Smartpass that puts your ski pass on your smartphone, more AI in guest services, and an expanded Dolomiti Supersummer program. The 46-year-old Alta Badia cable car entrepreneur says the region's marketing is moving beyond skiing alone, toward positioning the Dolomites as a year-round destination.
4 Aug 2026