California, Usa · Indy
Mt Shasta Ski Park
635 acres, 38 trails, 275 inches annual snowfall. Independently owned Northern California resort below Mount Shasta volcano.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
19 Dec 2026
Closes
11 Mar 2027
Days open
82
Annual snow
17ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mt Shasta Ski Park operates 38 trails across 635 acres on the southern flanks of the 14,179-foot Mount Shasta volcano in Northern California. The resort spans 1,676 to 2,297 metres elevation with 621 metres of vertical drop. Annual snowfall averages 275 inches with snowmaking covering 44% of terrain. Terrain distribution is 20% beginner, 45% intermediate and 35% advanced with the longest run extending over 2 miles.
The ski area spreads across four volcanic buttes, each served by dedicated lifts. Marmot Ridge hosts beginner terrain and a small park, whilst Douglas Butte accesses advanced glades and steeper runs. Coyote Butte serves intermediate and advanced terrain plus a large terrain park. Grey Butte, added in December 2022, tops out at 7,536 feet and includes Richard's Way, the resort's first double-black run.
This family-owned operation delivers a community feel with uncrowded slopes and close-in free parking. The base lodge sits at 5,500 feet within Shasta-Trinity National Forest, providing views of the massive stratovolcano looming 6 miles to the north. Twilight skiing operates Thursday through Saturday on 14 trails accessed by two lifts extending operations until 8pm.
Mt Shasta Ski Park is an Indy Pass partner resort offering two free days to passholders. Season passes start at $299 with a 60-day guarantee, whilst daily tickets range from $59 to $69. The resort suits families, powder seekers and intermediates looking for affordable, accessible California skiing without destination resort crowds or prices.
2,037ft
Vertical
32
Runs
425 acres
Skiable
17ft
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
32 runs across 425 acres skiable
Mt Shasta Ski Park spreads 32 runs across 425 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 55%, with 6 beginner runs to find your feet and 8 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
32
runs
32 runs across 4 grades
Beginner6 runs · 20%
Intermediate18 runs · 55%
Advanced8 runs · 25%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Mt Shasta Ski Park
The 2025-26 season opened 19 December 2025 and closed 11 March 2026 after 55 operating days. Typical seasons run mid-December through early April depending on snowfall and temperatures. The resort guarantees 60 operational days to season passholders, offering rollover credits when falling short. This family-oriented area remains flexible with opening dates tied to natural snow and snowmaking window availability.
Annual snowfall averages 275 inches at the 5,500 to 7,536-foot elevation band. February historically receives the heaviest accumulation, contributing the bulk of seasonal totals. The entirely south-facing exposure creates spring-like conditions much of the season, with snow quality best immediately following storms. Snowmaking supplements 44% of terrain, ensuring base coverage across core runs when natural snow proves inconsistent.
January through February offers peak powder conditions and the most reliable base depths. March brings warmer temperatures but longer daylight for twilight operations. The 2025-26 season proved challenging, with warm spells and rain causing temporary closures in February and March before the final shutdown. Storm cycles deliver quality conditions, though lower elevation makes the resort vulnerable during lean winters compared to higher Tahoe areas.
Twilight skiing operates Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 8pm on 14 trails. Night operations cover terrain off Marmot and Douglas lifts, adding hours for locals and visitors maximising slope time. The resort hosts seasonal events including terrain park competitions and family programmes. Adult day tickets range from $59 regular to $69 peak, with night skiing priced at $35 to $45.
Season 2026 - 2027
19 Dec 2026
Opens
11 Mar 2027
Closes
82
Days open
17 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Mt Shasta Ski Park, and where to stay
Mt Shasta Ski Park sits in Siskiyou County on private land within the checkerboard ownership pattern of Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The base area lies 6 miles south of Mount Shasta's 14,179-foot summit and 10 miles east of Interstate 5 along State Route 89. The resort operates between the city of Mount Shasta and the town of McCloud, surrounded by volcanic buttes on the stratovolcano's lower southern flanks. Mount Shasta is the second-highest volcano in the Cascade Range behind Mount Rainier.
The city of Mount Shasta (population approximately 3,400) sits 20 minutes west with lodging, dining and services. McCloud lies 10 minutes east, whilst Dunsmuir is 25 minutes south. The area offers a mix of basic inns, hostels and three-star hotels. Sacramento sits 4 hours south, Eugene 4 hours north, and the San Francisco Bay Area approximately 4.5 hours southwest via Interstate 5.
From Interstate 5, take Exit 736 to State Route 89, drive 6 miles east, then turn left onto Ski Park Highway for the final 7 miles to the resort. Road access crosses national forest land via Forest Route 88. The drive from Redding takes 90 minutes covering 60 miles north on Interstate 5. Winter tyre chains are required during storms, with Caltrans providing road condition updates online.
Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) is the nearest commercial airport 83 miles south with 90-minute drive time. Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) in Oregon lies 103 miles north requiring 110 minutes. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) sits 200 miles southwest with 4-hour drive time but offers more flight options. Major international gateways include San Francisco and Portland, both requiring 5 to 6-hour drives. No scheduled bus or rail service reaches the resort directly, though Amtrak serves Dunsmuir 25 miles south.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mt Shasta Ski Park, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 2026
Mt Shasta Ski Park Lift System
Six lifts serve the mountain: one fixed-grip quad, three triple chairs and two surface lifts. The Grey Butte Quad, installed in 2022, is the longest lift with 14 towers and a 9.5-minute ride time. It rises from 6,400 feet to 7,500 feet, adding 211 acres of terrain and 620 feet to the previous summit elevation. The three triple chairs access Coyote Butte (6,880 feet), Douglas Butte (6,600 feet) and Marmot Ridge (6,150 feet).
The Grey Butte Quad represents the resort's most significant infrastructure investment since opening in 1985. This Doppelmayr installation opened six intermediate and advanced runs plus backcountry access. Two magic carpets serve the base area, one dedicated to the learning zone and another for tubing operations. Uphill capacity accommodates approximately 2,600 guests daily during peak periods.
The layout creates distinct pods requiring traverses between zones. Accessing Grey Butte from the main base requires a 10 to 20-minute traverse via the North Saddle access road, with a warming hut at the bottom terminal. The Douglas and Coyote lifts load near the main lodge, whilst Marmot loads from a separate area to the left of the base. This separation naturally distributes crowds across ability levels.
The original lifts date to 1985 and 1996, with Marmot and Douglas opening first, followed by Coyote. Free parking extends to within walking distance of all base lifts. No gondolas or high-speed detachable chairs operate at the resort, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and operations straightforward for this independently owned area.
6lifts across 3 types
1
Quad Chair
3
Triple Chairs
2
Surface Lifts
Mt Shasta Ski Park lift system
Mt Shasta Ski Park is served by 6 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Mt Shasta Ski Park intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.