
Mt Shasta Ski Park
635 acres, 38 trails, 275 inches annual snowfall. Independently owned Northern California resort below Mount Shasta volcano.
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.
Mt Shasta Ski Park covers 425 acres (172 hectares) on the southern flanks of the Mount Shasta volcano, with 32 runs dropping about 2,040 ft (621 m) from a 7,540 ft (2,297 m) summit to a base near 5,500 ft (1,676 m). Intermediates dominate at 55%, with 25% advanced and 20% beginner, and no terrain rated expert. The mountain is spread across several volcanic buttes, each with its own chairlift, so skiers move between separate pods rather than sliding through one continuous face. That layout keeps the lower slopes uncrowded.
Marmot Ridge holds the longer beginner runs and a small park, Douglas Butte offers advanced glades and steeper lines, and Coyote Butte adds more glades plus the larger terrain park. Grey Butte, the highest pod, has intermediate to advanced runs with plenty of gladed pockets, including Richard's Way, the only double black on the mountain. Tree skiing is the real draw when storms arrive. Mt Shasta Ski Park suits families, intermediates and glade fans who want quiet slopes and big views of the volcano without the lift lines of Tahoe.
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.
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.
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The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.

A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.

Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.1"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Snow depth at Mt Shasta Ski Park is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 621m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Mt Shasta Ski Park's 1676m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Mt Shasta Ski Park snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 6 lifts, including a quad chairlift.
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Mt Shasta Ski Park's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.