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California
California's most distinguishing feature is the highest variability in snowfall of any region in the West. The late 80's to early 90's drought included two seasons, 1987 and 1991, when there was virtually no natural snow on the ground by New Year's Day. Fortunately, the volatility can work the other way, as in the five consecutive years (1981-1985) or the recent 1995 season, with all areas in full operation on a six-foot base by Thanksgiving. Kirkwood turns out to be the most reliable Tahoe ski area, while Mammoth's altitude gives it the best late-season conditions.
Southern California is a complete crapshoot for natural snow, because the volatility of snowfall is even greater here than in the Sierra. For details, see History of Southern California Snow Conditions. 31% of all winter months receive less than a foot of snow, yet the 5% chance of 90 inches or more is higher than several well known destination resorts in the Rockies. Also see Southern California Ski Area Detail for specific info on the SoCal ski areas. Arizona indexes more closely with Southern California than areas in the southwest Rockies.
There are two tables below: The first contains all the statistics while
the second contains summary information plus comments and analysis.
Color-coded areas link to my detailed Resort Guide published in Inside Tracks.
Explanation of Column Headings
Home Page and Other Regions
| Lift Serviced | Season | Dec.-Mar. | Percent | Percent | Average | ||||||
| CALIFORNIA | Altitude | Season | Standard | 6+ Inch | High Mths | Low Mths | Maximum | Direction of Exposure | |||
| Range | Average | Deviation | Powder Days | GE 90 in. | LT 30 in. | Base Depth | North | East | West | South | |
| Alpine Meadows, Calif. 7,000 | 7,000-8,700 | 366 | 117 | 16.8% | 35% | 23% | 118 | 45% | 18% | 25% | 12% |
| Central Sierra Snow Lab - Boreal, Cal. 7,200 | 7,200-8,000 | 393 | 114 | 17.4% | 36% | 21% | 115 | 85% | 0% | 0% | 15% |
| Northstar, Calif. 7,800 | 6,400-8,600 | 300 | 104 | 12.7% | 23% | 35% | N/A | 50% | 30% | 20% | 0% |
| Squaw Valley, Calif. 6,200 | 6,200-9,050 | 270 | 87 | 11.3% | 13% | 38% | N/A | 50% | 40% | 2% | 8% |
| Squaw Valley, Calif. 8,000 | 6,200-9,050 | 446 | 139 | 19.7% | 45% | 25% | N/A | 50% | 40% | 2% | 8% |
| Sugar Bowl, Calif. 7,000 | 6,883-8,383 | 462 | 148 | 20.6% | 38% | 20% | 194 | Mainly N | |||
| Mt. Rose, Nev. 8,600 | 7,900-9,700 | 359 | 139 | 15.9% | 29% | 29% | N/A | 58% | 30% | 12% | 0% |
| Heavenly Valley, Calif. 8,400 | 6,500-10,000 | 250 | 97 | 11.2% | 15% | 35% | 91 | 60% | 10% | 25% | 5% |
| Heavenly Valley, Calif. 10,000 | 6,500-10,000 | 388 | 139 | 21.0% | 45% | 20% | N/A | 60% | 10% | 25% | 5% |
| Kirkwood (Carson Pass), Calif. 8,526 | 7,800-9,800 | 472 | 175 | 21.7% | 45% | 17% | N/A | 65% | 25% | 10% | 0% |
| June Mtn, Calif. 8,700 | 7,545-10,135 | 277 | 112 | 11.6% | 13% | 38% | 89 | 65% | 5% | 30% | 0% |
| Mammoth Mtn, Calif. 9,600 or 8,900 | 7,953-11,053 | 366 | 133 | 16.3% | 33% | 26% | 132 | 65% | 22% | 10% | 3% |
| Southern California Composite 7,000 - 8,000 | 6,500-8,800 | 128 | 69 | 5.9% | 5% | 62% | N/A | 45% 70% 70% | 5% 20% 15% | 35% 10% 15% | 15% 0% 0% |
| Arizona Snowbowl 1, Ariz. 9,500 | 9,000-11,100 | 170 | 72 | 7.7% | 3% | 46% | N/A | Mainly W | |||
| Arizona Snowbowl 2, Ariz. 10,800 | 9,000-11,100 | 246 | 104 | 11.2% | 12% | 35% | N/A | Mainly W | |||
| Lift Serviced | ||||
| CALIFORNIA | Altitude | Season | Weather Restrictions, Powder Potential | |
| Range | Average | and Other Considerations | Best Time to Ski | |
| Alpine Meadows, Calif. 7,000 | 7,000-8,700 | 366 | Good bowls, some trees, less competition than Squaw. Better base area conditions than Squaw in early season or low snow years. 400+ snow avg. in peak area. Entire area closes when avalanche threatens. Then try sheltered resorts east of the Sierra Crest. | January for surface conditions, February and March for maximum coverage. |
| Central Sierra Snow Lab - Boreal, Calif. 7,200 | 7,200-8,000 | 393 | Small area on Donner Summit, gets good snow. Cool Sierra Ski Museum on site. Central Sierra Snow Lab in forest below. | Similar to above. |
| Northstar, Calif. 7,800 | 6,400-8,600 | 300 | Very well protected with good trees for storm skiing, particularly on backside. Snowmaking, grooming and lack of steep terrain mean less coverage required than at other Sierra areas. | January and February for surface conditions. |
| Squaw Valley, Calif. 6,200 | 6,200-9,050 | 270 | Only KT and Squaw Creek (1,000 of area’s 4,000 acres) remain open in big storms. Premier expert area, so untracked snow doesn’t last long. Needs six foot base to open many expert runs. Steepest runs must close in icy conditions. | January for surface conditions, February and March for maximum coverage. |
| Squaw Valley, Calif. 8,000 | 6,200-9,050 | 446 | Sierra Crest from Headwall to Granite Chief gets as much snow as Sugar Bowl and Kirkwood, but conditions vary more with east exposure. | January for surface conditions, February and March for maximum coverage. |
| Sugar Bowl, Calif. 7,000 | 6,883-8,383 | 462 | Often overlooked. Reasonably sized with good terrain and snowfall, and base depths comparable to Kirkwood. | Similar to above |
| Mt. Rose, Nev. 8,600 | 7,900-9,700 | 359 | Steep KT-type chutes opened in 2005. Most volatile snowfall in the Sierra, but high base elevation can escape rain vs. many Tahoe areas. | February and March for maximum coverage |
| Heavenly Valley, Calif. 8,400 | 6,500-10,000 | 250 | Fewer weather restrictions (and much less snow) than other major Tahoe areas. For moguls, Gunbarrel is probably steepest run in the West with snowmaking. | February and March for maximum coverage, but snowmaking runs are generally all skiable by January. |
| Heavenly Valley, Calif. 10,000 | 6,500-10,000 | 388 | Excellent trees for storm skiing, particularly on Nevada side. Top of California has renowned Tahoe views. | February and March for maximum coverage. Expert Nevada Mott Canyon is often not open before then. |
| Kirkwood (Carson Pass), Calif. 8,526 | 7,800-9,800 | 472 | Located on Carson Pass. Best in state for quantity and quality of snow. Many runs require traverses to reach. One of upper three lifts has enough trees to operate in bad weather. | Most consistent Tahoe area anytime except extreme drought (minimal snowmaking). |
| June Mtn, Calif. 8,700 | 7,545-10,135 | 277 | Well protected. Go here instead of Mammoth during storms. | February and March for maximum coverage. |
| Mammoth Mtn, Calif. 9,600 or 8,900 | 7,953-11,053 | 366 | Top closed 10-20% of the time for wind, visibility or avalanche. Upper bowls often wind-packed. Deeper snow off Chair 22 chutes and trees. Needs four-five foot base on advanced terrain. Quality late spring skiing in bowls, bumps and salted groomed runs. | March and April. Most of the advanced runs remain packed powder into April, and only Snowbird would likely offer as much terrain with winter conditions as far into the spring. |
| Southern California Composite 7,000 - 8,000 | 6,500-8,800 | 128 | Swift transition to spring conditions on warm days, but most areas can make snow at night. Only Mt. Baldy subject to wind and avalanche. Baldy has best in-bounds terrain, but powder lasts longer on Mt. Waterman's backcountry runs to Angeles Crest Hwy. | December and January on extensive snowmaking at Snow Summit and Bear Mt.(snow avg. 80-100 in.). After new snow on steeper San Gabriel Mt. areas (Baldy, Waterman and Mt. High: snow avg. 160-180 in.). |
| Arizona Snowbowl 1, Ariz. 9,500 | 9,000-11,100 | 170 | Arizona receives the same storms as Southern California, but more snow and less rain due to altitude. | February and March for maximum coverage. |
| Arizona Snowbowl 2, Ariz. 10,800 | 9,000-11,100 | 246 | Snowfall amount difference not significant, but quality is. | As above. |
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