California Ski Resort Opening Dates
Checked August 30, 2026 against each resort’s own site · updated as new dates are announced
Mammoth Mountain opens first, on November 13, 2026. Palisades Tahoe has confirmed November 25. Heavenly and Northstar are targeting November 20, Boreal November 27, and Kirkwood December 4.
The other 22 California ski areas have not announced 2026-27 opening dates yet, and no California resort has announced a closing date — those are set in February and March once the snowpack is known. Typical historical windows are given below for every resort.
Confirmed and target opening dates
Six of California’s 28 ski areas have published something for 2026-27. Only two of those are dates on the resort’s own site; the rest are targets that can move.
Mammoth Mountain
November 13, 2026ConfirmedThe earliest opener in California and, by a wide margin, the latest closer. Ran to June 7 last season after two extensions.
Heavenly
November 20, 2026TargetVail target announced August 19, explicitly subject to weather and operational readiness.
Northstar California
November 20, 2026TargetVail target announced August 19. A day earlier than last season.
Kirkwood
December 4, 2026TargetOpening two weeks later than last season, when it ran from November 21.
Boreal
November 27, 2026ReportedReported in media but not published on Boreal's own site. Usually the first Donner Summit hill to spin.
Vail Resorts announced the Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood dates on August 19, describing them as subject to weather, snow conditions and operational readiness.
Every California ski resort, opening and closing
| Resort | Region | 2026-27 opening | Status | Typical opening | Typical closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Mountain | Eastern Sierra | November 13, 2026 | Confirmed | Mid-November | Late May to early June |
| Palisades Tahoe | Lake Tahoe | November 25, 2026 | Confirmed | Late November | Late May |
| Heavenly | Lake Tahoe | November 20, 2026 | Target | Late November | Mid to late April |
| Kirkwood | Lake Tahoe | December 4, 2026 | Target | Late November to early December | Mid to late April |
| Northstar California | Lake Tahoe | November 20, 2026 | Target | Late November | Mid-April |
| Boreal | Lake Tahoe | November 27, 2026 | Reported | Late November | Early April |
| Alpine Meadows | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Mid-December | Late April |
| Alta Sierra | Central Sierra | — | Not announced | Snow permitting, weekends only | Snow permitting |
| Badger Pass | Central Sierra | — | Not announced | Highly variable, see note | March |
| Bear Mountain | Southern California | — | Not announced | Early December | Late March |
| Bear Valley | Central Sierra | — | Not announced | Early December | Late March to April |
| China Peak | Central Sierra | — | Not announced | Mid-December | Late March |
| Coppervale | Northern California | — | Not announced | January, snow permitting | February to March |
| Dodge Ridge | Central Sierra | — | Not announced | Mid-December | March |
| Donner Ski Ranch | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Mid-December | Late March |
| Granlibakken | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Mid-December | March |
| Homewood | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Late December | March |
| June Mountain | Eastern Sierra | — | Not announced | Early to mid-December | Mid-April |
| Mountain High | Southern California | — | Not announced | Mid-November to early December | Late March |
| Mt. Baldy | Southern California | — | Not announced | December | March |
| Mt. Shasta Ski Park | Northern California | — | Not announced | Early to mid-December | March to early April |
| Sierra-at-Tahoe | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Early to mid-December | Late March to early April |
| Snow Summit | Southern California | — | Not announced | Mid-November to early December | Late March |
| Snow Valley | Southern California | — | Not announced | December | Late March |
| Soda Springs | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Early to mid-December | Late March |
| Sugar Bowl | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Early December | Mid-April |
| Tahoe Donner | Lake Tahoe | — | Not announced | Mid to late December | Late March |
| Mt. Waterman | Southern California | — | Access closed | Snow permitting, weekends | Snow permitting |
Typical windows are based on recent seasons and are guidance, not a promise. Note that 2025-26 ended early across the state after a warm, rain-saturated spring — several resorts closed in late March — so last season is a pessimistic guide rather than a normal one.
When the remaining dates get announced
The pattern is consistent year to year, and worth knowing if you are waiting on a particular mountain.
August: the big operators
Vail and Alterra announce targets for their flagship resorts in mid-to-late August. That is where the Mammoth, Palisades, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood dates came from.
October and November: everyone else
Independent and smaller areas wait until they can see the early-season pattern. Most announce two to four weeks before opening. A resort with no date in August is not in trouble — it is behaving normally.
February and March: closing dates
Closing dates are set once the snowpack is known, and they move in both directions. Mammoth extended twice last season and ran to June 7.
California ski season dates — frequently asked questions
When do California ski resorts open for the 2026-27 season?
Mammoth Mountain opens first, on November 13, 2026 — the only confirmed date before Thanksgiving. Heavenly and Northstar are targeting November 20, Palisades Tahoe has confirmed November 25, Boreal is reported for November 27, and Kirkwood is targeting December 4. The other 22 California ski areas have not announced dates yet; most typically open between early and mid-December.
Which California ski resort opens earliest?
Mammoth Mountain, on November 13, 2026. Its 11,053-foot summit is the highest in the state, which is why it both opens first and closes last. Most Tahoe resorts follow in the week before Thanksgiving, and Southern California generally waits until December.
Which California ski resort stays open the longest?
Mammoth, by a wide margin. It ran to June 7 last season after extending twice, and regularly operates into late May or June. Palisades Tahoe was second at May 24. Every other California resort closed in March or April.
When do California ski resorts close?
No California resort has announced a 2026-27 closing date, and none will for months — closing dates are set in February and March based on the actual snowpack. Typically most of the state closes in late March or April, with Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe running considerably later.
Why do so many resorts not have an opening date yet?
Because opening depends on snow. Vail and Alterra announce targets for their large resorts in August, but independent and smaller areas wait until they can see the early-season pattern, usually announcing in October or November. A resort with no date is not a resort in trouble — it is the normal state of things in August.
Is Badger Pass opening this season?
Unknown, and it is the least predictable ski area in California. It did not open at all in 2024-25 for lack of snow, and opened on January 16 in 2025-26. It sits inside Yosemite National Park and cannot make snow, so in a lean year it may not open. Check directly before planning around it.
Can you ski Mt. Waterman in 2026-27?
Probably not. Highway 2, the only access road, is closed in two segments for emergency repairs as of late August 2026, and the ski area sits at the end of the closed stretch. Do not plan a trip there without confirming with Caltrans that the road has reopened.
How reliable are announced opening dates?
Treat them by category. A date on the resort's own site is reliable but still weather-dependent. Vail's August announcements are explicitly targets, subject to change. Dates reported only in media, or by third-party sites publishing projections, are the least reliable — several such sites currently list dates that contradict the resorts' own announcements.
Before you drive up
An opening date is not a snow report. Check what is actually falling, and what the road is doing.
Live snow forecastResort mapChain controlSki passesDates were checked on August 30, 2026 against each resort’s own website, with Vail Resorts’ August 19 announcement for Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. We deliberately do not use third-party sites that publish projected opening dates — several currently list dates that contradict the resorts’ own announcements. Every date here is weather-dependent and can change; confirm with the resort before travelling.