Cali Pass
Prices and access checked August 29, 2026 directly against each pass operator’s own site.
The Cali Pass is $729 and covers four California resorts with unlimited access: Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge, China Peak and Mountain High. It adds three days each at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Mt. Shasta Ski Park, plus twelve out-of-state areas.
It is the most underrated pass in the state. For anyone driving from the Central Valley, the Sierra foothills or the Inland Empire, it delivers more skiing per dollar than either Ikon or Epic — because it covers the mountains those two ignore entirely.
What the Cali Pass covers
Unlimited, all season
Bear Valley
Highway 4. 1,680 acres and 1,900 feet of vertical — the biggest mountain on this pass, and genuinely large by any standard. Rarely crowded.
Dodge Ridge
Highway 108 near Pinecrest. 862 acres, 1,600 feet. About three hours from the Bay Area — comparable to Tahoe, with a fraction of the traffic.
China Peak
Highway 168 above Huntington Lake. 800 acres, 1,679 feet. The obvious choice from Fresno and the southern Central Valley.
Mountain High
Wrightwood. The closest resort to Los Angeles at roughly 90 minutes, with three separate base areas and night skiing.
Three days each
In California: Sierra-at-Tahoe and Mt. Shasta Ski Park. Out of state: Blacktail (MT), Ski Cooper (CO), Silver Mountain (ID), Mt. Hood Skibowl (OR), Angel Fire (NM), Bogus Basin (ID), White Pass (WA), Timberline (OR), Snow King (WY), Loveland (CO), Mission Ridge (WA), Eaglecrest (AK).
Not sure where these mountains actually are? All 28 California ski areas are plotted on the California ski resort map.
Cali Pass prices for 2026-27
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult 23-69 | $729 |
| Young Adult 13-22 / Senior 70-74 | $679 |
| Military | $469 |
| Child 6-12 (under 6 free with an adult) | $389 |
| College 18-25 | from $249 |
| Senior 75+ | $159 |
No price-increase deadline was published as of August 29, 2026.
Blackout dates
December 26-31, 2026; January 1-2 and 15-17, 2027; February 12-14, 2027. Twelve days in total, and they are precisely the days everyone else wants to ski: Christmas week, New Year, MLK weekend and Presidents’ Day weekend. This is the pass’s real trade-off. If your skiing is school-holiday skiing, it will frustrate you.
Who should buy it
Central Valley and foothills — almost certainly yes
From Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto or Fresno, Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge and China Peak are all closer than Tahoe, on roads that do not turn into a car park on Saturday morning. Three unlimited mountains for $729 is hard to argue with.
Los Angeles — worth comparing against Ikon
Mountain High is the closest resort to LA, but Ikon has Big Bear and Snow Valley. If you will drive to Big Bear regularly, Ikon Base at $1,019 may serve you better despite costing more.
Tahoe-focused skiers — no
Three days at Sierra-at-Tahoe is the entire Tahoe offering. If Tahoe is where you ski, compare the Ikon and Epic passes instead.
The Powder Alliance bonus
All four Cali Pass mountains are also Powder Alliance members. A full season pass bought directly from one of those resorts carries three free days at every other Powder Alliance member — which is a genuinely different calculation from the Cali Pass itself. If you would only really ski one of the four, a single-resort season pass plus Powder Alliance reciprocity may cost less and reach further. How the Powder Alliance works →
Cali Pass — frequently asked questions
What is the Cali Pass and which resorts does it cover?
The Cali Pass is a $729 season pass giving unlimited access to four California resorts — Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge, China Peak and Mountain High — plus three days each at Sierra-at-Tahoe, Mt. Shasta Ski Park and twelve out-of-state areas.
Is the Cali Pass cheaper than Ikon or Epic?
Yes, substantially. At $729 it undercuts the full Ikon Pass by $720 and the full Epic Pass by $390. It is roughly the same price as the Tahoe Local Pass, but covers four resorts unlimited across three regions of California rather than three resorts in one basin.
What are the Cali Pass blackout dates?
December 26-31, 2026; January 1-2 and 15-17, 2027; and February 12-14, 2027. That is twelve days covering Christmas week, the New Year, Martin Luther King weekend and Presidents' Day weekend — the busiest days of the season.
Is the Cali Pass worth it?
If you live in the Central Valley, the Sierra foothills or the Inland Empire, it is probably the best value pass in California. Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge and China Peak are all much closer to Sacramento, Modesto and Fresno than Tahoe is, and Mountain High is the closest resort to Los Angeles. If you only ski Tahoe, it is the wrong pass — it has no unlimited Tahoe access at all.
Does the Cali Pass work at Tahoe?
Only partially. You get three days at Sierra-at-Tahoe on Highway 50, and nothing else in the basin. No Palisades, no Heavenly, no Northstar, no Kirkwood. Treat Tahoe access as a bonus rather than a reason to buy.
Is there a discounted Cali Pass for kids, students or military?
Yes. As of August 29, 2026: young adults 13-22 and seniors 70-74 pay $679, children 6-12 pay $389 with under-6s free alongside a paying adult, seniors 75 and over pay $159, military pay $469, and college students 18-25 start from $249 with a $100 deposit.
Once you have picked a pass
Find the mountains it covers, then somewhere to sleep near them.
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