Two Northern California Ski Resorts Call It Quits as Dismal Snow Season Takes Its Toll

A lackluster winter has caught up with two California ski areas, both of which are wrapping up operations well ahead of schedule.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park in McCloud closed its doors Saturday after logging just 55 days on the season, falling five short of the 60-day guarantee extended to passholders. Those who purchased season passes will receive a credit for the gap. Located in one of the state’s northernmost ski zones, the resort simply couldn’t keep pace with a winter that barely showed up. Northern California’s snowpack currently sits at a bleak 28% of its seasonal average.

Roughly 350 miles to the south, Dodge Ridge in the Stanislaus National Forest is following suit, shutting down Sunday due to persistently warm conditions. The 75-year-old Tuolumne County resort, a go-to destination for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, said it hopes to reopen if a significant storm rolls through, though that scenario looks increasingly unlikely.

Statewide, California’s snowpack is tracking at just 48% of normal, and the forecast offers little encouragement. A historic mid-March heat wave is expected to bring summer-like temperatures across much of the state starting Monday. The Bay Area and Central Coast could see records fall, while Lake Tahoe is forecast to reach the 70s and surrounding peaks may climb into the 60s.

Most Tahoe-area resorts still plan to operate into mid-April, but conditions remain tenuous. As one weekly weather report put it, there are no major storms in sight, just the possibility of light dustings on existing snowpack.