Dodge Ridge ski resort will kick off its 70th season Monday (Dec. 21).
Dodge Ridge is the closest ski resort to the Bay Area and Central Valley locations. It features 1,600 vertical feet, 862 skiable acres, 12 lifts and 67 trails. The resort is located in Pinecrest, off Highway 108, 30 miles east of Sonora. Dodge Ridge is in located in the Stanislaus National Forest and operates under a special use permit.
Dodge Ridge’s 70th season will kick off at 9 a.m. on Monday, thanks to the two winter storms that delivered nearly 2 feet of snow over the past week. Chairlifts 3, 5 and 7 will be operating for opening day with over 50% of mountain terrain accessible.
There will only be intermediate to advanced terrain open; no beginner terrain will be accessible. Dodge Ridge will look to announce the opening of chairlift 8 following Mountain Operation’s assessment.
Early-season conditions do exist with groomed and ungroomed conditions, and marked and unmarked obstacles present. Dodge Ridge relies 100% on natural snow and will open additional terrain once they receive more snowfall, which looks to be developing in the forecast in the days following Christmas.
The Lake Tahoe region has 14 ski resorts currently open for the Christmas holidays.
ADVANCE TICKETS RECOMMENDED: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, skiers and snowboarders are advised to purchase advance daily lift tickets throughout the 2020-21 season. Tickets are available online from www.DodgeRidge.com.
Note that Dodge Ridge will be limiting capacity through online sales for all products this season, while also restricting parking when necessary to only those who have pre-purchased daily lift tickets and season passes.
Dodge Ridge’s daily lift ticket pricing this season is still one of the lowest in the Sierra with no peak pricing. Tickets are $89 for adults, $75 for teens and seniors, $30 for youth, and $10 for ages 5-under or 82-over. Season-long and daily preferred parking passes are also recommended this season and can be purchased online to ensure close-in parking.
Dodge Ridge services will be available opening day, including intermediate to advanced private lesson programs for ages 5-above. Lesson reservations are required this season and can be made on the Dodge Ridge website. Advanced online rental purchases are also required this season to reserve ski, snowboard and helmet rentals for all ages.
Food and beverage will be available from the Creekside Cafe with take-out only options. Indoor lounging and seating will not be available in the lodges at this time. The Sport and Tech shop will be open with limited indoor capacity for equipment tunes, waxes and last-minute holiday gear purchase.
COVID SAFETY MEARSURES: Skiing and riding has been identified as an important outlet for personal health and wellness by the state. By following all guidelines from state and local health officials, Dodge Ridge will work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health of our entire community.
Visit the Plan for the Winter page on the Dodge Ridge website for complete details regarding the guidelines in place and what to know before you go as we all work to make this winter season a great one.
Face coverings and hand sanitization will be required to access the facilities and lift operations will be adhering to the “Live Together, Ride Together” lift riding protocol. Physical distancing requirements will be enforced and all guests and employees will be required to stay home if showing any symptoms or feeling unwell.
