Mammoth Mountain Extends Season Through May 31

Featured Image: Peter Morning

Every ski resort across the Western United States felt the unseasonably warm temperatures and dry spells this winter presented, but some have fared better than others in the second half of the season, including Mammoth Mountain. The California ski resort was forced to push back its opening date from November 12 to November 20 due to low snow but December provided a Christmas miracle that buried the place in three to five feet of fresh. January was fairly uneventful storm-wise but then a late-February storm dropped another five feet of snow across the region, giving Mammoth the confidence to stay open until Memorial Day.

With an average of 400 inches of annual snowfall, Mammoth has fallen drastically short this season, with just 293 inches recorded at the main lodge as of mid-May. But the resort's summit elevation, 11,053 feet above sea level, is the highest of any California ski area, and a late-spring storm, combined with that elevation, has helped the mountain hold on to its meager snowpack better than expected. Because of that, Mammoth Mountain has announced that it will be extending its 2026 ski season through May 31. While the ski resort is often known for running into mid-June, this feels like a major win, given the historically bad snow year.

A 38-inch base depth, as of May 15, is holding on strong and the spring ski vibes are high. The mountain still has 71 trails and three terrain parks open for as many slushy laps as your legs can handle. Operations for May 26-31 will be daily, 7:30 am to 1 pm, with Broadway Express, Face Lift Express, and Chair 23 spinning every day. The main lodge will remain open for food and beverage services, rentals, repairs and lessons.