Dodge Ridge

Family Sierra hill with the Bay Area’s shortest drive.

A family-friendly Sierra hill above Pinecrest, open since 1950, with 862 acres, 1,600 ft of vertical and 67 trails. It bills itself as the shortest ski drive from the Bay Area and Central Valley, and it now offers tubing and sledding too. Snowmaking is limited, so the season follows the storms.

The mountain

Vertical drop

1,600 ft

Summit

8,200 ft

Skiable terrain

862 acres

Trails

67

Lifts

10

Average snowfall

350″ a year

Longest run

2 mi

Terrain mix

• Beginner 25%
• Intermediate 50%
• Advanced 25%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Snow tubing
• Ice skating
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• FestivalNov 14, 6–10 pm

  Pow-A-Bunga

  Pre-season party at The Armory in downtown Sonora; 1980s neon ski gear encouraged.

• FestivalOct 10–11Past

  Oktoberfest

  Live music, shop sales, games, food and drink to kick off the season.

Where to stay

• lodgeThe Long Barn Lodge

  Retro 20-room motel and 10 cabins in the forest, with an ice rink in winter.

  20 min drive
• hotelHotel Lumberjack

  Remade Americana motel in historic downtown Sonora, steps from shops and restaurants.

  45 min drive
• b&bMcCaffrey House

  Bed and breakfast in the pines at Twain Harte.

  30 min drive
• cabinPinecrest Chalet

  Chalets with full kitchens that sleep up to 14, plus cozy cottages and a guest den. Two-night weekend minimum.

  5 min drive
• cabinRivers Resort Rentals

  Cabin rentals in Strawberry, a few miles down Highway 108.

  10 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Long Barn Lodge Ice Rink · 20 min drive

  Winter ice rink at the Long Barn Lodge; last season it closed March 1.

• Pinecrest Lake · 5 min drive

  Snowy shoreline walks around the lake just below the resort.

• Columbia State Historic Park · 50 min drive

  Preserved Gold Rush town with shops, stagecoach and old storefronts.

• Historic downtown Sonora · 45 min drive

  Gold Country main street with shops, restaurants and tasting rooms.

Après and nightlife

• Boulder Bar

  Main bar at the base, pouring local Tuolumne County beer and open to the dining room.

• The Way Station

  Ski-in mid-mountain stop at 7,000 ft for BBQ burgers, beer and wine.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Sacramento International (SMF) · about 2 hr 40 min drive
• Sacramento · about 2.5 hr
• San Francisco · about 3.25 hr

Directions in Google Maps