Explore Arnold
Dodge Ridge Ski Resort
Dodge Ridge is the other ski area within reach of Arnold — a family-run-feeling mountain at the end of Highway 108 above Pinecrest, with 862 skiable acres, 1,600 feet of vertical and a lift network built for people who would rather ski laps than queue.
First things first
The mountain by the numbers
The base area sits at about 6,600 feet and the lift-served summit reaches roughly 8,200, giving around 1,600 feet of vertical across about 862 skiable acres.
There are around 60 marked runs, weighted deliberately toward people still learning: roughly a fifth are beginner terrain, about 40 percent intermediate, and a third advanced.
Twelve lifts serve the mountain — a quad, a pair of triples, five doubles and a handful of surface lifts — which spreads people out and keeps lines short on all but the busiest holiday weekends.
The longest run, Stagecoach, is about two miles top to bottom, and several terrain parks are built out through the season as snow allows, from small progression features up to bigger jumps and walls.
Geography
Where Dodge Ridge Ski Resort sits
Dodge Ridge rises directly above the village of Pinecrest in Tuolumne County, at the snowbound end of Highway 108 roughly 30 miles east of Sonora — one drainage south of the Highway 4 country, in the Middle Fork Stanislaus watershed.
The whole area operates inside Stanislaus National Forest under a special use permit, which is part of why it still feels like a mountain rather than a resort development: a base lodge, a scattering of lifts and forest in every direction.
The terrain is classic granite-and-fir central Sierra: broad ridge shoulders, glacially scoured benches and a compact ski footprint that faces north enough to hold snow.
There is no direct mountain connector, so from Chalet Bruin and Koda Loft it is roughly 65 to 70 miles down Highway 4 and back up Highway 108 — about 1 hour 45 minutes, weather depending. Bear Valley is the closer option for a spur-of-the-moment powder morning; Dodge Ridge is the one you plan the night before.
- Region
- Central Sierra Nevada, Highway 108 corridor
- County
- Tuolumne County
- Elevation
- 6,600 ft base to about 8,200 ft summit
- Nearest town
- Pinecrest and Strawberry
- Getting there
- Highway 108, the Sonora Pass highway
Snow report
Dodge Ridge conditions right now
Live mountain weather for Dodge Ridge above Pinecrest, so you know what Highway 108 looks like before you commit to the drive from Arnold.
- Base
- 6,600 ft
- Summit
- 8,200 ft
Now
40°F
Sky
Chance Light Rain
Wind
6 mph
Snow next 24h
0"
Snow next 72h
0"
Snow past 24h
—
Snow level
9,900 ft
Snow is forecast to fall above about 9,900 ft. Arnold sits near 4,000 ft, so expect rain at the cabins and snow once you climb past Dorrington.
Today
56°
34° low
—
Thu
46°
31° low
—
Fri
56°
26° low
—
Sat
61°
33° low
—
Sun
60°
34° low
—
Mountain forecast for Dodge Ridge, Pinecrest, California from the National Weather Service, as of Oct 21, 2:17 AM PT.
Dodge Ridge sits at the end of Highway 108 above Pinecrest, with a base around 6,600 feet and a summit near 8,200. That is a little lower than Bear Valley, so early- and late-season storms can arrive wet at the bottom while still stacking up nicely on the upper mountain. In a strong winter the area still measures its snowfall in hundreds of inches, and there is light snowmaking at the base to hold the beginner terrain together.
The season usually runs from late November into mid-April, with the most reliable coverage from January through March. The drive from Arnold is the long part — down Highway 4 and back up 108 — so it pays to look at the live numbers below and the resort's own report before you leave, especially when chain controls are in place.
The live camera is hosted by the resort's camera provider, which sets its own cookies.
Summit Cam
Top of the mountain at 8,200 feet, looking out over the upper runs.
The live camera is hosted by the resort's camera provider, which sets its own cookies.
Mid-Mountain Cam
The 7,000-foot mid-mountain view, a good read on visibility and wind.
The live camera is hosted by the resort's camera provider, which sets its own cookies.
Base Area Cam
Base area at 6,600 feet — lifts, lodge and the parking lot snow line.
Snow and season
Dodge Ridge typically operates from late November into mid-April, and annual snowfall is measured in the hundreds of inches in a healthy winter. Because the base is lower than Bear Valley's, the shoulder weeks can be wetter down by the lodge while the upper mountain holds better snow, so the first and last few weeks of the season reward checking conditions before committing to the drive.
The mountain added light snowmaking at the base a few seasons ago, which mostly matters for keeping the beginner runs and the lift loading areas consistent early in the winter. Mid-January through March is the sweet spot: deepest base, most terrain open, most lifts spinning.
Snow by the month
How much snow Dodge Ridge really gets
Averages across 30 seasons, 1995-96 through 2024-25, so you can see which weeks are worth planning a trip around.
| Month | Average snow | Days with 6"+ | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 17" | 0.7 | Rarely enough on its own; the lower base takes longer to hold snow. |
| December | 42" | 2.5 | Late December is when the mountain usually gets going properly. |
| January | 43" | 2.6 | Snowiest month of the year, and the most reliable coverage top to bottom. |
| February | 41" | 2.3 | Full winter, with Granite Bowl and the backside at their best. |
| March | 40" | 2.5 | Still storm season up high, though the base can soften on warm weeks. |
| April | 20" | 0.8 | Spring skiing when the winter has been deep; closed early when it has not. |
Historical figures are modelled from 30 seasons of public reanalysis weather data at the mountain's coordinates, not resort snow-stake measurements. Use the resort's own report for what fell last night.
Season totals
216"
Average snowfall across a full season.
- Deepest winter
- 2022-23 · 424"
- Leanest winter
- 2014-15 · 87"
Best weeks to book
- December 22 to 31 — the snowiest ten days of the year here too
- January 22 to 31 — the deepest, most dependable coverage of the season
- March 1 to 7 — good snow up high with longer, warmer days
Because the base sits lower than Bear Valley's, January and February are the safest weeks to plan a Dodge Ridge day around.
Mountain facts
Dodge Ridge by the numbers
The plain figures, checked against the resort's own published information.
- Skiable acres
- 862
- Trails
- 70 trails plus Granite Bowl
- Lifts
- 10 lifts, mostly fixed-grip chairs and carpets
- Vertical
- 1,600 ft
- Base / summit
- 6,600 / 8,200 ft
- Terrain
- 25% beginner, 50% intermediate, 25% advanced
- Snowmaking
- Limited, on the beginner terrain near the base
- Terrain parks
- Yes
- Night skiing
- No
- History
- Family-run since its first season in 1950
- Passes honoured
- Cali Pass, Indy Pass
Source: dodgeridge.com and the Indy Pass resort listing. Checked September 2026 — Dodge Ridge official site. Lift counts, pass programs and prices change; the resort’s site is always the final word.
Season dates
When Dodge Ridge opens and closes
Mid-December through mid-March, longer when the winter is deep. Dates come from the resort's own season announcements. Dodge Ridge relies more on natural snow than most California areas, so its season length swings more than Bear Valley's.
This season’s dates-
2025-26
December 27 – March 15
Closed early after an unseasonably warm winter
Side by side
Bear Valley or Dodge Ridge?
Both are honest, unfussy Sierra mountains within reach of the cabins. The difference is mostly size, drive and how much snow the base holds.
| Bear Valley | Dodge Ridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Skiable acres | 1,680 | 862 |
| Vertical | 1,900 ft | 1,600 ft |
| Base / summit | 6,600 / 8,500 ft | 6,600 / 8,200 ft |
| Average season snowfall | 248" | 216" |
| Typical season | Late Nov to late Apr | Mid Dec to mid Mar |
| Drive from the cabins | 50-60 min | About 1 hr 45 min |
| Passes | Cali, Indy, Powder Alliance | Cali, Indy |
| Best for | Bigger terrain, longer season, a spur-of-the-moment powder morning | Gentle intermediate cruising, small-mountain feel, a planned day trip |
Lessons, rentals and the lodge
The base area is genuinely built around families. The lodge houses a children's centre, food service and the ticket office, and there is a separate rental shop, so a family arriving without gear can be on snow in one stop. Group and private lessons run for children, teens and adults, which makes this a sensible place to put a first-timer rather than throwing them at a bigger, busier mountain.
Food is straightforward mountain fare across a few counters and a bar at the base — good enough that you do not have to pack lunch, simple enough that nobody is booking a table. Dodge Ridge is also part of the Powder Alliance, so a season pass here comes with reciprocal days at a long list of other resorts.
Beyond the chairlifts
Alpine skiing and snowboarding are the main event, but not the only one. There is tubing and sledding at the base for anyone not interested in strapping in, and the Pinecrest cross-country and snowshoe trail network sits just down the road for a quieter day in the trees.
In summer the mountain does not simply shut. Lift-served mountain biking runs on the chairs, and there is disc golf on the slopes, which turns a winter drive into a warm-weather one too — handy if you are staying in Arnold in July and want a mountain day without snow.
Getting there
Getting there and parking
About 65 to 70 miles and roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Highway 4 down through Angels Camp, then Highway 108 up past Sonora and Pinecrest.
- Distance
- About 65 to 70 miles
- Drive time
- Roughly 1 hour 45 minutes
- Elevation
- Down to the foothills and back up about 4,600 feet
- Chain controls
- Chain controls appear above Strawberry on Highway 108; the long valley section is usually bare pavement.
Highway 108 above Sonora is a mountain road, and chain controls go up regularly during and after storms. Carry chains from December through March even with all-wheel drive — the storm that makes the skiing good is the same storm that slows the drive.
Parking is at the base and free, but it fills on powder days and holiday mornings. Leaving Arnold early is the whole trick: you will be parked close, through the ticket window, and riding while the later crowd is still winding up the highway.
Check road conditions before you leave — Caltrans QuickMap shows live chain requirements and closures for Highways 4 and 108.
Stay near Dodge Ridge
There is very little lodging at the mountain itself, and Pinecrest thins out considerably in winter. Basing in Arnold gives you a full town — groceries, restaurants, a brewery and a distillery — plus a hot tub to come home to, and it puts both ski areas within reach from the same cabin.
Local knowledge
Guided experiences near Dodge Ridge Ski Resort
Guided outings our guests book most often while they're up the hill.
Affiliate disclosure
These experiences are operated and sold by Viator or GetYourGuide, not by Arnold Haven. Booking through these links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep the cabins and this guide going.
Nearby
Keep exploring
Stay nearby
Cabins near Dodge Ridge Ski Resort
Dodge Ridge is a scenic drive from Arnold over Highway 108, and Arnold has the town, the groceries and the hot tub that Pinecrest largely loses in winter. Looking for Pinecrest and Highway 108 ski lodging? Arnold Haven has two dog-friendly cabins — a five-bedroom A-frame chalet that sleeps 12 and a two-bedroom loft that sleeps 4. Minimum stay is 2 nights, check-in is at 3pm and check-out at 11am.
- Check-in
- Self check-in, 3pm
- Cancellation
- Full refund 5+ days ahead; holidays 30 days
Check live availability, see your full price, and book securely — ID check and payment are handled by Stripe.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How far is Dodge Ridge from Arnold?+
Roughly an hour and a half by car, down Highway 4 and back up Highway 108 through Sonora and Pinecrest. Winter weather and chain controls can add to that, so leave early.
How big is Dodge Ridge?+
About 862 skiable acres with roughly 1,600 feet of vertical, a 6,600-foot base, an 8,200-foot summit, around 60 runs and 12 lifts.
When is Dodge Ridge open?+
The winter season generally runs from late November through mid-April, with the most reliable snow from January through March. The mountain also operates in summer for lift-served mountain biking and disc golf.
Is Dodge Ridge good for beginners?+
Yes — it is one of the better learning mountains in the central Sierra. About 20 percent of the terrain is beginner-rated, 40 percent intermediate, and there are lessons and rentals for children, teens and adults at the base.
Do I need chains to get to Dodge Ridge?+
Often, yes. Chain controls are common on Highway 108 during and after storms, so carry chains in winter and check road conditions before you drive up.
Where should we stay to ski Dodge Ridge?+
There is little lodging at the mountain. Staying in Arnold gives you groceries, restaurants and a hot tub, and puts both Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley within driving range of the same cabin.