China Peak Mountain Resort | Mountain Overview | California

Apr 29

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, China Peak Mountain Resort is an incredible little ski resort that flys under the radar when compared to other resorts located both north and south of the ski area. With over 1,000 acres (404 hectares) of terrain, a vertical drop of 1,679 feet (512 meters),45 runs, 11 lifts, and some of the best value lift tickets in California, the resort offers something for everyone, from beginner riders all the way through to expert level.

In this video we go through a complete overview of China Peak Mountain Resort and cover everything from the history, the lifts and terrain, the snowfall, lift ticket pricing, lodging options and resort location.

History:

The resort was initially called China Peak when it first opened to the public in 1958. During the summer of 1957, the longest chairlift in the United States, spanning over one mile with a midway station, was installed at the resort. In 1981, the resort was bought by the Snow Summit company and was later renamed Sierra Summit before the 1982-1983 season. In 2010, Tim Cohee purchased the resort, and the original name of China Peak was reinstated, starting from the 2010-2011 season. Since then, Cohee has been the CEO and general manager of the resort. Today, China Peak is a flourishing mountain destination that offers exceptional skiing and snowboarding experiences, as well as a variety of summer activities on the mountain and the nearby lake.

Resort Size & Terrain Breakdown:

China Peak is home to 1,000 acres of skiable terrain and is the perfect mountain for rider progression thanks to its perfect balance of terrain diversity.

Beginner: beginner riders will feel right at home at China Peak thanks to 16% of the terrain being the perfect width and pitch to learn. Majority of the beginner terrain and lifts are located at the base of the resort and once you feel confident there is the academy trail which is 2.25 mile long ski run that offers plenty of space to help build your confidence with riding.
Intermediate: The resort really comes alive for Intermediate riders as China Peak has 57% of the terrain graded blue. The intermediate trails can be found in every corner of the ski resort including some zones like the Lakeview chair where every trail is an intermediate ski run. Intermediate riders also have the ability to ride a blue trail from from the summit all the way to the base.
Advanced & Expert: Riders who love to challenge themselves with advanced and expert trails will have a blast at China Peak Mountain Resort thanks to 27% of terrain being black diamond or double black diamond. The Face and Waterfall Bowl are exclusively advanced terrain and experts who like to hike will find technical rock chutes at the summit of the resort.
Terrain Parks: China Peak is home to a great terrain park which has a collection of small to large features. One key benefit is the whole zone has a triple lift which allows easy access to endless park laps with incredible views of the lake.

Lift System:

China Peak has an expansive lift system that is made up of 6 chairlifts, a T-Bar and a number of magic carpets. The magic carpets are exclusively found in the beginner terrain at the base of the resort and the stand alone T-Bar is near the summit serving the firebowl terrain. The remaining chairlifts are a collection of doubles, triples and a single quad which are perfectly placed to serve resort zones with a standout lift being the Summit chair that rises from the base to, you guessed it, the top of the mountain.

Snow:

Located on the western side of the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range puts China Peak in the firing line of the powerful pacific storms that drop insane snowfalls. On average China Peak will see over 300” of snow however during the 22/23 season there has been over 700” that has fallen at the summit of the mountain. So much snow that some days the resort couldn’t even open.

Lift Tickets:

A lift ticket at China Peak will give you full access to all the lifts and trails and will typically cost anywhere from $100 USD to $120 USD depending on the day of the week or month during the season. Child lift ticket will cost anywhere from $78 USD through to around $90 USD. The pricing for a China Peak lift ticket is discounted for those that plan ahead and buy their lift tickets online. During the peak season and holiday weekends you can expect to pay upwards of $120 USD per day.

Seasons:

The winter season in California usually commences in mid-November. However, we do not recommend planning a cross-country trip during this time as the ski resorts typically operate only a few lifts, and skiing and snowboarding are mainly limited to man-made snow. The period from January through the end of March is the ideal time to visit China Peak Mountain Resort since this marks the peak of winter in the Sierra Nevada's. During this time, strong storms bring heavy snowfall, which quickly clears to reveal the Californian sunshine. As the season progresses into mid-March to early April, the winter transitions to spring, and China Peak keeps its lifts operational until the resort's closing date in April.

On Mountain Amenities:

China Peak is a family owned ski resort, not a mega resort owned by the likes of Vail or Alterra, this means the resort doesn’t have a massive village at the base but they do have everything you need in the base area plus there is the Buckhorn Bar and Grill located mid mountain beside the Buckhorn Quad Lift which is the perfect spot for a tasty lunch on the mountain.

Lodging:

Whilst there is no base village packed full of hotels and restaurants there is plenty of lodging in and around the lake at the base of the resort. Both Lakeshore and Huntington offer up both lodges and standalone houses which are perfect to house the whole family during your next snow getaway.

Location:

China Peak is nestled deep in the centre of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is north facing resort, so the snow remains protected from the sun during the winter months. The resort is above Huntington Lake which is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California and this makes it one of the east day trip resorts from the central valley. The resort is around 5 hours from San Francisco depending on traffic and weather so it’s more of a weekend escape than day trip resort for those living in the Bay Area.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, China Peak Mountain Resort is a truly remarkable destination that offers visitors an unparalleled experience of the Sierra Nevada mountains plus incredible skiing and snowboarding for the whole family thanks to an abundance of snow and great value lift tickets. What do you think about China Peak Mountain Resort, have you been? Is it on your ski bucket list? Let us know in the comments and make sure you check out all of the other ski resorts in California at SnowStash.com

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