China Peak
1,400 acres, 52 runs, 7.6m annual snowfall. Sierra National Forest location 105km from Fresno. Cali Pass included.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
29 Nov 2026
Closes
22 Mar 2027
Days open
113
Annual snow
25ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
China Peak operates across 1,400 acres of terrain in the Sierra National Forest with 52 marked runs spanning 511 metres of vertical drop from a 2,143-metre base to an 2,654-metre summit. The resort receives an average 7.6 metres of annual snowfall and features one of California's largest snowmaking systems covering 40% of its terrain. The mountain divides into five distinct terrain pods served by dedicated lifts: Canyon and Park in the lower sections, and Lakeview, Buckhorn, and Peak accessing the upper mountain. Terrain distribution favours cruisers, with 57% rated intermediate, 16% beginner, 19% advanced and 8% expert, whilst the Canyon zone's Face area includes Juniper run, claimed as California's steepest groomed trail.
The resort opened in 1958 on the south shore of Huntington Lake at 2,143 metres elevation, originally developed to serve Central Valley skiers without the drive to Lake Tahoe. Five terrain pods allow different ability levels to spread out across the mountain, reducing overlap between beginners and experts. The Summit triple chair spans the full vertical in a 15-minute ride, providing access to all pods but proving slow for laps, whilst the Canyon fixed-grip quad offers faster mid-mountain access. The Buckhorn and Peak chairs serve upper intermediate and advanced terrain, with Peak often maintaining a groomed speed run down its fall line.
China Peak attracts modest crowds compared to Tahoe destinations, functioning primarily as a day-trip mountain for Fresno-area residents with minimal après options. The base area sprawls wide, requiring traverses across beginner terrain to move between Canyon and Summit lift bases. Three terrain parks include the Burton Progression Park in Ullmann's Alley for novices, plus Canyon, Ridge and Tollhouse parks offering varied freestyle features. The mid-mountain Buckhorn Bar & Grill provides sit-down dining, whilst base facilities include the Day Lodge and the slope-side Inn at China Peak for overnight stays.
China Peak joined the Cali Pass for 2025-26, granting unlimited access alongside Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley and Mountain High, with three free days at 14 Powder Alliance resorts worldwide including Sierra-at-Tahoe. The resort also participates in the Indy Pass with two-day access. The 2025-26 season ran from 29 November 2025 to 22 March 2026, typical for its elevation band. Daily lift tickets peak at USD 89, with season passes from USD 399, positioning China Peak as an affordable alternative to major California destinations for intermediate skiers and families seeking uncrowded slopes.
1,677ft
Vertical
52
Runs
1,400 acres
Skiable
25ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
52 runs across 1,400 acres skiable
China Peak spreads 52 runs across 1,400 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 57%, with 8 beginner runs to find your feet and 14 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
52
runs
52 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 16%
Intermediate30 runs · 57%
Advanced10 runs · 19%
Expert4 runs · 8%
Time it right
When to visit China Peak
The 2025-26 season opened 29 November 2025 and closed 22 March 2026, spanning approximately 16 weeks typical for western Sierra elevations between 2,143 and 2,654 metres. Opening dates depend heavily on early-season storms and snowmaking capacity, with mid-December through Christmas representing the resort's most critical revenue period. Drought years jeopardise profitability when snowless holiday weeks eliminate the busiest days. Natural snowfall remains variable year to year despite the 7.6-metre average, making the expanded snowmaking system essential for consistent coverage.
China Peak receives around 7.6 metres of annual snowfall, slightly less than northern Sierra resorts but comparable to other central Sierra destinations at similar elevations. The resort logged 5.5 metres during the 2025-26 season as of late winter. Snowfall peaks typically arrive January through early March, with the resort recording 300 inches in some years. California sun exposure triggers frequent freeze-thaw cycles, degrading snow quality days after storms, though extensive grooming operations maintain consistent surfaces on main runs. The 40% snowmaking coverage across 480 acres helps bridge gaps between natural storms.
February through March offers the best combination of accumulated base depth and longer daylight, with occasional bluebird days following storms. January remains coldest but delivers prime powder windows when storms align. Weekdays and non-holiday periods see minimal crowds, whilst weekends and school holidays draw Fresno-area families. The season typically ends by late March as spring temperatures accelerate snowmelt at the 2,143-metre base elevation. Early December and late March represent shoulder periods with variable coverage and limited terrain.
The resort operates Friday through Monday during most of the season, with some Thursday openings, closing Tuesday through Thursday. Night skiing runs Sunday evenings until 9pm. The events calendar includes race programmes through the season. Summer operations feature mountain biking, disc golf and scenic chairlift rides, transforming the property into a four-season destination. No major festivals or competitions anchor the winter calendar, keeping the focus on accessible family skiing without the event-driven crowds of destination resorts.
Season 2026 - 2027
29 Nov 2026
Opens
22 Mar 2027
Closes
113
Days open
25 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to China Peak, and where to stay
China Peak sits at 2,143 metres base elevation in the Sierra National Forest on the south shore of Huntington Lake in Fresno County, California. The resort occupies the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada range, approximately 110 kilometres northeast of Fresno in an area bounded by granite peaks and alpine lakes. Huntington Lake itself sits at 2,100 metres elevation, with the small community of Lakeshore 6 kilometres from the resort base. Shaver Lake, a larger recreational lake at 1,680 metres elevation, lies 30 kilometres downhill via winding mountain roads, offering lodging, dining and services unavailable at Huntington Lake.
Fresno, the nearest major city at 110,000 population, provides urban amenities 105 kilometres southwest in California's Central Valley. The town of Prather, 65 kilometres from the resort, offers the last reliable fuel and services before the mountain ascent. Lakeshore functions as a minimal base village with the resort's Inn, marinas and a seasonal general store. The town of Shaver Lake, 30 kilometres away with approximately 600 residents, features hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants including Seasons Bistro and Shaver Lake Pizza, plus grocery stores. The region sits roughly midway between Yosemite National Park to the north and Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Parks to the south, both within 90-minute drives.
Highway 168 provides the sole access route, climbing east from Fresno through Prather and Shaver Lake before terminating at Huntington Lake. The final hour from Shaver Lake to China Peak involves narrow, twisty mountain sections with steep grades requiring chains or four-wheel-drive during winter storms. Total drive time from Fresno typically runs 90 minutes to two hours depending on road conditions, with longer delays during heavy snowfall. San Jose sits four hours northwest, San Francisco four and a half hours, and Bakersfield three hours south. The resort's relative remoteness compared to Tahoe resorts keeps crowds lighter but adds drive time from major population centres.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) serves as the primary air gateway 105 kilometres southwest, offering flights on major carriers with 90-minute drive times to the resort. Rental cars provide the most practical airport transfer option, as public transport and shuttle services remain limited. Seasonal China Peak Express buses run select dates from Fresno, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, subject to schedule changes. San Francisco International Airport sits 360 kilometres northwest, and San Jose International Airport 320 kilometres away, both involving four-plus-hour drives. No rail service reaches the mountain corridor, making personal vehicles the dominant access method for this car-dependent destination.
Where to stay
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