Mountain Review: Dodge Ridge

MOUNTAIN SCORE

#11 in California

#79 Overall

WRITTEN REVIEW

MOUNTAIN STATS

CATEGORY BREAKDOWN 

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Snow:

Resiliency:

Size:

Terrain Diversity:

Challenge:

Lifts:

Crowd Flow:

Facilities:

Navigation:

Mountain Aesthetic:

GOOD TO KNOW

1-Day Ticket: $109-$129

Pass Affiliation: Powder Alliance, Indy Pass

On-site Lodging: No

Aprés-ski: Limited

Nearest Cities: Stockton (2 hrs), San Jose (3 hrs), San Francisco (3 hrs)

Recommended Ability Level:

  +   Pros

• Ease of access from Bay Area

• Family-friendly footprint

• Lower traffic than Tahoe resorts

  –   Cons

• Primitive snowmaking system, leading to inconsistent terrain openings

• Slow lifts

• No on-site lodging

MOUNTAIN STATS

Skiable Footprint: 862 acres

Total Footprint: 862 acres

Lift-Serviced Terrain: 100%

Top Elevation: 8,145 ft

Vertical Drop: 1,575 ft

Lifts: 10

Trails: 71

Beginner: 8%

Intermediate: 41%

Advanced/Expert: 51%

Mountain Review

As the closest ski area to much of Central California, you might expect Dodge Ridge to be full of long lines and commercialized vibes—but you’d be pleasantly mistaken. Dodge Ridge is a bit of a throwback ski area, making do with only fixed grip lifts and minimal snowmaking. But while nobody will mistake it for a destination ski resort, it remains worth a stop for the right crowd.

Snow

Located in the Central Sierra Nevadas between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, Dodge Ridge doesn’t get quite the same snowfall as many Tahoe destinations, and suffers from some lower altitudes than other Sierra ski areas such as Mammoth, June, or China Peak. That being said, when the snow comes it dumps in large increments, allowing some terrain that may look unskiable during the early season to fill in later in the winter. The low-elevation, expert-oriented Granite Bowl needs quite a large base to open versus the resort’s other trails, but once the rope drops mid-winter, it provides an extra dimension to the skiable terrain.

Resiliency

If natural snowfall doesn’t come, Dodge Ridge is in a bit of trouble. The snowmaking system at Dodge Ridge is very primitive and small, only existing at the base and associated beginner areas; as a result, the ski area depends just about entirely on natural snow. Grooming operations are pretty good, but sometimes that isn’t enough to make up for the lack of artificial accumulation when there’s been a snow drought. During particularly bad seasons, Dodge Ridge may not be able to open until late December, or even early January.

Terrain Layout and Crowd Flow

Dodge Ridge covers approximately 850 acres and is served by seven chairlifts, one t-bar, and three beginner carpets. The resort is divided into three main areas: the front side, the Prospector area, and the backside Boulder Creek Canyon. The front side is a bit of a mess of lifts, with Chairs 1-6 each serving a handful of trails for different skill levels. One can get to the bottom of Prospector from the tops of Chairs 1, 4, and 5, which each end on the ridge at around the same elevation as each other. But while the frontside lifts might seem a bit confusing on paper, the setup makes a lot more sense in person thanks to intuitive signage. 

The Prospector zone and back side are a lot simpler to figure out. The Prospector chair (Chair 7) runs from the mid-mountain lodge to the summit, and while it’s technically a mid-mountain lift, the chair serves about the same amount of terrain as the entire front side. Some of the runs (namely Stagecoach and Separator) do extend below the base of Chair 7, making for a two-lift ride to lap these runs. Given the quantity of runs funneling into Chair 7, lines can build up here on busy days, although they’re nothing compared to what you’d see at bigger resorts.

The back side is served by a quad chair and a t-bar, though that surface lift has a finicky schedule. The quad lift does a good job of keeping lines moving smoothly, and the straightforward lift setup makes getting around pretty easy.

TRAIL MAP

Beginner Terrain

Dodge Ridge’s only official beginner slopes are concentrated around the base area, with Chair 1 (Triple Nugget) and Chair 6 (Clementine) serving as dedicated beginner lifts. The resort also features two carpet lifts for true first-timers, as well as another for tubing. The Clementine learning slope off Chair 6 can get a little crowded, as people returning to the base area from other pods are somewhat forced to filter into it; however, this run is wide and has a good pitch to it, which somewhat alleviates the issue. Chair 1 is slightly more isolated from more aggressive skier and rider traffic; while the bottom of this learning section is shared with people skiing from Chair 3 (Motherlode), it’s wide enough that beginners have enough space to spread themselves out. Occasionally, a banked slalom course is set up off Chair 1, offering fun turns suitable for beginners.

Beyond the two learning-oriented lifts, there are no beginner-rated runs at Dodge Ridge. However, some of the easier blue trails off Chair 3, like Coyote Trail and Ry’s Run, are on the easier side and should be doable by many less-experienced guests. Those used to greens at resorts in Tahoe may even find the Prospector trail off the eponymous chair worth a shot.

Intermediate Terrain

Intermediates will find a lot to like at Dodge Ridge. Just about the whole front side features ample blue terrain, and while a few steeper trails are marked as black runs, these trails should be doable for advanced intermediates. The Prospector area calls home to some longer blue runs, though some of the more interesting runs such as Stagecoach require two lifts to lap.

Only a handful of intermediate runs can be found on the back side, and the Graceland trail is the only blue trail that truly offers intermediate terrain from top to bottom. The upper part of the back side features some intermediate trees with fairly generous spacing; however, these runs aren’t officially marked by the resort, and guests will need to exit the trees at the Grapevine run to avoid a steep, advanced-level dropoff in the terrain. It’s also worth noting that the t-bar is home to a perplexing situation for intermediates; while this surface lift technically serves the intermediate T-Shot slope, there’s no way to exit this run without taking an advanced-level run first.

Advanced Terrain

Advanced skiers should head to either the Prospector chair or the back side for the best runs. Many black runs off Prospector are on the milder side and are frequently groomed, although this schedule varies, so visitors should check the grooming report to find the most up-to-date status of these runs. The Prospector area also offers enjoyable tree skiing, and guests can easily dip in and out of the trees from the marked runs.

The back side features steep groomers, mogul runs, and steep trees. Many runs on the backside lead into the Granite Bowl, a unique open bowl at the bottom of the mountain rather than the top. The Granite Bowl features some decidedly technical terrain best suited for expert skiers and riders, although a number of routes down are more than doable for regular advanced visitors. This bowl always remains ungroomed due to the numerous granite boulders and uneven terrain.

There are a few advanced runs on the front side, as well as a number of wooded areas that offer some fun glade runs. However, many of these runs aren’t the longest and have protracted runouts.

Expert Terrain

Experts have a few options at Dodge Ridge, although guests of this proficiency may get a little bored after a while. The front side features a few double-black runs off Chair 3, although these are mostly mellow chutes sandwiched between rock features. These features can transform into cliff drops with enough snow cover, but they’re nothing compared to more expert-oriented mountains. The back side features one traditional double-black run, Six Shooter, as well as some neighboring expert woods, the aptly named Six Shooter Glades. Six Shooter is a steep run that is often groomed, and guests will need sharp edges to maintain composure. The Six Shooter Glades and other tree runs in this area consist of steep trees with some good spacing. However, these runs are relatively short, which may leave advanced skiers and riders desiring more extensive runs. The expert-oriented Granite Bowl provides a playful, fun environment for expert features on a powder day—although if there’s been a snow drought, it’s best to steer clear of this area.

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Lifts

Those looking for fast laps on high-speed lifts will be disappointed by Dodge Ridge. The resort is held down by slow, fixed-grip lift service, with chairs that can involve ride times of up to ten minutes. Chairs 4 and 5 are ancient, center-pole Riblet chairs, which are much harder to load than typical modern lifts. On the plus side, Dodge Ridge recently overhauled its previously-center-pole Chair 1 with a newer triple chair, which vastly improved the flow for the beginner experience. The new Chair 1 runs in a similar alignment to the old Chair 2, which was removed in the process. There is also one t-bar that accesses two runs on the backside, but this lift runs quite infrequently.

Terrain Park

Freestyle enthusiasts will find that Dodge Ridge has a variety of parks. Features range from small to large, and there are some unique park areas that will keep any park rat entertained. Throughout the season, the resort also hosts a few terrain park events; chief among these are Boxzilla—which involves every box at the ski area lined up in a row, making for a 100+ ft feature—and a banked slalom course.

Facilities

If you’re looking to stop in for a break, Dodge Ridge offers a few options. The base area consists of multiple food options and bars, and prices are reasonable for the quality you get. Guests will find a large deck to soak in some of the California sun while watching the beginner slopes, as well a few fire rings to keep warm. On mountain, guests will find the Way Station Cafe at the base of the Prospector chair (Chair 7); this mid-mountain lodge can also be accessed by any chair that reaches the top of the frontside ridge.

The back side is a little ways from any food or shelter options. Guests will need to ride Chair 8 up and ski down to get to the Way Station Cafe, which is the closest facility. Guests will then need to ride Chair 7 back up to get to the back side again.

Dodge Ridge’s parking lots extend all the way up to the bottom of Chair 5, which is a few hundred feet up from the main base. This area has a ticket booth as well as some restrooms, but those looking for rentals or a true indoor base lodge should stick to the main base area.

Navigation

Aside from the somewhat confusing arrangement of frontside lifts, navigating Dodge Ridge is relatively straightforward. While there are some flat sections that might slow you down—especially the busy stretch from the top of Chair 3 to the bottom of Chair 7—as well as a few runs that necessitate using multiple lifts, clear signage and readily available trail maps at the tops of lifts simplify the process.

Mountain Aesthetic

Nobody will mistake Dodge Ridge for a “big mountain” ski resort, but the resort does offer some pretty unique views. Along with the impressive setup of the Granite Bowl itself, the back side provides great views of some striking, castle-like peaks, including the aptly-named Castle Rock in the distance. The bare granite of the faraway peaks extends up the canyon as well, making for some distinctive sights.

The front side looks down into less dramatic rolling hills, but guests will still find some solid vistas depending on the day. On exceptionally clear days, one might catch a glimpse of the Central Valley—although the valley haze often gets in the way of that view. On the clearest of days, guests may even be able to see as far as Mount Diablo, which is over 100 miles west of the resort in the Bay Area.

Getting There

One of the main draws to Dodge Ridge is its proximity to major population centers. Dodge Ridge is the closest ski area to San Jose, Stockton, and Modesto, and is one of the closest to the rest of the Bay Area. With no traffic, the drive takes about two hours from Stockton and Modesto, and three hours from San Jose and Oakland—these times are about an hour or two shorter than most of Dodge Ridge’s competitors. It’s also worth noting that Dodge Ridge benefits from lighter traffic compared to other ski areas such as Sugar Bowl, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood, as the road that leads to Dodge Ridge is closed during the winter just beyond the resort entrance.

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Lodging

Dodge Ridge does not offer ski-in/ski-out lodging, but there are many options in the surrounding area. The towns of Pinecrest and Strawberry are located less than 15 minutes away from the ski area, with both featuring a few smaller hotels. If you’re looking for a larger town with more extensive lodging options, Sonora is less than an hour down from the resort.

Après-ski

As one might expect from a day-trip-oriented hill, après at Dodge Ridge is limited. There are a few bars at the base, but they don’t exactly call home to a party atmosphere, and they close shortly after the lifts stop turning.

Verdict

Overall, Dodge Ridge offers a throwback skiing experience in the ever-advancing California ski market. If you’re okay overlooking the slow lifts and minimal snowmaking, you’ll find a ski area with some great beginner and intermediate terrain, relatively uncrowded slopes, and the occasional great powder days. Dodge Ridge is really best as a day or weekend-trip mountain, but if you’re booking in advance, try to aim for a trip on the later side to avoid variable snow conditions and spotty terrain openings.

Pricing

Lift tickets at Dodge Ridge are on the cheaper side compared to other California resorts, with day tickets topping out at $130, and many discounts being offered for in-advance or off-peak days. However, these rates are still quite pricey for what you get, reflecting the inflated nature of today’s ticket rates across the state in general. Dodge Ridge is also on the Indy Pass, which comes with two days of access to the ski area, as well as the Powder Alliance, which include three days of free skiing to Dodge Ridge with a season pass to any participating mountain.