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China Peak ski resort
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Tier B — Favored

📷 China Peak

North America

China Peak

Closed for the season

Season ended April 5, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 10:02 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed April 5

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

1

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 10:02 AM•Weather at base: 2134m

Overview

China Peak is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 5, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 10:02 UTC.

Resort Guide

China Peak is a ski resort located in the Sierra National Forest of California, offering over 1,400 acres of skiable terrain and a vertical drop of 1,679 feet. The resort features a variety of runs for all ability levels, terrain parks, and a base area with dining, lodging, and rental services. Known for its scenic mountain setting and relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, China Peak provides signature experiences such as lake views from the slopes and convenient access from Central California.

Resort Info

Summit2743m
Base2134m
Vertical609m
Lifts11
Runs45
Skiable Area1200 acres
Average snowfall325 inches / 826 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedApril 5, 2026
Projected openingNovember 27, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Indy Pass

Buy pass →

Powder Alliance

Buy pass →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Buckhorn Bar – A classic après-ski spot at China Peak, Buckhorn Bar is celebrated for its welcoming mountain lodge ambiance, hearty drinks, and live music events, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

2743mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 10:02 AM

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24h
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14-Day Forecast
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Now28
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S29
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S30
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M31
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Today
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

California & Sierra Nevada region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 10:02 AM UTC

Base

2134m

Temp

11.1°C

Wind

4.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Mid-Mountain

2439m

Temp

--°C

Wind

5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

2743m

Temp

7.9°C

Wind

5.7km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

China Peak El Niño rank & forecast

China Peak ranks #142 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier B, +6% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier B — Favored: Modest El Niño upside (+3% to +8% vs normal). Often a solid pick, without the biggest Andes-style swings.

#142 of 488Tier B — Favored

Strong-event signal: +6% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), China Peak averaged +6% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically leaned mildly in this resort's favor for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 +32%, '15-16 -26%, '23-24 +11%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 +32%'15-16 −26%'23-24 +11%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

China Peak Webcams

All Webcams

China Peak Mountain Resort

China Peak Mountain Resort

China Peak Mountain Resort

China Peak Mountain Resort

China Peak Mountain Resort

China Peak Mountain Resort

6 webcams • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For China Peak (rockies), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 28, 10:02 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
17 / 85.7mm
Sat, Aug 29
18 / 6
Sun, Aug 30
18 / 3
Mon, Aug 31
18 / 3
Tue, Sep 1
15 / 1
Wed, Sep 2
18 / 1
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)0.34.80.6000000000000000
Temp (°C)12169121791117711176915410175
Wind (km/h)815561445114411351445146
Gusts (km/h)386628284823203916184527314837274237

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (2743m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

28

🌧️

16.7°

7.9°

18 km/h

Sat

29

⛅

17.8°

6.1°

15 km/h

Sun

30

☀️

17.8°

3.1°

12 km/h

Mon

31

☀️

17.6°

3.3°

12 km/h

Tue

1

☀️

15.2°

1.2°

15 km/h

Wed

2

☀️

17.8°

0.5°

15 km/h

Thu

3

☀️

17.7°

0.4°

17 km/h

Fri

4

☁️

16.6°

2.4°

16 km/h

Sat

5

☁️

19.8°

1.9°

11 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

21.8°

3.6°

12 km/h

Summit elevation (2743m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

Avalanche.org (US avalanche centers)

This resort lies outside every forecast zone published by its national warning service, so no bulletin covers it.

Read the official bulletin ↗

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Getting There

Drive times & access

Last updated Apr 8, 1:16 AM

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

No chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure watches near China Peak. Late-season / summer readings are not a winter forecast. The resort road status and the official DOT map are authoritative — re-check before you drive.

SnowSure take, grounded in live DOT sensors. Not the resort's road status.

Live highway sensors & cameras within ~30–40 km, via Caltrans. Conditions on the drive, not the mountain — the resort's own road status is authoritative. Always re-check before a winter drive.

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 28, 10:02 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 580cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 543cm full-season avg

580cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~493 cm. That's 15% below the 5-year average (580 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 9% below the 30-year average (543 cm).

China Peak Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 439cm with an average of 73 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November32.1cm7 days7cm24cm14.4cm
December81.8cm11 days31cm65cm23.3cm
January88cm11 days67cm106cm24.8cm
February92.8cm12 days95cm134cm24.1cm
March77.5cm11 days113cm148cm22.6cm
April40.4cm10 days94cm124cm15.2cm
May13.1cm6 days44cm71cm7.2cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Nov 27, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at China Peak, ERA5 season snowfall median was 421 cm (166 in), about 7% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

421 cm

10 El Niño winters · 7% above median

All-season median

392 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10421 cm323 cm – 536 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12403 cm361 cm – 443 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8347 cm289 cm – 441 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about China Peak

Where is China Peak?
China Peak is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is China Peak?
China Peak runs from a base elevation of 2,134 m (7,001 ft) to a summit of 2,743 m (8,999 ft), giving a vertical drop of 609 m (1,998 ft).
How big is China Peak?
China Peak has 1,200 acres (486 hectares) of skiable terrain, 45 marked runs and 11 lifts.
Which ski pass covers China Peak?
China Peak is on the Indy Pass and Powder Alliance. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at China Peak?
China Peak typically operates from November to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does China Peak get in a typical season?
China Peak averages 325 inches / 826 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect China Peak in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #142 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier B · strong-event signal +6% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), China Peak averaged +6% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically leaned mildly in this resort's favor for winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 +32%, '15-16 -26%, '23-24 +11%. A pattern, not a promise.