📷 Donner Ski Ranch
North America
Donner Ski Ranch
Status unconfirmed
Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 21, 03:03 PM UTC · informational only
Scroll for happiness
Status unconfirmed
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
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Past 24 Hours
0cm
Past 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
0cm
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Snow Depth
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Overview
Donner Ski Ranch is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season. Today's SnowSure™ Score is 10/100. Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 15:03 UTC.
Resort Guide
Donner Ski Ranch is located on Donner Summit in Norden, California, offering a classic, family-friendly ski experience with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The resort features over 500 acres of skiable terrain, catering to all ability levels with a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs. Known for its affordable pricing and vintage charm, Donner Ski Ranch provides essential amenities including ski and snowboard rentals, lessons, and a historic lodge with dining options. Its approachable size and laid-back vibe make it a popular choice for families and those seeking a traditional Sierra Nevada ski experience.
Gallery
Click to expand • 6 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Donner Ski Ranch
Lifts
8
Skiable area
435 ac
Resort Info
Ski passes
Indy Pass
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Old 40 Bar & Grill – This cozy slopeside bar at Donner Ski Ranch is celebrated for its laid-back atmosphere, hearty comfort food, and welcoming après-ski scene, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind with drinks and mountain views after a day on the slopes.
Status unconfirmed
SnowSure scores and forecasts below are for planning and reference only while the resort is closed.
Depth
Resort closed — no current ski-base depth.
Recent
No new snow has been reported in the past week.
Forecast
The 14-day snow outlook is currently unavailable.
Historic
This season-to-date shows no snow accumulation compared to a 5-year average of 614cm.
Status unconfirmed · Data updated Fri, Aug 21, 03:03 PM UTC · informational only
Snow Summary
Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Historical data from Open-Meteo archive • Forecast from ECMWF IFS model
Snowfall Forecast Maps
California & Sierra Nevada region
Current Conditions
Reported Fri, Aug 21, 03:03 PM UTC
Base
2143m
Temp
14.8°C
Wind
4.7km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Mid-Mountain
2258m
Temp
--°C
Wind
5km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Summit
2372m
Temp
13.3°C
Wind
4.7km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Getting There
Road Conditions
6 cameras nearby
R-0 — No restrictions
No active chain controls or restrictions on the highways near this resort right now (Caltrans). Always re-check before a winter drive.
Highway cameras near Donner Ski Ranch
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.
Local Reports
0 reportsDaily 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 Donner Ski Ranch (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 21, 3:03 PM
Today 24 / 9 | Sat, Aug 22 23 / 9 | Sun, Aug 23 24 / 8 | Mon, Aug 24 23 / 6 | Tue, Aug 25 23 / 9 | Wed, Aug 26 23 / 9 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night |
| Snow (cm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Temp (°C) | 16 | 24 | 12 | 16 | 22 | 12 | 15 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 23 | 12 | 15 | 22 | 11 |
| Wind (km/h) | 8 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 7 |
| Gusts (km/h) | 26 | 47 | 22 | 31 | 56 | 25 | 28 | 45 | 21 | 27 | 47 | 32 | 39 | 54 | 39 | 31 | 45 | 39 |
14-Day Snow Forecast by Model
Summit elevation (2372m)
10-Day Forecast
Today
21
☁️
24.4°
8.9°
17 km/h
Sat
22
⛅
22.7°
8.8°
21 km/h
Sun
23
☁️
23.6°
8.1°
16 km/h
Mon
24
☁️
23°
6.1°
17 km/h
Tue
25
☁️
23.3°
8.6°
17 km/h
Wed
26
☁️
22.9°
8.6°
20 km/h
Thu
27
☀️
22.2°
6.1°
18 km/h
Fri
28
☀️
22.3°
5.3°
19 km/h
Sat
29
☀️
22.5°
5.3°
16 km/h
Sun
30
☀️
20.5°
6.3°
21 km/h
Summit elevation (2372m) • ECMWF model
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Aug 21, 03:03 PM UTC
0cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
—
vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 614cm full-season avg
—
vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 557cm full-season avg
614cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
Donner Ski Ranch Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 600cm with an average of 87 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 57.3cm | 10 days | 9cm | 28cm | 18.9cm |
| December | 124.3cm | 14 days | 44cm | 79cm | 29.3cm |
| January | 112.6cm | 13 days | 82cm | 119cm | 27.4cm |
| February | 118.1cm | 14 days | 110cm | 146cm | 27cm |
| March | 102cm | 14 days | 131cm | 164cm | 26.1cm |
| April | 53.9cm | 11 days | 110cm | 143cm | 16.6cm |
| May | 17.3cm | 6 days | 51cm | 84cm | 7.8cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
ENSO seasonal analog
History · not a forecastIn 10 past El Niño winters at Donner Ski Ranch, ERA5 season snowfall median was 601 cm (237 in), about 6% 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
601 cm
10 El Niño winters · 6% above median
All-season median
568 cm
Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)
| Phase | Seasons | Median | p25–p75 | Recent analogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Niñocurrent | 10 | 601 cm | 550 cm – 655 cm | 2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009 |
| La Niña | 12 | 568 cm | 461 cm – 724 cm | 2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010 |
| ENSO-neutral | 8 | 503 cm | 466 cm – 593 cm | 2025, 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.
Frequently asked questions about Donner Ski Ranch
- Where is Donner Ski Ranch?
- Donner Ski Ranch is a ski resort in the United States.
- How high is Donner Ski Ranch?
- Donner Ski Ranch runs from a base elevation of 2,143 m (7,031 ft) to a summit of 2,372 m (7,782 ft), giving a vertical drop of 229 m (751 ft).
- How big is Donner Ski Ranch?
- Donner Ski Ranch has 435 acres (176 hectares) of skiable terrain, 52 marked runs and 8 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Donner Ski Ranch?
- Donner Ski Ranch is on the Indy Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- How much snow does Donner Ski Ranch get in a typical season?
- Donner Ski Ranch averages 360 inches / 914 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
