Mammoth Mountain Opens November 5, Eight Days Early After Sierra Snowfall

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. — November 5, 2026. Ski season is starting earlier than expected in the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth Mountain plans to open at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, November 5 — eight days ahead of its originally scheduled November 13 opening — after recent storms delivered more than a foot of new snow and low temperatures allowed snowmaking crews to prepare the slopes. The resort confirmed the date and schedule on its official Opening Day page.

Which lifts and runs will be available?

Opening-day access is expected to be limited to the Lower Panorama Gondola and Broadway Express (Chair 1), serving the Broadway, Silver Tip and Rusty’s trails. The operator says it will open more terrain as weather and snow conditions permit. This is not a full-mountain opening, and skiers should check the daily lift and terrain report before traveling.

Opening-day schedule

The resort’s event listing begins with complimentary coffee and cocoa at approximately 7:30 a.m., followed by the first chair at 8:30 a.m. and a season toast at 11 a.m.. Scheduled lift hours are 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., subject to conditions. Some services at other base lodges do not start until later in November or December. The resort’s Main Lodge rental and ski services are scheduled to begin on opening day.

Why the opening moved forward

In a November 3 report, KQED said the mountain received roughly 9 to 15 inches of snow over the previous weekend and used colder weather for additional snowmaking. The early start makes Mammoth one of the first California resorts to open for the 2026–27 season. Elsewhere in the Sierra, Mt. Rose, in Nevada, is planning to open on November 6.

Visitor advice: Bring early-season equipment and expectations: terrain is limited, conditions can change, and travelers on U.S. 395 should check Caltrans QuickMap for real-time highway restrictions before leaving. Advance announcements are not proof that every lift is operating at any particular moment.

Sources: Mammoth Mountain official 2026–27 Opening Day and operations pages; KQED November 3 snowfall and opening report; Mammoth Mountain’s November 4 release. Details are scheduled plans as of the November 5 opening, not a live lift-operating confirmation.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Mammoth Lakes News grow Help strengthen reporting on Mammoth Lakes: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Mammoth Lakes News

Choose how to support Mammoth Lakes News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Mammoth Lakes News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Mammoth Lakes News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.