The quickest way to snow in the Los Angeles region—short of getting into an airplane and flying to the slopes—is to make a beeline to Mountain High, a popular mountain getaway on the east side of the San Bernardino Mountains. This resort has long been a favorite thanks to its accessibility, variety, and atmosphere, but in 2025 it also invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades that make the experience even better.
What to Expect at Mountain High
Mountain High is made up of three distinct areas, each with its own personality. West Resort is the place to go if you like a lively vibe with slope-side music, live performances, night skiing, and on-hill contests. It’s also the hub for terrain parks and freestyle features, making it a magnet for boarders and younger skiers who thrive on energy and excitement.
The East Resort offers a completely different experience, more reminiscent of a true alpine escape. A high-speed quad services some of the region’s longest trails, taking skiers and riders past moguls, through glades, and across runs with spectacular Mojave Desert views. The Discovery Chairlift at the top of East Resort has been restored and is reopening, once again providing access to excellent beginner terrain at 8,200 feet with panoramic views all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The North Resort, open Friday through Sunday during peak season, serves as the family-friendly hangout. With 70 acres of beginner-to-intermediate terrain and Southern California’s largest snow-tubing park, it’s the perfect place for kids and families to spend a day in the snow.
Snowmaking and Grooming Upgrades
For the 2025/26 season, Mountain High has invested heavily in new TechnoAlpin TT9 snow guns, primarily at East Resort, ensuring reliable snow conditions throughout the season. At the West Resort, the snowmaking “pumping system” has been automated for improved efficiency. Thanks to the installation of new low- and mid-energy snowguns, Mountain High has also drastically cut its fuel use—today the resort consumes just 1 percent of the diesel it did a decade ago, a remarkable shift toward sustainability.
Learning to Ski and Ride at Mountain High
For beginners, Mountain High and its CaliPass sister resorts have launched 1st Turn, a program designed to be the best way to learn to ski and ride in California. 1st Turn supports every step of the learning process, from your very first day on the slopes to developing the skills needed to enjoy the mountain’s full range of terrain. Combined with the gentle runs at North Resort and the restored Discovery Chair at East, Mountain High continues to stand out as a welcoming destination for newcomers.
Terrain, Tickets, and Lodging at Mountain High
Across its three resorts, Mountain High offers 290 acres of skiable terrain (map) and averages more than 130 inches of snowfall each winter. Trails are evenly spread across all ability levels, with 25 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, and 35 percent advanced. Flexible ticketing options make the resort even more appealing: you can pay by the hour or by the run, kids under four ski free with a paying adult, and seniors over 70 are free as well.
While Mountain High does not have onsite lodging, nearby Wrightwood offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget-friendly cabins and YMCA group lodges to charming inns and multi-bedroom cottages.