Photo: FASTILY / CC BY-SA 4.0About Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl is a ski resort in California. It offers 1,500 feet of vertical drop, 1,650 skiable acres, 103 marked runs, served by 13 lifts, with an average of about 500" of snow a year. Sugar Bowl opened in 1939 at Donner Summit and is one of California's oldest major ski areas, with a long independent ownership history. The resort combines high Sierra snowfall, 103 trails and 13 lifts with rail access via nearby Norden/Donner Summit.
Why Visit Sugar Bowl?
- 103 runs with 1,499ft of vertical drop
- Average annual snowfall of 500"
- 1,650 skiable acres with terrain for all ability levels
- 13 lifts including gondola, chairlift
Where to Stay
Live prices for hotels, condos and homes near Sugar Bowl, plus places we’ve researched.
Live prices & availability
Live prices and availability from Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo — hotels, condos and private homes. You book on their site. These are affiliate links: Everything Ski may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Photos
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Mountain Statistics
8,383ft
Summit Elevation
2,555m
6,883ft
Base Elevation
2,098m
1,499ft
Vertical Drop
457m
1,650 acres
Skiable Area
667.73 ha
103
Total Runs
3.0mi
Longest Run
4.83km
13
Lifts
500"
Avg. Snowfall
1270cm annually
How Sugar Bowl compares
Terrain Breakdown
17%
45%
38%
●Beginner
17% of trails
■Intermediate
45% of trails
◆Advanced / Expert
38% of trails
Trail Map
Open the current Sugar Bowl trail map:
Season & Operating Hours
Last season (2025–26)
Opening DayNovember 22, 2025
Closing DayApril 19, 2026
Status Closed for the season
This season’s dates are set by the resort — check its official site for opening day.
Getting to Sugar Bowl
By Car
Sugar Bowl is in California, USA. Tap the button below for turn-by-turn directions from where you are.
Get DirectionsGPS Coordinates
Latitude39.3042
Longitude-120.3344
RegionCalifornia, USA
Lift Tickets
The rest of your Sugar Bowl trip — for lodging, see Where to Stay above.
Nearby Resorts
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening and closing dates are set by the resort each season, so check its official site for this year's dates. Sugar Bowl averages 500" of snowfall a year.
Sugar Bowl rates 17% of its terrain as beginner, across 103 marked runs. Check the resort's site for its ski school and learning areas.
Sugar Bowl averages 500" of snowfall a season, with a summit elevation of 8,383 ft.
Sugar Bowl is located in California, USA. Use the "Get Directions" button at the top of this page for turn-by-turn directions from where you are. GPS coordinates: 39.3042, -120.3344.
The Where to Stay section near the top of this page shows live prices for hotels, condos and vacation rentals around Sugar Bowl, plus any places we've researched.
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