The Best Photos From Mammoth Mountain’s 26/27 Opening Day

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It’s here!

On Thursday morning, at Mammoth Mountain, California, skiers and snowboarders gathered to celebrate the opening of skiing in the Golden State.

The surprise opening, which comes more than a week earlier than Mammoth’s previously announced opening date, November 13, was made possible by recent snow and favorable snowmaking conditions.

As is often the case this time of year, Mammoth’s offerings are modest but still enough to get the stoke flowing: the Broadway Express and Panorama Gondola are spinning with access to the Broadway, Silver Tip, and Rusty’s trails. No beginner terrain is open.

“Expect mostly sunny skies at Main Lodge today, with temperatures warming into the 40s throughout the day,” Mammoth’s snow report reads. “Groomers start firm and fast, so save a few laps on Rusty’s for the afternoon once the sun softens things up. Early season obstacles exist, so please ski and ride with caution.”

For those considering a trip to Mammoth this weekend, the skies are forecasted to be mostly clear with relatively warm temperatures, per the National Weather Service. If anything, it should feel a little springy. For the Tahoe crowd, Mt. Rose, Nevada, is hot on Mammoth’s heels with an opening on Friday, November 6.

There is talk of stormier weather returning to California next week. While the specifics aren’t clear—and the snow may not pan out—some early signs show that winter’s waiting in the wings.

“Next week starts pretty calm but could turn quite stormy by Thursday, November 12,” noted OpenSnow meteorologist Mike Korotkin in a recent forecast. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

We wouldn’t get too far ahead of your skis, but The Sacramento Bee recently reported that between November 11 and November 15, Mammoth Lakes could see more than a foot of snow, with the upper forecast range hitting 33 inches. The widespread precipitation could also bring hearty snow totals to the Lake Tahoe area, per the Bee‘s forecast.

In the meantime, take a tour of the opening day fun, courtesy of Mammoth Mountain and photographer Cody Mathison.

Mammoth Mountain Opening Day 2026 Gallery

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This story was originally published by POWDER on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add POWDER as a Preferred Source by clicking here.