China Peak (Sierra Summit) Snow Report
Community Reviews
Been here? Share the conditions.
Reviews, ratings & photos are added in the free Snoflo iOS app — rate a spot, tag the conditions, and your visit is verified by location. Add or manage your reviews from the app.
China Peak (Sierra Summit)
China Peak (formerly known as Sierra Summit) ski resort is located in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. The resort offers 1,679 acres of skiable terrain with 7 lifts and 45 trails, including the popular Exhibition and Ridge Run. The resort also has a snowboard park and a tubing area. An interesting fact is that the resort was originally developed in the 1950s by a group of local businessmen, and was sold to the current owners in 1989. For beginners, the High Trail and the Lower Academy runs are ideal for building confidence. Apres ski, the Peak Bar is a popular spot for drinks and live music.
Terrain mix: China Peak Ski Resort, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, has several prominent peaks and mountain aspects that make it a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders.
1. Mountain Ranges:
- The resort is situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which is one of the most iconic mountain ranges in California.
- The Sierra Nevada range stretches over 400 miles along the eastern side of California, with peaks reaching heights of over 14,000 feet.
2. Peaks:
- China Peak Ski Resort is located near the peak of 8,709-foot high Chinese Peak, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
- The resort's slopes also offer access to other nearby peaks such as Kaiser Peak and Huckleberry Mountain, providing a variety of terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders.
3. Mountain Aspects:
- The resort's slopes are known for their diverse terrain, including groomed runs, tree skiing, and challenging expert terrain.
- With an average snowfall of over 300 inches per year, the resort offers excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions throughout the winter season.
- The resort's location in the Sierra Nevada range also provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and forests, making it a picturesque setting for a day on the slopes.
Plan your day down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the snow column the morning of a storm to know when to call in sick.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & snow
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- start of next storm cycle, end of last one.
What forecasters are seeing
Plain-English forecast narrative from the local NWS office. Issued by NWS HNX.
Nearby SNOTEL stations
USDA NRCS SNOTEL stations within driving range. Cross-check whether the snow at China Peak (Sierra Summit) is a one-off accumulation or a regional storm cycle.
| Station | Snowpack | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crrel-Ucsb Energy Site | 35 in | → |
| Nohrsc White Wolf Raws | 0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Green Mtn | 4 in | → |
| Tenaya Lake | 0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Mammoth Pass | 0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Tamarack Summit | 1 in | → |
| Nohrsc Graveyard Meadow | 0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Rock Creek | 3 in | → |
| Huntington Lake | 1 in | → |
| Nohrsc Poison Ridge | 1 in | → |
| Nohrsc Kaiser Point | 1 in | → |
Beyond the slopes
Other ski areas, basecamp options, alpine fishing, and scenic stops near China Peak (Sierra Summit) -- worth knowing whether you're in for a day, a long weekend, or a season pass.
Other ski areas
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Parks
Mountain & avalanche safety
- Know before you go
- Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any off-piste / side-country / backcountry travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
- Carry the gear, know how to use it
- Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
- Mind the weather window
- Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry, even if the resort itself is open.
- Respect closed terrain
- Ropes are there for a reason. Even in-bounds, ducking a closure can trigger a slide that catches you and others below.
Track China Peak (Sierra Summit) in the Snoflo app
Save this resort as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when China Peak (Sierra Summit) reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.
About China Peak (Sierra Summit)
Where does the snow data for China Peak (Sierra Summit) come from?
Snowpack, SWE, 24-hour snowfall, and air temperature come from the nearest USDA NRCS SNOTEL station. Forecast comes from the National Weather Service / yr.no feed that Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the snow report updated?
Snowpack and SNOTEL data are updated continuously by NRCS (typically hourly). The 15-day weather forecast is refreshed throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- look for the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero.
What's the elevation at China Peak (Sierra Summit)?
See the Resort Metrics panel above for base / summit / vertical drop. The summit elevation drives snowpack accumulation -- higher summits hold snow longer through spring.
How is "% of normal" calculated?
Today's snowpack is compared to the average snowpack on this calendar day across every recorded year at the nearest SNOTEL. 100% means right on average; 130% is a big year; 60% is thin.
What ski resorts are near China Peak (Sierra Summit)?
See the Other Ski Areas pill grid at the bottom of the page for resorts within driving distance. The sister Other Ski Areas card in the Plan-a-longer-trip grid above shows the closest few.
Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?
Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this resort, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment the SNOTEL crosses.
Other resorts near here
Snoflo-tracked ski areas within driving distance of China Peak (Sierra Summit).