June Mountain Ski Resort in California is the sister resort of Mammoth Mountain, but the two ski resorts couldn’t be more different. Mammoth Mountain is an amazing mega resort with all the bells and whistles and everything you could want of a ski vacation. So not surprisingly Mammoth Ski Resort is very popular and attracts lot of visitors. As the complete antithesis of Mammoth, June is definitely worth at least a day trip from Mammoth, if not a multi-day trip to mix it up.

June Mtn has a very relaxed vibe and it’s very very quiet. It is the closest you might ever get to having your own private ski resort! There are no lift queues and after a nice dump the fresh tracks last for ages - it’s paradise for powder hounds! Considering that barely anyone goes there, it’s easy to see why June Mountain Ski Resort closed down one season after running at a loss for some time. The resort reopened a season later, only due to the local community rallying (including some kids who raised $140 selling lemonade to help save the resort!) and some “mammoth” wrangling.

June Mountain CA now markets itself as a great family vacation destination. It’s got a nice family atmosphere, prices are delightfully affordable including free skiing for kids under 12, and it's also accessible off the Ikon Pass.

Pros and Cons of June Mountain CA

Pros

• This is a hidden away resort that is uncrowded and peaceful.
• It is very family oriented.
• Whether it’s for a day trip or multi-day vacation, June Mountain is very affordable.
• Powder hounds find it easy to score freshies after a snow storm.
• The ski area is more protected from the wind than Mammoth.
• The ski resort provides lovely views of June and Gull Lakes, and from the top you can see Mono Lake and Mammoth.
• June offers some good slackcountry.

Cons

• June isn’t “mammoth” so there’s not as much terrain on offer compared to its big sister resort.
• June Lake has quiet nightlife, limited dining options and very few retail opportunities.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

• The atmosphere is very different to the big commercial resorts with a laidback no-fuss approach.
• If you’re looking for sleigh rides or shops with Bogner gear and crystal encrusted goggles, June Mountain is not for you.

Ski and Snowboard Terrain

June Mountain Ski Resort is medium sized with 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of terrain, although it only has 35 named trails so there’s plenty of space for off-piste skiing and snowboarding. There are 7 lifts (2 quads, 4 doubles and 1 magic carpet) and 2,590 feet (789 metres) of vertical drop.

The lower part of the June Mountain ski area is steep and mostly consists of black runs and quasi double blacks. Sometimes it isn’t open due to inadequate snow, which shrinks the size of the mountain considerably.

On arrival, visitors have to catch a double chair up to the mid-mountain hub of amenities and the start of the gentle terrain. The ski area then branches up to two mountains, Rainbow Mountain (10,040 feet; 3,060 metres) and June Mountain (10,090 feet; 3,075 metres), each serviced by a quad chair.

Most of the upper terrain consists of very gentle runs and cruising slopes for intermediates, with 80% of the trails dedicated to beginners and intermediates. Off the June Mountain summit are some steep-ish black and double black cut runs that are super short. There is also some tree skiing. The trees are tight in places but mellow enough not to be too difficult.

There is also a small baby terrain park, which is ideal to learn some park basics.

June Ski Resort Snow

The June Mountain Ski Resort receives 250 inches (6.4 metres) of snow on average per season, which is significantly less than Mammoth Mtn, but like Mammoth the quality of the snow is generally a little better than the Lake Tahoe ski resorts. June also has a little snowmaking, although it’s not used very often.

The runs off the June Mountain summit are mostly north facing so the snow is often good. The snow quality on the Rainbow Mountain slopes generally isn’t as ideal, whilst the J3 beginners’ run sits fairly in the sun.

Where is June Mountain CA?

June Mountain Ski Area is located near June Lake in the Eastern Sierra mountains, southeast of Yosemite National Park in northern California. June Mountain is located about 20 miles north of Mammoth Lakes. Compared to the Tahoe ski resorts, June Mountain is reasonably easy to access from Southern California.

For day trippers, there are inexpensive shuttles between June Mountain and Mammoth Mountain with Eastern Sierra Transit Authority. Overnighters will need a car.

June Lake Lodging

There are lodgings in the central part of the little cute village of June Lake (population about 600), which is 1.5 miles northeast of the ski area. June Lake has a few little restaurants and shops but otherwise it’s super quiet. There are also various accommodations 1-2 miles away from June Mountain along the June Lake Loop in the other direction. June Lake lodging options include resort hotels, motels, condos, cabins and vacation homes.

June Lake Hotels and Lodging Listings

Facilities

The bulk of the ski resort amenities are found mid-mountain at the June Meadows Chalet at the top of J1 chair. There’s a cafeteria and funky bar in the “chalet”, which offers amazing views of June Lake and Gull Lake, either from the indoor seating or outdoor deck.

Lessons gather outside the June Meadows Chalet where there’s also a ski school magic carpet, and it’s easy for parents to watch the littlies from the comfort of the day lodge. Other amenities include equipment rentals and a shop that sells ski and snowboard accessories, some kids outerwear, and June Mountain accessories.

Backcountry Tours

There is some great backcountry that’s easily accessed from the resort near the summit of June Mountain. If you don’t want to explore it with just your avy savvy buddy, Sierra Mountain Guides can show you the good spots.