617karal
I was told that if I asked for the online ticket price at the window, I would receive it. I did not. If you buy the ticket at the window they are 30% more expensive than buying them online (ridiculous to up-charge that much!) BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!So, I ended up paying $57 for a half day full of dirt, rocks and melted snow. It was cold enough that weekend to make snow, but obviously they did not. There were many dirt patches and large rocks in the middle of the runs. Not taken care of at all.It is the only place around to ski/snowboard, so if you gotta go, fine.
AbraCadaverz
We decided to spend the weekend snowboarding in China Peak, one thing that was agreed upon was that I needed some snowboarding lessons, mind you, i haven't snowboarded since my college days, in Colorado, back in 2007. I had some catching up to do! I got 2 hours of private lessons with an instructor. I was set up with Shane Cole and this guy was super chill, incredibly patient and got me up on the board and able to ride the mountain in less than those 2 hours! We had a blast on the mountain! Everything was on point, all the employees were awesome and friendly. Were coming back in a couple weeks for more boarding!!
christinas749
I've lived in shaver over 13 yrs and this is the first time, with the snow they have received, to not open. New owner does not care to invest momey and time to run a mountain. 2 ft snow dropped over week ago took 8 days to open, in the meantime did not blow any snow- rocks and dirt all about the trail yet there's iced over hard powder on edges. Ruined the powder not opening until 8 days after 2 ft droppped..letting it get hot..melt.. and hard. Did absolutely no grooming anywhere ruff snow n random knuckles. though out the trail. Lift chairs In desperate need of some tlc n paint. .i have never in my whole life seen this plave so downhill. If that's not bad enough take a break at the bar and drinks have no alcohol in them at all. Looks like this owner is trying to cut every corner imaginable. Go to tahoe they care about the paying customer.
206dvr
there's a decent breakfast buffet, reasonably priced. Good for a quick start, as other restaurants around Huntington Lake don't open early or don't serve breakfast.
spowderhound
Took our daughter and two young grandkids for first time on skis, after a late season storm. Stayed one night in the lodge across the street. Everyone was pleasant and helpful: from the ticket window, to rental desk, ski instructors, cafeteria, hotel staff, etc. Great experience for my family for a relatively low price. The ski areas itself has surprisingly good runs and snow, accessed by older non express chairlifts.
doloresmcm
My husband and I purchased over $2,000 in season passes for our family. We bought insurance for my husband and I in case we were unable to ski this season for health reasons. Late last year, my husband was told that he has prostate cancer and had to travel to Fresno for the next 43 days for daily radiation treatment. Following the treatment we planned a three-day holiday at China Peak. En route, my husband felt a severe tightening in his chest so we drove directly to our doctor's office. He immediately ordered us to go to St. Agnes because he believed my husband was having a heart attack which, as it turned out, was quite correct. St. Agnes wanted to perform a triple bypass. However during the numerous tests, they thought the cancer had spread and the cardiologist did not want to perform the needed surgery until the cancer theory had been confirmed. At this point in time, I suffered a petite mal seizure. My husband was hospitalized for nine days and ordered not to lift anything heavy nor exert himself in any way and this included skiing.I called China Peak this morning to ask that we utilize our insurance as we had been unable to ski this season and if we could exchange our current passes for next year's. The staff member told me that I could not do that as I had had until March 1st to do this and, because we didn't let them know, in writing, by that date we were unable to take advantage of the insurance. I advised that, as soon as I was able, I had begun sending them email messages advising them of all our medical problems, first one on March 14, then 16, then 18, and again on March 25th, to no avail. Anyway, long story short, after several minutes [probably 15] of my pleading for help, the staff member left the phone to get further information for me. When she came back, she said we could not exchange them but that she would allow us $40 off next year's passes if we immediately send them a doctor's note confirming all of the above. I told her that in each of my email messages I had advised that we could them.Anyway, I am terribly disappointed at China Peak's handling of this matter, particularly as we and all our family have been season pass holders there for over ten years.
178amys
The folks who fitted our skis were patient -- they exchanged my daughter's boots twice to make sure she had a pair that were comfortable. The runs are good -- mostly man-made snow at this point but well maintained runs.
23markj23
Beautiful Huntington Lake and excellent skiing Wonderful summer sailing and hot springs just over the Kearsarge Pass
HikinFool
Great family place to ski. Lots of fun winter and summer activities. Winter skiing, summer hiking, biking, and fun. On the smaller side for a winter resort, but snow making, lodging, and staff make this the perfect day or week long destination. Lots of blue and green runs, and a handful of more challenging black diamonds. Crowds are a bit more intense on weekends and holidays, but it is always worth the trek. Enjoy!
Snowbored2
Certainly not Big Bear or Mammoth, but very well maintained and there's hardly any lines. If you live in the Fresno area, China Peak is a perfect spot, kinda secluded but perfect for a short trip. It's got acre upon acre of terrain, the inn is quaint, personal and friendly, although small. Their snowmaking abilities though help keep snow on the slopes, and the groomers are pristine. I go with my wife on 3-day vacations at least twice a year, and this website I found helps keep costs down. We get 50% off the regular price, so it's like we get 2 tickets for the cost of one. She only skis a little while I hit all the runs, so it's not a waste of money. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.skiforfree.com/china-peak/ and I believe the code we always use is "CP6" - it's worked the last couple years.
JohnS413
As a 60 year old novice skier looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of SoCal, China Peak is perfect. We've gone once a year for 3 years and I look forward to it more each time. The slopes are well groomed, no crowds during the week and a friendly staff. The rooms are comfortable and getting better each year. I enjoy the well worn and well loved feel of the place. My wife doesn't ski but is able to get a lot of reading done. She would like a cozier lodge room to hang out in on stormy days.
christinas749
I witnessed a lift operator scream and yell at an older father for crossing in front of tape by couple inches before getting checked. Different day, different noperator, same first chair, and i myself get yelled at for waiting behind start gate to get on lift as the operators were too busy standing on other side of start gate talkin to each other to come out and check us and other customers gathering behind us. Not too mention this resort has no park! Resorts half the size of china peak have my more features. Overall poor maintenance of ski trails.
GayleM72
I've been skiing China Peak since it was originally called China Peak! I have to say to say that since Tom bought it several years ago, the slopes are groomed more regularly this year. The overall atmosphere seems to be more focused on the customer and making sure we can all have a quality experience.Now, if they would just bring back the baked potato bar at Mainstream Station, I'd be all set. I just got home from skiing today, literally skiing back onto the chair in most cases with gorgeous blue skies overhead and nicely groomed snow underneath. A great day!
BigSee
Been meaning to write a review of Sierra Summit/China Peak for a long time. I'm not going to review the mountain or lifts or snow conditions or even customer service -- the place is OK for general skiing, nothing more, nothing less. But what I do want to talk about is the existence of the resort in general.My story: I wanted to get OUT of L.A. for a couple days and do a bit of skiing, but wanted to avoid the crowds/costs of Mammoth and Big Bear as well. Sierra Summit was the next choice. I had visited as a kid with family back in the mid-80s and had fond memories so I looked forward to revisiting the place. When I visited as an adult, I actually stayed in the lodge for a couple nights and skied a couple days. The lodge was tired, but clean and liveable. Skiing was OK. Area was as pretty as I remembered it.But there is NOTHING to do there or anywhere near there after you go skiing. NOTHING. Absolutely ZERO apres-ski diversions. Oh, there is an awful little dive-bar in the lodge that has a smattering of locals in it, but that is IT.This resort is located literally at the end of the road deep in the Sierra. There is no traffic other than skiers going in and out. No town, no shops, no restaurants. Nothing. You can drive down the mountain to Shaver Lake, but there's not much there either -- just a few stores, a mechanic, and two or three eateries as I recall. This is NOT Tahoe or Mammoth, let me tell you!I checked-out early on the second day, I was going nuts. Maybe if I was staying in a family cabin it would be bearable . . . but it was just such a lonely and boring place.This resort exists for the good people of Fresno and the Central Coast who either have a cabin up there or want a day of skiing and no more. For anyone else (even the people of Fresno!), I heartily recommend driving an extra couple hours and going to a REAL ski resort like those in Tahoe where you can actually DO something after you come off the slopes.
scottydoesntkno
If the snow is good, likeit was in 2011, this place is a ton of fun. If the snow is bad, like this year, well, at least the lines are almost always small to nonexistent, and there's something to be said for not having to wait ever. This season they made snow almost the entire year, and I commend them for that. the lifts are ALL old and of the slow variety, so the longer ones in which you can get a maximum 5-15 minute top to bottom run in depending on your skill and speed, can take around 15 minutes to get you up there. there are about 7 lifts total, and it's about 1500' vertical, so it's all decent, with some good ungroomed legit black diamond stuff to be found off here and there, but mostly it's hard blue square level runs, with a decent amount of green circle runs, and a pretty decent park area (sometimes 2 parks). All in all, it's close to us in the central valley and anyone would have fun for at least one day there anyway. It's not Tahoe or Utah, but it'll feed your fix.