On Monday, May 1st, Mountain High’s 2022/23 Season concluded, marking the resort’s most successful winter in over ten years. The season saw a 27% increase in visits compared to the previous year, thanks to abundant snowfall from January through March. Unfortunately, the resort had to close for an extended period following a record-breaking 9-Foot snowstorm in late February, which prevented even higher attendance. Nevertheless, the season reminded Southern Californians that they do not need to go far to experience a real winter, whether they are beginners or haven’t skied locally in some time.
The Big Pines region of the Angeles National Forest offers a range of recreational activities for year-round enjoyment. There are ten campgrounds and nine picnic areas available, complete with tables, pedestal grills, and restrooms.
The area also features numerous hiking trails, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. Nearby Jackson Lake offers fishing and kayaking opportunities, and the Big Pines Visitor Center is only a few miles away. During the summer, visitors can take advantage of guided hikes, nature programs, and other special activities, with schedules posted in the campgrounds, at the North Lodge, and the Big Pines Information Station.
The National Forest Service requires certain passes for vehicles parked on their lands, though passes are not necessary for administration sites or areas where fees are already required.
- Big Pines Day Pass – Purchase at Mountain High’s North Lodge
- National Forest Service Adventure Pass – Purchase at the Big Pines Visitor Center
- Golden Passport – Purchase at the Big Pines Visitor Center
Camping
- Mountain Oak Campground – Opening May 4th
- Lake Campground – Opening May 4th
- Peavine Campground – Opening May 4th
- Appletree Campground – Opening May 4th
- Table Mountain Campground – Opening May 12th
- Jackson Flats Campground – Opening June 2nd
Adjacent to the North Lodge, Nature Trail, and Sky High Disc Golf Course, the Table Mountain campground boasts over 100 campsites with a range of activities and refreshments located just a short distance away. In addition, the North Lodge offers a comprehensive selection of camping accessories, including ice, firewood, dog treats, and more.
Campsites are nonelectric, fit a maximum of 8 people, and are RV accessible. Learn more at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233735?tab=info
Starting May 12th, visitors to Mountain High can explore a variety of scenic hikes, such as the 1-Mile Nature Trail, the Table Mountain loop, the Blue Ridge Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Maps are available at the North Lodge, where hikers can also grab a bite at the North Lodge Grill & Pub, offering freshly grilled burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and weekly specials. Visitors can also enjoy live music on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
For a unique experience, visitors can play Disc Golf at the Sky High course, located at the highest point in Southern California. Offering a full range of disc golf accessories, drinks, snacks, and apparel, the course was originally designed by Dave Dunnipace, owner of Innova Disc Golf. Playing a round takes visitors on a 2.5 mile hike through the Angeles National Forest, providing opportunities to spot hawks, deer, coyotes, and other wildlife.
Table Mountain Campground
From May 12th to November 5th, visitors to Mountain High can camp at the Table Mountain campground, which is located near the North Lodge, Nature Trail, and Sky High Disc Golf Course. The campground offers over 100 campsites and provides easy access to various activities and refreshments.
Learn more at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233735?tab=info
Mountain Oak Campground
From May 4th to November 5th, Mountain Oak campground is open and offers 16 campsites. Located in a scenic area, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Visitors can enjoy fishing, canoeing, and swimming at nearby Jackson Lake. Campsites are equipped with flush toilets, fire pits, and water faucets, and RVs up to 18′ are permitted.
Learn more at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233733?tab=info
Lake Campground
From May 4th to November 5th, the Lake Campground will be open for visitors. Situated beside the tranquil Jackson Lake, this campground provides easy access to activities such as fishing, swimming, and canoeing. With only 8 campsites available, visitors can expect a peaceful and roomy environment.
The campground includes useful amenities such as food storage lockers, grills, and drinking water. Restroom facilities are also available for guests’ convenience.
Learn more at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233734?tab=info
Jackson Flats Campground
Jackson Flats will be open from June 2nd to September 24th for camping. It’s a group camping facility situated next to the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, which offers a range of nature programs, hikes, and activities every Saturday during the summer.
Only tent camping is allowed at this facility, and trailers are prohibited. Visitors are advised to bring their drinking water as potable water is not available for consumption, but non-potable water is available for washing and cleaning purposes.
Learn more at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233732?tab=info
On November 12th, Mountain High opened its doors for the winter season, marking the resort’s third-earliest opening ever. Thanks to recent snowmaking improvements, the resort was able to quickly open with top-to-bottom trails and a burgeoning terrain park. The Christmas holiday period saw strong business, with many skiers hitting the slopes and snow players flocking to the Yeti’s Snow Play.
January brought with it heavy snowfall, and by late February, Mountain High had transformed into a winter wonderland, with snow totals comparable to those of Utah resorts. The resort received over 9 feet of fresh snow in just one week, making it the largest snowstorm in the mountain’s history. 100% of the available terrain was open, including the East Resort, which operated from January 26th to April 8th.
March saw over 105 inches of snowfall, leading to an extension of Mountain High’s season by a few weeks. The resort finally closed on May 1st, marking the first time in over a decade that the area had remained open into May. Over the course of six months, more than 300,000 guests visited the Wrightwood resort, with 40,000 guests visiting the Yeti’s Snow Play, making it the second-biggest season ever.
Although the season has ended, Mountain High is already planning for next winter. With over $1 million allocated towards new base area improvements, new grooming equipment, and the development of a new Mountain Biking park scheduled to open in late summer 2023.
Located only 90 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County, Mountain High Resorts is the closest winter destination in Southern California. The resort area features two distinct mountains, the East Resort and the West Resort, and offers a diverse range of lifts and trails, a top-tier terrain park, an exceptional winter sports school, and the popular Yeti’s Snow Play. The slopes are equipped with snowmaking technology that covers over 80 percent of the terrain, and night skiing and snowboarding are available Wed-Sun during peak season. Typically, Mountain High operates from mid-November to mid-April.
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