June Mountain

June Mountain is located just down the road from Mammoth Mountain and offers a small resort alternative to the crowded slopes of their sister resort. June has 1500 acres of skiable terrain spread out over two peaks, Rainbow Summit and June Mountain Summit. June has 35 named trails and is serviced by six chairlifts and one surface lift. The lifts are capable of ferrying 10,000 skiers per hour up the mountain. The chairs are numbered J1 to J4, J6, and J7 instead of named, keeping with the tradition started by Mammoth. The official difficulty mix of the trails comes in at 35 percent novice, 45 percent intermediate, and 20 percent expert.

An Overview of the Mountain

June has a vertical of 2590 feet, with a base elevation at 7545 feet. Rainbow has a peak elevation of 10,040 feet, and June Mountain has an elevation of 10,090 feet. There are three spots that serve as base areas for June. Novice skiers will find most of their time spent at the Chalet, where Baby Face provides wide-open lanes for learning the snow. Intermediate lanes are located on Rainbow at the end of J4 and J6, with most trails ending at Stew Pot Slims. Expert skiers will find a wealth of chutes and open bowl skiing at June as well. From the peak of June Summit, several chutes lead into satisfying steeps, while the lower half of the mountain has wide-open expert bowls and glades. For freestylers and snowboarders, June offers two different terrain parks. Mambo and Surprise are located between Slims and the Chalet. The biggest draw for most freestylers however, is the 22-foot Superpipe.

June gets an average of 250 inches of snow every year, and because of its elevation, you’re going to find champagne after every storm. The views are incredible, and on a semi-clear day, you can see to Mono Lake to the north.

Bottom Lining It

Because this ski area is overshadowed by Mammoth, the lines are short and the slopes are rarely crowded. When Mammoth’s snow has long been driven to slush, you’ll still find crisp lines at June. Skiers who frequent June consistently call this ski area one of California’s best-kept secrets. A truly family-friendly resort, June has fallen on some difficult times in the past that kept it closed for the 2012 season. To the relief of the nearby town and skiers throughout the state, the resort has reopened with plans to increase visibility and install a new lift in place of the aging J1 lift. If you’re looking for a mountain with some great runs and hardly any crowds, June Mountain is sure to please.