Eastern Sierra Backcountry Skiing Conditions Update
The Dana Plateau near Tioga Pass, CA - April 2025.
2025-04-08 | Lee Vining, June Lake, and Pine Creek Areas | California
The storm system that arrived at the end of March coated the Eastern Sierra with a blanket of fresh snow. Between Virginia Lakes and Bishop, enough snow fell to fully reset the backcountry skiing conditions. The first week of April has afforded some truly spectacular skiing conditions!
Top to bottom powder conditions on this run in the June Lake area backcountry.
Track by Blackbird Guide Chris Cloyd
The snowpack above 9,000 feet is pretty robust at the moment, and coverage is good on NW-N-NE-E facing slopes. Powder conditions can still be found in steep north-facing terrain at high elevation, while the corn cycle is starting to take effect on east and south-facing slopes at all elevations. 
The stuff dreams are made of.
Whether you're chasing steep alpine terrain, mellow bowls, or big scenery, the Eastern Sierra has it all. We use over a dozen trailheads to access different parts of the Range and offer backcountry skiing in some of the grandest mountain venues in the US.
Good coverage in the alpine around June Lake. Photo taken April 1, 2025
Maybe even better coverage on Royce Peak. Photo taken April 7, 2025
Blackbird Guides have been out in the Lee Vining area, the June Lake area, and the Pine Creek area this week, and have been finding world class skiing in all locations. Lower elevations are already starting to melt out, so access is deteriorating from some trailheads. Once you get near treeline, coverage improves drastically.
Blackbird Guide Mike Henry touring in the Royce Lakes basin. Photos taken April 7, 2025.
Getting to some of the best terrain in the range can sometimes require long approaches and a combination of trail walking, skinning, and bootpacking. Ambient temperatures his time of year can mean early starts and longer tours, but the rewards are always worth it!
Blackbird Guide Chris Cloyd climbing a couloir at 13,000 feet in the High Sierra. 
The walk is always worth it!
The current forecast is calling for a classic spring diurnal (melt-freeze) pattern, which should set up some phenomenal corn skiing over the next few weeks. Access is set to improve with more roads being plowed and higher elevation trailhead access expected later this month. Don't miss out on the world class skiing right here in California - join us for a guided ski tour in the Eastern Sierra this spring!
Blackbird Guide Mike Henry in the High Sierra. Photos taken April 7, 2025.
Skiing conditions and access should only improve over the next 2-3 weeks, so get down here while you can! You can track the weather and conditions from home as we shift into a spring diurnal cycle by using our Eastern Sierra Weather page.
Challenging terrain in the June Lake area.
Splitboarding in the High Sierra out of Pine Creek.
Take advantage of the excellent skiing conditions and book an Eastern Sierra adventure with one of our expert Guides today!
About the Author
Chris Cloyd is a Splitboard Guide and AIARE Avalanche Instructor based in June Lake, CA. He works as Blackbird's Program Manager, helping put together trips into the backcountry from the Eastern Sierra all the way up to the North Cascades in Washington.