January 28, 2026 -  Sierra National Forest officials provide current Snow Conditions & Forecast Update:

Snow conditions have not improved since last week, and the forecast offers little relief. The snowfall expected this week is now projected to track north of the Forest, bypassing our area. With overnight temperatures barely dipping below freezing, anticipate consistently soft and wet snow, even at higher elevations.  Due to these challenging conditions, our grooming crew will temporarily pause operations on the Huntington Lake trail. This week, efforts will concentrate on higher elevations (above 8,000 feet), specifically the Kaiser Pass trail, and north-facing trails such as the west end of Bear Butte and Rancheria. Groomers will be working on the Kaiser Pass trail and extending into Badger Flat Campground (east end of Bear Butte trail).

Important Message for Snowmobilers:

The snowpack is very thin right now, please consider that when making plans.  If you do go, stay on trail since most of the Sierra’s trails are on top of roads.  Why? Snowmobiles rely on kicking up snow for cooling. On hard-packed or icy trails, scratchers are essential. If scratchers aren't sufficient some snowmobilers will “trench”.  Use exercise extreme caution when trenching off-trail. The snowpack is very thin, and trenching could damage the forest floor and your snowmobile. Please remember to practice "Tread Lightly" principles to minimize your impact.

Snopark Conditions

While Snoparks still offer decent snow coverage, please be aware of protruding objects. Expect soft and wet conditions throughout the day. Remember, there is no trash service at Snoparks. We kindly ask that you pack out all your trash and broken sleds to keep these areas cleaner.

Pictures Posted are Kaiser Pass TH from 1/20/26 and 1/26/26



Source: SNF