Elevation Mammoth Gay Ski Week 2026

North America’s most intimate and stylish Ski Week 2026

Mammoth Gay Ski week is a five-day ski and snowboard event that overtakes the small town of Mammoth Lakes and celebrates queerness in the rugged Sierra Nevada.

• As with all ski weeks, the host hotel is the first to book out. The Village is a charming hotel with the perfect location. Fortunately Mammoth is home to some charming condos and villas, but book early.

The Event

• Next Edition: Wednesday 18th March 2026 – Sunday 22nd March 2026.
• Mammoth Ski week draws close to 2,500 participants every year and includes several signature parties, a costume race, epic apres-ski parties and lots of fine dining experiences!

Mammoth Lakes

• Mammoth Lakes, California is a vacation destination with a rich history. Around 8,000 people call Mammoth home, with many visitors staying for months at a time to get their fill of this beautiful town.

Getting to Mammoth

• Most visitors arrive by air to Mammoth Lakes Airport with daily winter flights available via San Francisco, Denver and Los Angeles. The airport is 11 minutes by car to Mammoth Lakes.
• The drive to Mammoth is truly spectacular and depending on driving conditions it can take: 4.5 hrs from LA or Vegas, 6 hrs from San Francisco, 6.5 hrs from San Diego and 3 hrs from Reno.

The Rainbow Run

• Saturday 3rd March – Rainbow Run – Parade from top of Gold Rush Lift to Canyon Lodge; dress in colors or costumes, 12:00 PM

The Parties

• Elevation Mammoth Gay Ski Week includes a wide range of activities and parties.
• There’s an event to suit every taste. Start out the day with Ski & Ride Hookups to meet new riding buddies, or take it easy with brunch.
• Nightly Circuit Parties including neon party Glow Ho (Friday) and Gear (Saturday).
• Other memorable moments include the Costume Parade, The Rainbow Run and the Onesie Apres Ski parties (Friday & Saturday).

Wednesday 18th

• Welcome Après-ski — Meet the crowd and first arrivals at Shelter Distilling (The Village), 4:00 PM–7:00 PM
• Frat Boy — Dress in frat tanks or school colors, get hazed, shotskis on the bar; Lakanuki (The Village), 9:00 PM–1:00 AM

Thursday 19th

• Thursday Lunch — Midday gathering at Canyon Lodge, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
• VIP Wine Reception — Exclusive for VIP pass holders, wine & small bites at Side Door (The Village), 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
• Dog Tag Après-ski — Color-coded tags to signal status (Red = Taken, Green = Available, etc.), Gomez’s (The Village), 4:00 PM–7:00 PM
• Bowling Night: Flashback & Lumberjack — Music from ’80s onward, bowling & dancing at Mammoth Rock N Bowl (3029 Chateau Road), 9:00 PM–2:00 AM

Friday 20th

• Ski & Ride Hookups — Ladies ski meet up led by Saga LA, meet by big map at Canyon Lodge, 9:30 AM
• Lunch — Tusks Bar (Main Lodge), 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
• Après at 10k — The “highest & gayest” après-ski party, McCoy Station (Midmountain), 4:00 PM–7:00 PM — catch gondola at Main Lodge
• Neon & Neoprene — Dress in glow/blacklight gear, face paint encouraged, party 9:00 PM–2:00 AM

Saturday 21st

• Ski & Ride Hookups — Led by Arriba Ski & Snowboard Club, meeting at Canyon Lodge, 9:30 AM
• Saturday Lunch — Canyon Lodge, 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
• Rainbow Run — Parade from top of Gold Rush Lift to Canyon Lodge; dress in colors or costumes, 12:00 PM
• Ladies Après-ski Cocktail Mixer — Hosted by Lisa Loguidice at Lakanuki, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
• Onesie Après-ski — Party in onesies; Gomez’s (5:30 PM–7:30 PM) & Lakanuki overlap (4:00 PM–6:30 PM)
• Comedy Night — Doors at 8:15 PM, show 8:30 PM–9:30 PM, shuttles from Village to Canyon Lodge
• Gear — Main theme party (snow/sport gear), shorts or speedos required (no jockstraps), 9:30 PM–2:00 AM

Sunday 22nd

• Drag Brunch — Two seatings (11:00 AM & 12:30 PM) at Gomez’s (The Village), 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

The Apres Ski

• When you come to Elevation, you also get more options than just big dance parties. The signature apres-ski events are more social, “cocktail-oriented” events, where you can meet (and buy drinks for) friendly guys from all over the country and all over the world.
• Fresh off the slopes, margarita in hand, flushed and tan from a sunny day of amazing snowboarding – those are some of our favourite moments. In fact, Mammoth’s exuberant après-ski parties are one of the most legendary of all ski weeks we have attended.

Popular Venues during Mammoth Gay Ski Week

• Shelter Distilling  – Hip, modern artisan distillery offering house spirits, cocktails & eclectic eats, plus craft beers.
• Lakanuki –  Lively, tropical-themed haunt offering Hawaiian fare & drinks, plus happy hour, DJs & a dance floor.
• Gomez – Festive, storied fixture with Mexican & Latin fusion fare, many tequilas & monthly tastings.
• Whitebark Restaurant and Lounge –  Stylish, wood-accented hotel eatery with big windows offering modern American fare & a lounge menu.
• Mammoth Rock ‘N’ Bowl – Modern bowling alley with flat-screens & a bar, plus an upscale restaurant serving French cuisine.
• The Village, Mammoth  – host hotel offering stylish condos at the bottom of the Village gondola and stumbling distance from all the events.
• The EATery at Mammoth Brewing Company – Low key wood lined brewery with on site restaurant offering elevated pub grub.
• The Brasserie Mammoth – An upscale restaurant serving French cuisine located above the Modern bowling alley with flat-screens & a bar which hosts Thursday’s Flashback & Lumberjack bowling night.

Where to stay during Mammoth Gay Ski Week

The following hotels keep you close to all the parties and the ski slopes:

The Westin Monache   The Village Lodge   Juniper Springs Resort   Snowcreek Resort