Big Bear Ski Resort

Looking for a great California luxury Big Bear Ski Resort?

California is known for its sun-soaked beaches, but when winter rolls around, it becomes a snowy paradise, offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding terrain in the U.S. Among its many winter resorts, Big Bear Ski Resort, located in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains, stands out as an extraordinary winter playground. The resort offers a 200-acre skiing and snowboarding area that forms part of the Big Bear Mountain Resort, along with Snow Summit.

Largely focused on freestyle, Bear Mountain covers 85% of its area with over 200 freestyle features, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. It features over 165 rails, boxes, walls, and other freestyle elements, and a quartet of pipes, one of which is Southern California’s only Superpipe. For beginners, Bear Mountain's Skill Builder Parks offer the perfect playground to sharpen their skills.

Big Bear Ski Resort - Best California USA Ski Resorts

Big Bear Mountain Resort

Big Bear Ski Resort: Pros, Cons, and Features

Pros:

Diverse Terrain: The resort offers varied terrain suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to expert skiers and snowboarders.
Freestyle Focus: With 85% of the mountain covered in over 200 freestyle features, it's a paradise for freestyle skiers and snowboarders.
Two-in-One: Your lift ticket allows for same-day access to both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, providing a more diverse skiing and snowboarding experience.
Year-Round Activities: The resort is not just a winter destination. It also offers summer activities like mountain biking, hiking, scenic sky chair rides, and golfing.
Proximity: Less than 100 miles from the coast, it's a convenient getaway for those living in Southern California.
Innovative Approach: The resort is known for its innovation in freestyle ski and snowboarding and terrain park building.

Cons:

Reliance on Artificial Snow: While it does see an average of 100 inches of natural snowfall, the resort depends heavily on artificial snowmaking.
Crowds: As it's one of the popular ski resorts in Southern California, it can get crowded, especially during peak season.
Pricey: Like many ski resorts, the costs for lift tickets, rentals, and accommodations can add up, especially during peak season.
Limited Advanced Terrain: While there's terrain for all levels, advanced and expert skiers might find the offerings somewhat limited compared to other major ski resorts.

Features:

Terrain Parks: The resort features over 165 beginner to advanced rails, boxes, walls, and other features and 4 pipes, making it a freestyle enthusiast's dream.
Superpipe: It includes Southern California’s only Superpipe.
Skill Builder Parks: These are specifically geared towards freestyle skiers with beginner skills.
Trails: Bear Mountain has a good mix of beginner, intermediate, difficult, and expert trails.
Multi-Mountain Access: A single ticket provides access to both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit.
Year-Round Activities: Besides winter sports, it offers summer activities like golfing at Bear Mountain Golf Course, downhill bike park, and hiking at Snow Valley, and more at Snow Summit.
Proximity: It's easily accessible, being just a two and a half hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Night Skiing: Snow Summit, part of the Big Bear Mountain Resort, offers night skiing on select dates, adding another dimension to your winter sports experience.

Big Bear Ski Resort is a ski resort in Southern California. It is the largest ski area in Southern California with 500 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. The resort offers many amenities for its visitors including a variety of lodging options, restaurants, shops and more.

The resort was founded years ago by a guy who was an avid skier and wanted to create a place for people to enjoy the outdoors year round. Today, the resort has grown into one of the most popular destinations for people looking to enjoy winter sports or just get away from the city life for a while.

Bear Mountain is a ski area and formerly Goldmine Mountain, established in 1969.

Lift capacity: 16,590 skiers/hr
Vertical: 1,665 ft (507 m)
Snowfall: 100 in (250 cm)
Lift system: 12 lifts: 3 quad chairlifts, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs, 3 surface lifts
Longest run: Geronimo 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Snowmaking: 100% (Wikipedia)

Accommodation and Experiences

With an early morning chill in the air, a group of friends packed their winter gear into the back of an SUV, ready for their journey to the much-awaited winter retreat - the Big Bear Ski Resort. Nestled in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains, the resort promised a winter playground like no other, a striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

As they navigated the winding roads leading to the mountain, the sight of Bear Mountain, standing tall against the sky with a dusting of fresh white snow, made them all catch their breath. They had chosen Big Bear Ski Resort for its reputation - over 200 freestyle features scattered across the mountain, a fantastic ski school, and most exciting of all, the promise of Southern California's only Superpipe.

Snow Summit, Big Bear, California FLICKR CC

Upon arriving, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages were making their way to the slopes, the sound of laughter and excited chatter filled the air. Pulling on their gear, they headed to the rental shop, and within minutes, they were ready for the day's adventure.

The beginners of the group opted for a morning lesson on the "Learning Curve" while the more experienced skiers were eager to tackle the challenging "Geronimo" trail. The adrenaline-junkies were itching to try out the Superpipe, their eyes wide with excitement. Regardless of their different plans, they all shared the same enthusiasm, the thrill of being on the mountain, surrounded by pristine snow and clear, blue skies.

VIDEO: Big Bear Mountain Resorts and Mammoth Mountain

As the day wore on, they reconvened for a late lunch, sharing stories of their exploits over steaming cups of hot chocolate. The beginners boasted about their first successful run down the slope while the advanced skiers recounted their exhilarating experience on the challenging trails. The Superpipe riders were a sight to behold with their flushed faces and excited tales of airtime.

With the setting sun casting a golden glow over the mountain, they wrapped up their day under the stars, enjoying Snow Summit's Night Sessions. Skiing under the moonlight, the mountain took on a magical quality, the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.

As they headed home, the car filled with chatter about the day's adventures. Each had a unique experience, a story to tell, but the unanimous consensus was clear - Big Bear Ski Resort was a winter wonderland unlike any other. Their adventure at Bear Mountain wasn't just a ski trip; it was a treasured memory that would last a lifetime.

Top 10 Resort Big Bear Deals

Official Ski Big Bear Lake website.

Big Bear Lake Mallard Bay Resort

A top Big Bear resort with great seasonal options. It's a water-front spot but sheltered from wind, has cozy cabins with gas fireplaces and family winter play areas. This spot will work for large groups (up to 48 people).

See video review below for more information.

See special offers and reviews at Mallard Bay.

Snow Summit Townhouses

Promoted as the worlds first snowboarder hotels

Slope side close to the Snow Summit Ski area. Offer convenience and magnificent views of the slopes from the back deck of your townhome while relaxing in your own private Jacuzzi.

Robinhood Resort

Robinhood Resort is in the heart of Big Bear Lake and right in the center of things. It's a small ski resort with a nightclub, restaurants, meetings rooms and good reviews from past guests.

Get more information and see the latest reviews for Robinhood Resort.

Review Of Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain

Very entertaining bobsled slide down the slopes of Big Bear:

Bear Mountain, which was originally known as Goldmine Mountain, was established in 1969. Nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest, it sits alongside Big Bear Lake and its sister mountain, Snow Summit. Both resorts come under the umbrella of Big Bear Mountain Resort (BBMR) and operate under the same management, contributing to the Alterra Mountain Company's portfolio of resorts.

Comprising three main peaks – Bear Peak, Silver Mountain, and Goldmine Mountain, the resort features an average of 100 inches of natural snowfall annually. Still, it relies heavily on artificial snowmaking, a common practice in Southern California ski resorts. As a freestyle skiing and snowboarding pioneer, Bear Mountain continually innovates in terrain park building. When nature blesses the mountain with sufficient snowfall, even the tree runs, usually off-limits at Snow Summit, open for skiing and snowboarding.

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, once fierce rivals, now work in harmony after a merger in 2002. Richard "Dick" Kun of Snow Summit spearheaded the move to make Bear Mountain more snowboarder-friendly, drawing snowboarders away from Snow Summit, thereby making it more appealing to dedicated skiers and families. This strategy earned Bear Mountain the nickname "The Park."

The resort changed hands a few times over the years, with the most recent transition occurring in 2017 when Mammoth Resorts, owned by Starwood Capital Group at the time, sold the resort to a partnership of Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital Partners, known as Alterra Mountain Company.

With trails ranging from beginner to expert, there's something for everyone at Bear Mountain. For beginners, 'Learning Curve' and 'Easy Street' offer a gentle introduction to skiing. Intermediate skiers can take on 'Accelerator' and 'Ripcord', while advanced skiers can challenge themselves on 'Exhibition' and 'Rip's Run'. For experts, 'Geronimo' and 'The Wedge' provide the ultimate test of skill.

Plan your next adventure at Big Bear Mountain Resort, less than 100 miles from the coast, offering the best snow conditions, longest season, and most rideable terrain in Southern California. The resort typically operates from November to April, and tickets are valid for same-day use at both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. With over 400 skiable acres, 19 lifts, and more than 58 runs to explore, the possibilities for winter fun are endless.

Big Bear Mountain Resort is more than just a winter destination. It transforms into a summer haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering mountain biking, hiking, scenic sky chair rides, golfing, and more across its three mountains – Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain. Whether you're an intermediate mountain biker or a golfer of any level, Big Bear Mountain Resort has

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Bear Ski Resort

What are the operating hours of Big Bear Ski Resort? Winter operations at Big Bear Mountain Resort are typically from November to April. However, the exact hours may vary. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
What types of ski passes are available at Big Bear Ski Resort? Big Bear Ski Resort offers full-, half-, and multi-day lift tickets. Lift tickets are valid for same-day use at both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit.
What is the terrain like at Big Bear Ski Resort? The terrain at Big Bear Ski Resort is diverse, with trails for beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers. The resort also boasts over 200 freestyle features, including Southern California’s only Superpipe.
Does Big Bear Ski Resort offer ski lessons? Yes, the resort offers ski and snowboard lessons for all ages and skill levels.
Can I rent equipment at Big Bear Ski Resort? Yes, the resort offers equipment rentals for skiing and snowboarding.
Does Big Bear Ski Resort offer any summer activities? Yes, besides winter sports, Big Bear Mountain Resort offers a variety of summer activities such as mountain biking, hiking, scenic sky chair rides, and golfing.
How far is Big Bear Ski Resort from Los Angeles? The resort is about a two and a half hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Does Big Bear Ski Resort offer night skiing? Yes, Snow Summit, which is part of Big Bear Mountain Resort, offers night skiing on select dates.
What is the average snowfall at Big Bear Ski Resort? The resort sees an average of 100 inches of natural snowfall, though it relies heavily on artificial snowmaking as well.
Do I need a lift ticket even if I'm a beginner? Yes, lift tickets are required for all on-hill activities, regardless of your skill level. This includes access to any terrain, even if you do not require the use of chairlifts.