Explore Arnold
Bear Valley Ski Resort
Reaching heights of around 8500 feet, Bear Valley has some of the best skiing in California. Half the year, it's a place where pristine, white snow sits atop rugged, unforgiving Sierra Nevada Mountains and the other half, a wilderness playground of hiking trails, alpine lakes, and granite bouldering.
Snow report
Bear Valley conditions right now
Live mountain weather for Bear Valley, plus the resort's own mountain cameras so you can see the snow before you load the car in Arnold.
- Base
- 7,100 ft
- Summit
- 8,500 ft
Live conditions are temporarily unavailable. Check the resort's own report for current snowfall, depth, and lift status.
Bear Valley conditionsBear Valley sits high enough to hold winter longer than almost anything else on Highway 4. The village base sits near 7,100 feet and the lift-served summit tops out around 8,500, which means storms that fall as rain down in Arnold usually stack up as dry snow on the pass. In a good season the mountain collects well over 300 inches, and it is not unusual for a single Pacific system to drop two or three feet in 48 hours.
The season typically runs from around mid-December through early April, with the deepest base in February and March and long, soft spring days after that. Because the resort is only about 30 miles up the highway from the cabins, it is easy to watch a storm land overnight, check the cams over coffee, and be on the hill before the groomers are tracked out.
The live camera is hosted by YouTube, which sets its own cookies.
Base Cam
Village base area, lifts and the day lodge.
The live camera is hosted by YouTube, which sets its own cookies.
Summit Cam
Looking out from the top of the mountain.
First things first
A Quiet up-and-comer
While ski resorts in Lake Tahoe get all the media attention, Bear Valley Ski Resort flies under the radar while growing its infrastructure and maintaining its 80’s movie local mountain vibe. With the enhancements Skyline International has been bringing to the resort, the future of this mountain could be bright.
THE HISTORY OF BEAR VALLEY SKI RESORT
In 1963, a group of skiers led by John Reveal and Jim Slevin discovered a small ski area near Bear Valley, California. The area had a few trails, a rope tow, and a small lodge. In 1967, the Bear Valley Ski Corporation was established, and construction began on a new ski resort. The new resort was designed to be a family-friendly destination, with a focus on beginner and intermediate skiers. The resort opened to the public in 1967, with two chairlifts, a handful of trails, and a small base lodge.
Over the next few years, Bear Valley Ski Resort continued to grow and expand. In 1970, the resort added a third chairlift, which opened up more advanced terrain for skiers. The resort also expanded its base lodge and added several new buildings, including a ski school, rental shop, and restaurant.
In 1981, the resort opened the Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company, which offered cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities. In 1991, the Bear Valley Ski Resort was sold to Dundee Realty Corporation, a Canadian company. In 2014, the Bear Valley Ski Resort was sold again, this time to Skyline International Development, a real estate development company based in Canada.
STAY NEAR BEAR VALLEY
Arnold has more food and drink options than Bear Valley Village & is only 30 minutes from the slopes.
Gallery
Bear Valley Ski Resort in pictures
Nearby
Keep exploring
Stay nearby
Ski cabins near Bear Valley Ski Resort
Bear Valley is roughly a 30-minute drive up Highway 4 — the practical choice for Bear Valley ski lodging without paying mountain-village rates. Looking for Bear Valley lodging? Arnold Haven has two dog-friendly cabins — a five-bedroom A-frame chalet that sleeps 12 and a two-bedroom loft that sleeps 4. Minimum stay is 2 nights, check-in is at 3pm and check-out at 11am.
- Check-in
- Self check-in, 3pm
- Cancellation
- 5 days notice, full refund
Check live availability, see your full price, and book securely — ID check and payment are handled by Stripe.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Who bought Bear Valley Ski Resort?+
In August of 2014 Skyline Development entered into a binding agreement to purchase Bear Valley Mountain. The purchase of the ski area was completed on Dec 19th, 2014 and Skyline Development was officially operating the ski area and managing village operations.
Is Bear Valley good for beginners?+
Bear Valley prides itself on being a family-friendly resort with a welcoming atmosphere. It offers various activities for families, including lessons for beginners and a tubing hill for children.
How many feet of snow in Bear Valley?+
Natural snowfall average is 359″ (30 feet) annually.
How much snow did Bear Valley get in 2023?+
Bear Valley Mountain Resort, CA, broke its 40-year snowfall record from 82/83 on March 24, 2023. The record sat at 639 inches, but was smashed with a new historical all-time high of 648 inches on March 24, 2023.
What is Bear Valley known for?+
Reaching heights of around 8500 feet, Bear Valley has some of the best skiing in a state known for great skiing. It is so good, in fact, that the World Pro Ski Tour has been held here on multiple occasions.
Are there bears in Bear Valley?+
The Sierra Nevada region of California does have black bears, but they tend to inhabit more remote and less developed areas of the mountains. If you’re visiting Bear Valley or other areas in the Sierra Nevada, it’s possible to encounter black bears in the wilderness, but bear sightings are relatively rare and typically not a cause for concern.
What months does it snow in Bear Valley?+
The snow season in Bear Valley typically begins in late November or December and continues through March or April. The peak snowfall months are often January and February.
How many lifts does Bear Valley have?+
Bear Valley Mountain Resort has a total of 10 lifts.