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.
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. Under California Mountain Resorts Company, the family-run group that has owned the mountain since late 2023 and also runs Dodge Ridge, the future of this mountain could be bright.
Geography
Where Bear Valley Ski Resort sits
Bear Valley sits high on the Sierra crest inside Stanislaus National Forest, roughly midway between Lake Tahoe to the north and Yosemite to the south.
Granite ridges and volcanic caps catch storms coming off the Pacific, which is why the mountain averages well over 200 inches of snow a season. Melt from these slopes drains into the Mokelumne and Stanislaus systems.
It is about 30 miles up Highway 4 from Chalet Bruin and Koda Loft — roughly a 50 to 60 minute mountain drive.
- Region
- High central Sierra Nevada, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite
- County
- Alpine County
- Elevation
- 6,600 ft base to about 8,500 ft summit
- Nearest town
- Bear Valley village; Arnold is the nearest full-service town
- Getting there
- Highway 4 east over Ebbetts Pass
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
- 6,600 ft
- Summit
- 8,500 ft
Now
39°F
Sky
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind
8 mph
Snow next 24h
0"
Snow next 72h
0"
Snow past 24h
—
Snow level
9,800 ft
Snow is forecast to fall above about 9,800 ft. Arnold sits near 4,000 ft, so expect rain at the cabins and snow once you climb past Dorrington.
Today
49°
35° low
—
Thu
40°
33° low
—
Fri
48°
31° low
—
Sat
53°
33° low
—
Sun
52°
34° low
—
Mountain forecast for Bear Valley Mountain, California from the National Weather Service, as of Oct 21, 2:17 AM PT.
Bear Valley sits high enough to hold winter longer than almost anything else on Highway 4. The village sits near 7,100 feet, the lifts reach down to a 6,600-foot base, and the 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.
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. In November 2023, Skyline sold the mountain to California Mountain Resorts Company, the Invision Capital-backed group that also operates Dodge Ridge, Mountain High, and China Peak, and Bear Valley joined their multi-mountain Cali Pass.
Snow by the month
How much snow Bear Valley really gets
Averages across 30 seasons, 1995-96 through 2024-25, so you can see which weeks are worth planning a trip around.
| Month | Average snow | Days with 6"+ | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 21" | 0.9 | Enough in a good year to open a few lifts by Thanksgiving; thin in a warm one. |
| December | 48" | 2.9 | The single snowiest stretch of the year lands in the last ten days. |
| January | 48" | 2.9 | Deepest base of the season, coldest snow, quietest midweek. |
| February | 47" | 2.7 | Still full winter, with the biggest storms often arriving late in the month. |
| March | 45" | 2.5 | Big snow and long daylight together — the best-value weeks of the year. |
| April | 22" | 0.9 | Spring corn on a deep base, and the odd surprise refresh. |
Historical figures are modelled from 30 seasons of public reanalysis weather data at the mountain's coordinates, not resort snow-stake measurements. Use the resort's own report for what fell last night.
Season totals
248"
Average snowfall across a full season.
- Deepest winter
- 2022-23 · 549"
- Leanest winter
- 2014-15 · 93"
Best weeks to book
- December 22 to 31 — the snowiest ten days on the record, and the reason holiday weeks book out first
- January 22 to 31 — deep base, cold storms, easy midweek parking
- March 1 to 7 — nearly as much snow as January with an hour more daylight
Holiday weeks carry a three-night minimum and a seasonal rate; late January and early March are the sweet spot if you want the same snow for less.
Mountain facts
Bear Valley by the numbers
The plain figures, checked against the resort's own published information.
- Skiable acres
- 1,680
- Trails
- 75 trails
- Lifts
- 9 lifts, including a high-speed six-pack
- Vertical
- 1,900 ft
- Base / summit
- 6,600 / 8,500 ft
- Terrain
- 25% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced
- Snowmaking
- About 100 acres, concentrated on the lower mountain
- Terrain parks
- Yes
- Night skiing
- No
- Passes honoured
- Cali Pass, Indy Pass, Powder Alliance
Source: bearvalley.com and the Indy Pass resort listing. Checked September 2026 — Bear Valley official site. Lift counts, pass programs and prices change; the resort’s site is always the final word.
Season dates
When Bear Valley opens and closes
Late November or mid-December through the third weekend in April. Opening and closing dates come from the resort's own season announcements. Weekend-only operations usually run for the first two or three weeks.
This season’s dates-
2024-25
November 29 – April 20
-
2022-23
December 16 – April 16
549 inches — the deepest winter on our record
-
2021-22
December 29 – April 17
-
2020-21
December 12 – April 18
Side by side
Bear Valley or Dodge Ridge?
Both are honest, unfussy Sierra mountains within reach of the cabins. The difference is mostly size, drive and how much snow the base holds.
| Bear Valley | Dodge Ridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Skiable acres | 1,680 | 862 |
| Vertical | 1,900 ft | 1,600 ft |
| Base / summit | 6,600 / 8,500 ft | 6,600 / 8,200 ft |
| Average season snowfall | 248" | 216" |
| Typical season | Late Nov to late Apr | Mid Dec to mid Mar |
| Drive from the cabins | 50-60 min | About 1 hr 45 min |
| Passes | Cali, Indy, Powder Alliance | Cali, Indy |
| Best for | Bigger terrain, longer season, a spur-of-the-moment powder morning | Gentle intermediate cruising, small-mountain feel, a planned day trip |
Getting there
Getting there and parking
About 30 miles and 50 to 60 minutes in good weather. Straight up Highway 4 through Dorrington and Tamarack.
- Distance
- About 30 miles
- Drive time
- 50 to 60 minutes in good weather
- Elevation
- Roughly 2,600 feet of climbing from the cabins to the village
- Chain controls
- Chain controls usually start above Dorrington or Tamarack, so the first fifteen minutes of the drive are almost always clear.
Parking at the base lots is free, and on an ordinary midweek morning you can pull in close to the lifts. Powder days and holiday weekends are different: the lower lots fill first and the overflow adds a walk or a shuttle ride.
Leaving Arnold early is the whole trick — you will be parked close, through the ticket window, and riding while the later crowd is still climbing Highway 4.
Check road conditions before you leave — Caltrans QuickMap shows live chain requirements and closures for Highways 4 and 108.
STAY NEAR BEAR VALLEY
Arnold has more food and drink options than Bear Valley Village & is only 30 minutes from the slopes.
Nearby
Keep exploring
Hiking
Hiking at Bear Valley offers a diverse range of terrain, from gentle paths through alpine meadows to more challenging routes that ascend to high mountain peaks. You can choose hikes that cater to your fitness level and preferences. Bear Valley provides trail maps and information at the resort, ensuring that you have the necessary guidance and resources to plan your hikes.
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
- Full refund 5+ days ahead; holidays 30 days
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?+
California Mountain Resorts Company. Skyline Development bought Bear Valley Mountain in December of 2014 and ran the ski area and village operations for nearly a decade, then sold the mountain in November 2023 to California Mountain Resorts Company — the family-run, Invision Capital-backed operator behind Dodge Ridge, Mountain High, and China Peak. Bear Valley is now part of their Cali Pass.
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.