Exploring Big Bear Mountain Resort: Differences, Offerings, Stats

Less Than 100 Miles from the Coast

678 Acres of Mountain Adventure for All Ages, Every Season

Big Bear Mountain Resort is Southern California’s year-round home for alpine good times with three mountains – Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain – offering something for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Our mountains offer skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing/sledding, mountain biking, golf, and much more.

Winter

Snow Valley

Recommended For: Beginners & Families

• Ski & Snowboard Lessons
• Equipment Rentals
• Snow Tube Park
• Snow Play Area
• Night Sessions
• Terrain Parks
• Mid-Mountain Dining Option
• Favorite Runs: Slide Peak

Snow Summit

Recommended For: Intermediate & Families

• Ski & Snowboard Lessons
• Equipment Rentals
• Snow Tube Park
• Night Sessions
• Terrain Parks
• Mountaintop View Dining Options
• View of Big Bear Lake

Bear Mountain

Recommended For: Beginners & Advanced

• SoCal's Only Halfpipes
• Highest Lift Served Peak in SoCal
• Ski & Snowboard Lessons
• Equipment Rentals
• Terrain Parks
• Mid-Mountain Dining Option
• View of San Gorgonio Mountains

What's the Difference?

Mountain Statistics During Winter Operations


Founded	1937	1952	1943
Difficulty	14% Beginner 45% Intermediate 41% Advanced	35% Beginner/Low Intermediate 40% Intermediate 25% Advanced/Expert	30% Beginner/Low Intermediate 40% Intermediate 30% Advanced/Expert
Skiable Acres	240	240	198
Chairlifts	9	10	7
Trails	32	33	26
Base Elevation	6,800 ft/2,072 m	7,000 ft/2,133 m	7,140 ft/2,176 m
Peak Elevation	7,841 ft/2,380 m	8,200 ft/2,499 m	8,805 ft/2,683 m
Vertical Drop	1,041 ft/317 m	1,200 ft/365 m	1,665 ft/507 m
Longest Run	Bubble Gum: 0.47 mi/0.76 km	Westridge: 1.25 mi/2 km	Geronimo: 1.5 mi/2.4 km
Pipes	0	0	2
Terrain Parks	Beginner to Advanced	Beginner to Intermediate	Beginner to Expert

Black and white drone shot of Bear Mountain's Geronimo trail

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Trif3cta

Ski or snowboard all 3 mountains in one day.

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Trif3cta

Ski or snowboard all 3 mountains in one day.

SoCal's Snow Capital

Most Dependable Conditions

Big Bear Mountain Resort is known for having the best snow and most dependable conditions in Southern California thanks to our extensive snowmaking capabilities, which benefit guests by providing more reliable skiing and snowboarding conditions as well as enhancing the snow throughout the season.

The extensive snowmaking system features more than 560 hydrants, 330 snow guns, and 40 fans capable of converting 6,000 gallons of water to snow per minute. With that sort of capacity and the most operating days per season in SoCal, it’s no wonder Snow Summit was selected to host the inaugural Winter X Games in 1997.

How Snowmaking Works

Natural Snowfall

Historical Operating Dates & Snowfall

Big Bear Mountain Resort offers the best snow conditions, longest season, and most rideable terrain in SoCal.

Season	Open/Close	Total Days	Snowfall
23/24	SV: 12/9/23-4/14/24 SS: 11/26/23-4/21/24 BM: 11/25/24-4/14/24	SV: 128 SS: 148 BM: 142	SV: 201" SS: 175" BM: 175"
22/23	11/12/22 - 4/30/23	169	243"
21/22	12/2/21 - 4/16/22	136	69"
20/21	11/18/20 - 4/11/21	145	139"
19/20	11/28/19 - 3/14/20	108	168"
18/19	11/16/18 - 4/20/19	156	152"
17/18	12/8/17 - 4/7/18	121	39"
16/17	11/25/16 - 4/9/17	136	162"
15/16	11/13/15 - 4/10/16	150	99"

More snowfall history on the Historical Snowfall page.

Summer

Snow Valley

Recommended For: Intermediate MTB

• Downhill Bike Park
• Hiking
• Scenic Sky Chair Rides
• MTB Rental Shop
• Food & Beverage
• Retail Shop
• Tuning & Repair Bike Shop

Snow Summit

Recommended For: Outdoor Enthusiasts

• Downhill Bike Park
• Cross-Country Bike Trails
• Hiking
• Scenic Sky Chair Rides
• Basecamp Activities (zip line, etc.)
• MTB Rental Shop
• MTB Lessons
• Food & Beverage
• Retail Shop
• Tuning & Repair Bike Shop

Bear Mountain Golf Course

Recommended For: Golfers All Levels

• 9-hole Course
• 300-yard Driving Area
• Chipping, Bunker, & Putting Area
• Pro Shop & Retail
• Golf Lessons
• Food & Beverage

What's the Difference?

Mountain Statistics During Summer Operations


Founded	1937	1952	1943
Difficulty	20% Beginner 50% Intermediate 30% Advanced	50% Beginner 10% Intermediate 40% Advanced	Men: Back - 66.0/112 Middle - 64.4/108 Forward - 60.6/99 Women: Back - 72.0/125 Middle - 70.4/121 Forward - 66.0/113
Mountain Biking Acres	3.4	10	Not Available During Summer
Chairlifts	1	3	Not Available During Summer
Trails	11	10	9-Holes
Base Elevation	6,800 ft/2,072 m	7,000 ft/2,133 m	7,140 ft/2,176 m
Peak Elevation	7,841 ft/2,380 m	8,200 ft/2,499 m	Not Available During Summer
Vertical Drop	1,041 ft/317 m	1,200 ft/365 m	Not Available During Summer
Longest Run	Green Horn: 1.1 mi/1.8 km	Going Green: 3.4 mi/5.5 km	Not Available During Summer
Cross-Country Trails	Not Offered	60+ Miles	Not Available During Summer

Historical Timeline

100 Years of Operations

1920

1924: Public signage permit issued by USFS for Fish Camp recreation area, later called Snow Valley.

1930

1932: First tow rope in Southern California built at Fish Camp by Lake Arrowhead Fire Chief, Les Salm.
1935: Sling lift designed by aeronautical pioneer, Jack Northrup, built at Fish Camp; roadside concession and supply shack built by Lake Arrowhead Corp.
1937: Lake Arrowhead Corp. shack sold to Norwegian ski jump champion, Sverre Engen; Fish Camp renamed Snow Valley by USFS.

1940

1943: Moonridge Ski Area – later called Bear Mountain – founded in Big Bear.
1947: First steel-towered chairlift in the San Bernardino Mountains built at Snow Valley by John Elvrum, Tony Crowder, and Mac McGlinchy.
1949: First chairlift built in Big Bear (Lynn lift).

1950

1952: Snow Summit Winter Sports Area – later shortened to Snow Summit – founded in Big Bear.

1960

1963: Revolutionary snowmaking system installed at Snow Summit.
1964: First New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade held at Snow Summit.

1970

1970: Moonridge Ski Area renamed Goldmine Mountain.

1980

1981: China Peak Mountain Resort acquired by Snow Summit.
1983: First permanent in-ground halfpipe on the West Coast built at Snow Summit.
1988: Goldmine Mountain acquired by S-K-I Ltd., renamed Big Bear Mountain.
1989: First high-speed quad chairlift built at Big Bear Mountain.

1990

1991: High-speed quad chairlifts built at Snow Summit.
1992: First terrain park in North America (Outlaw) built at Big Bear Mountain.
1995: Big Bear Mountain acquired by Fibreboard Corp.
1996: Big Bear Mountain acquired by Booth Creek, Inc.
1997: Inaugural Winter X Games hosted at Snow Summit.

2000

2000: New snowmaking water cooling system installed at Snow Valley.
2002: Big Bear Mountain acquired by Snow Summit, renamed Bear Mountain.
2003: First Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails (HDHR) held at Bear Mountain.

2010

2010: China Peak sold by Snow Summit.
2014: Bear Mountain and Snow Summit acquired by Mammoth Resorts.
2015: Big Bear Mountain Resort founded.
2017: Mammoth Resorts acquired by Alterra Mountain Company; high-speed 6-seat chairlift (Snow Valley Express) built at Snow Valley.
2018: Ikon Pass launched by Alterra Mountain Company.

2020

2023: Snow Valley acquired by Alterra Mountain Company, managed by Big Bear Mountain Resort.
2024: High-speed 6-seat chairlift (Midway) built at Bear Mountain.