We recently visited Leland Snowplay, and while the snow area itself was fun for the most part and…read moremost of the staff were helpful and polite, our overall experience was overshadowed by extremely rude behavior from one particular staff member. The issue was mainly with one staff member in the parking lot who was also present in the play area. He was shouting at people at the top of his voice, including families with small children. The tone and aggression were completely unnecessary, and it genuinely scared some of the kids. Families drive for hours to get there, and this place is not cheap. We were told the place was "full" in a very aggressive manner, even though there was still visible parking available and the front desk was continuing to sell tickets. Groups had arrived together, and there is no network reception there to coordinate once separated. Not even allowing people to park briefly -- when space was available -- to figure out their next course of action felt unreasonable and poorly managed. To be clear, this behavior seemed to be limited to this one individual. The staff at the ticket counter and in the snow play area were courteous and pleasant. It honestly felt like this one person may have been overwhelmed or frustrated, but that does not justify shouting at paying customers -- especially around young children. Unfortunately, this kind of experience leaves a lasting impression, and it makes us hesitant to ever return.

I had an amazing time at Leland Snowplay! I drove three hours from San Francisco during a storm,…read moreand the powder conditions were absolutely perfect. I visited on a Friday with my 5-year-old, and it was a fantastic experience. One of the best things about this place is the free parking and the reduced weekday pricing. When we went, there were only about a dozen families, so we had plenty of space to enjoy ourselves. I can imagine it gets much busier on weekends and holidays. The staff was super friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. I also appreciated that the lodge had food available--we had chicken tenders and a Philly cheesesteak, both of which were solid options. The food was by no means amazing but it was nice to have an option. The lodge itself is a nice spot to warm up, especially with the cozy fireplace. Plus, they sell essentials like gloves and boots in case you need them. My only con is reception is bad and there isn't wifi but in many ways that is probably a good thing so I could focus on spending time with my kid instead of being on the phone. The three-hour drive was totally worth it! I made it there in a Subaru Outback without chains and had no issues on the road. I'm already looking forward to coming back!

We had a gala of time over 3 days. First day was Snow tubing…read more(they were not open for sledding)... while it was crowded being the 2nd day after the first snowfall of hte season, it was fine. The kicker was that they gave a 50% off Learn to Ski package (cross-country skiing) which saved us several $$$ the next few days. Not only did cross-country skiing was fun (first time for us), the instructors were very patient and effective. The 2nd day I went (on a Monday morning), my group lesson became Private lesson as I was the only on in the class. Even more savings :-) The Warming Hut cafe is a great touch after doing some trails. The food was great here. The tracks for cross-country skiing was kept up. Our entire group (multiple kids and adults) had a great time. Weather was good as well as a bonus.

It was a toss up between BV or Leland's...after reading the reviews for Leland's, I opted for BV…read more It was my kids first time in the snow and I didn't want them to have a horrible crowded first experience. We had to leave early because I wanted to be there close to opening time if 9am, we got there around 10am and there were plenty of parking spots and tubes for the kids to ride. For 6 people, 4 tube rentals for 2hrs it cost me $160. At Leland's I would've paid $240. It was a pleasant experience. The staff was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy doing their job. We had so much fun, the kids were whooped after the two hrs. At first I don't think that two hrs would be enough, but it was perfect. It's an honor system for the amount of time you use the tubes, don't be the one who tries to use them all day. There are a lot of people coming into the park at all times of the mid morning. 2 1/2hes is more than plenty to wear the little ones out. We will definitely be back and would recommend Bear Valley Adventure Co to anyone who has kids.

I've been to the Village for tubing and snow play, this was my first time at the resort because my…read morekids were taking snowboarding lessons. The cost for lessons is comparable to other places, and somewhat of a good deal as it also includes a lift ticket. The lesson itself was less than two hours, so I wish they had a half-day lesson for this age group (13+). That being said, after the first lesson my kids were able to get on a lift for the easiest run and practice on their own. The process for parking, checking in, and rentals was STRESSFUL. Get there early!! The resort itself is kind of MEH. We came during one of the holiday dates (literally when else do folks come as we all have work and school) and it was over-crowded and kind of gross. Food was tragic, and over-priced. Leave food in your car and go eat in your car, it's that bad. I'd come again for my kids, but would arrive as early as possible with a big breakfast.

You can tell that Bear Valley is a ski area that time has left behind. It's not on any major ski…read morepass systems, and the day lodge is dated and run down. Flashiness is not their thing - The entrance to the lodge from parking looked like the back door to a grade school, so for a minute we were worried we had gone the wrong way. It didn't help that the info on the website was so poor we knew nothing about the lodge - like if they had food (they did), or lockers, or a store, etc. (Turns out they do have lockers but they no longer work). The only "modern" touch since my last visit (15 years ago) was the addition of RFID lift tickets (used on the main lifts at the bottom). The vibe here during our Friday visit was: small town; locals and families. There had been 6 inches of overnight snow (with more still falling), so several groups had come up for the day from nearby towns in the Central Valley. There was also a lift ticket deal that day ($30 off when you buy two), but it was not advertised on the website, nor at the ticket area (just some unexplained jargon on a sign near rentals). My friend N and I were on different morning routines so we bought our tickets at separate times and missed out on the deal. We only found out later - Very annoying. Apparently we had to be "in the know" to take advantage. On the plus side, each adult lift ticket was pretty inexpensive for the Sierras ($135 in Spring 2024). The food situation here was the worst I've ever seen at any ski area, anywhere. We had intentionally returned very late to the day lodge to miss the main lunch crowd (Note: It's the only place with food on the mountain). But there was still an incredibly long, slow line to order. The offerings were meager (mostly fried-up frozen food), and they were under-staffed by a sullen crew who were cooking most items to order, one burger and chicken sandwich at a time. Just stupid. When we saw this, my friend and I opted for a yogurt, a bag of chips, and a bag of cookies to tide us over. I also had a snack bar in my pocket - But god forbid that they find me with outside food; there were signs everywhere stating this was verboten. (Note: If I'm ever at BV again, my future self will be putting a sandwich in my pack and eating it off-piste in some secret alcove). Other oddness. All lodging, including a ski lodge/hotel, is on the opposite side of the mountain and only available by shuttle. A few ski runs went down that way, but there were no lifts to get back. Turned out we were staying in that lodging area, but we didn't know exactly where the runs terminated; the map was too vague. Again, it appears you have to be in the know. In short, I found Bear Valley to be a below-average (a.k.a. 2-star) ski area. But it turns out they're in luck, because the snow on that day was so fluffy and fun that - despite all the negatives - I had one of the best ski days I've had in awhile. So I'll level-up for that.

Just got back spending 2 days in Bear Valley. The Bear Valley lodge is a wonderful place but oh…read morethese guys are stuck in the 60s! The overall lodge and the rooms are dated and could definitely use a refresh. They have janky & clunky keys to open doors, old heaters to heat rooms & the world's oldest elevator. Not only that they don't provide coffee machines or an iron in the rooms, forget a microwave or a fridge. For the hefty price they charge, they don't even refresh your rooms or offer turndown service if you stay more than a night. I saw several active leaks in the common areas on the 4th floor and at the check-in desk. The staff literally had a paper cup to catch the leaking water. Plus the restaurant options they have are terrible. If I had another option in BV, I'd definitely avoid this place. But they will continue to have customers as there isn't too many other options for people.

The Lodge is a cabin style stay. It shows tattered worn out signs of accommodations and old simple…read morecharm it once served. Although in need of a face lift it served its purpose. Don't pay more than 150 a night then you will feel that you were greatly taking advantage of. The hotel provide the shuttle service to the mountain. There's absolutely nothing in the area as far as convenience stores or shops. The Lodge 'convenience store sold some small, very expensive package goods and T-shirts but it smelt like Grandma's armpits. Bring cases of water and your favorite beverages and a cooler!!! Maybe you could bring your own little small barbecue for outside your car if you wanted ! We also brought a coffee maker of our own, which was recommended to us. Best thing we did. Don't forget to bring your favorite treats and snacks up and instant soups and oatmeal. We decided to have wine last night by the fire pit, and it was gas lit very loud and no warmth We went to the grizzly lounge. We had a few cocktails and appetizers that were Mid. You come here to ski, but when you rest your head, you want some convenience and comfort Have a great season ! Pray for snow!

How have I never reviewed this place? It's our home resort and we love going here so much. If you…read moreare mostly about the skiing, and then relaxing, this is the place for you. It has plenty of intermediate and advanced slopes, off-piste runs, long blues and wide bowls. I don't do them as much but my husband enjoys the powder and tree runs, and there are a couple terrain parks. For beginners it's mixed: there a two base areas, one that is better suited for absolute beginners (Timber Creek) that has a lodge, magic carpet, and 2 beginner lifts. The other base area (Kirkwood Village) is better for more advanced beginners and intermediates, but does have one beginner lift (Snowkirk). Just make sure there's enough snow that everything is running (e.g. maybe not right now as spring conditions mean snow is melting fast and things are closing.) There's a resort shuttle that runs around the valley between base areas and various accommodations. Who is Kirkwood NOT good for: nightlife enthusiasts, fashionistas, foodies who can't cook or didn't bring their own food. There is NO shopping (just one general store with high prices limited hours), limited dining options (mostly during the day), and not much nightlife (two bars during the day and one at night.) There are some dining options 10-20 minute drives away, including one very good restaurant with a view (Caples Lake Resort) but be prepared for crowds on busy nights. Generally we stay in our condo and cook (and bring all our own food due to lack of grocery shopping.) If you are prepared and are staying near/on the mountain (can't get closer than The Mountain Club! literally ski in/ski out), it's a great place to ski and stay. If you are looking for more shopping/nightlife/dining out, go fight the crowds in Tahoe. We love it here and recommend it fully!

My husband and I have boarded at Kirkwood many times over the years and always had a great…read moreexperience so now that our kids are older (13,9,7) we wanted to bring them with us to try snowboarding for the first time. My 13 year old daughter and 14 year old nephew went on the bunny hill with my husband and brother to learn and it was the perfect terrain for their level. I signed my 7 & 9 year old up for the ski school and their teacher was JEAN who was just AMAZING. She was so patient and kid and taught the kids skills and essentials to they easily mastered their first lesson and beyond exceeded my expectations! Customer service wise Kirkwood staff were all awesome. I wrongly thought they had tubing because or google but found out when I got there that was NOT true. They were able to squeeze my 2 little ones into lessons that afternoon from 1:15-3:45 and that included all the gear they needed, a lunch, access to the lifts, and that ran me $630 total for 2 kids. My adult and teen tickets I bought for my husband and brother and 2 older kids were over the phone and their customer service was also amazing. We were not able to make it on our reserved day and they let us change to the next day, no hassle. We just had to go in person to the ticket booth and tell them and they changed them for us. Parking situation. You have to reserve parking before had. We pre-paid $20 for the orange lot and we were able to park right by the entrance, and we got there around 11:30am. Right now the cabin/lounge area near those lifts is under construction but there is a free shuttle that comes every 15-minutes to drive you just 2 minutes up the road to the other location that has more ski lifts and lots of places to eat. Once here I got some hot chocolate and chicken chili nachos at THE WALL, and both of them were BOMB and I love going places to eat so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, and for only $18 the portions were huge and me & my sister shared and still couldn't finish. We wanted to go back and try more things but everything was closed by 4:00pm, so eat early or you have to drive a ways after do.

i hiked from badger pass ski area to glacier point on 3/28 and posted a vlog on yoütübe including…read moretips and info so you can be prepared! search "Nikko Gandia Travels." wilderness permit issued at badger pass ranger station (200 ft. to the right of main ski lodge) or a-frame. self registration on porch when open. make sure to keep up with the road closure/construction updates! fresh powder so the snowshoes were needed. camped near ostrander rocks.

This place was a huge disappointment. I made it very clear that I was a beginner, and the workers…read moreat the lift saw that I was struggling. Instead of helping me, they laughed when I got on the ski chair. That was embarrassing and completely unprofessional. For the amount of money we spent, you would expect at least basic kindness or assistance, especially for new skiers who are already nervous. Customer service here is awful, and they clearly don't care about beginners. This place is not friendly, not welcoming, and definitely not worth the price. If you're new to skiing or snowboarding, I would NOT recommend coming here.

This is review for the ski school. We had the pleasure of booking a private ski lesson with Drew…read moreHarris for our four kids and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Managing a group of kids with very different skill levels is no small task, but Drew handled it with patience, enthusiasm, and impressive skill. He quickly assessed where each child was at and tailored his guidance so everyone felt challenged while still having fun and building confidence on the mountain. Over the two days, Drew took the kids all over the mountain, helping them explore new terrain while always keeping safety front and center. His clear instructions and practical tips made a noticeable difference in their skiing, and it was great to see their progress even within a short time. Drew has a great way of explaining technique in a way kids understand, which helped them improve without feeling overwhelmed. One of the highlights for the kids was spending time in the ski park, where Drew showed them some fun tricks and helped them try new things safely. He struck the perfect balance between encouraging them to push their limits and making sure they stayed in control and confident. By the end of the lessons, all four kids were excited about how much they had learned and couldn't stop talking about their favorite runs. We're incredibly grateful for the experience and would highly recommend Drew Harris to other families looking for a fantastic ski instructor. His ability to manage multiple levels, keep kids engaged, and make learning fun made these two days on the mountain truly memorable.

Okay,, it's been some time since I was last up here skiing and it's significantly improved…read more Employee attitudes are better and local people are more upbeat as the town and mountain evolves into a destination resort. For the 2025/2026 season it was the location for good skiing and even more so in the later part. The strangest season I've ever seen. Snow then rain, hot then cold then hot again, but Mammoth came through with some very good skiing if you were there at the right time. Nice upgrades on the Mtn with high capacity lifts and grooming but would like to see better dining options at the Main Lodge. Another thought would be for Alterra to loosen up with lift ticket options and pricing instead of forcing one to purchase the Ikon. All considerations taken Mammoth is still a great ski mountain and I look forward to next season........

My family and I visited in late-February and this was my first time ever skiing and my first visit…read moreto Lake Tahoe, and overall I had a great experience at Sierra at Tahoe. Full disclaimer: as a complete beginner, I stayed on the Easy Rider lift and learning hill both days, so I can't speak to the more advanced runs. But as a place to learn, it felt like a great starting point. The scenery is beautiful, the mountain has a relaxed vibe, and most of the staff I interacted with were friendly and helpful. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is an incident at the lift. While I was waiting at the red line to load the chair, a skier sat down in the chair when he wasn't supposed to. The lift attendants didn't catch it in time, and when the chair came around I ended up sitting directly on top of him while trying to load. My skis got stuck and it created a pretty awkward situation. The lift was eventually stopped, but it felt like it took longer than it should have for the operators to notice. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it did seem like the lift attendants could have been paying closer attention during loading. Aside from that, it was a really fun first skiing experience and the resort itself is beautiful. I'd definitely come back next season and hopefully try more of the mountain beyond the beginner area.

Staff was friendly everywhere we went, from the shop to the ticket booth and even at the lifts…read more Everyone was helpful and welcoming, which really sets the tone for the day. Our family had a blast. The kids took snowboard lessons and had a great experience. I spent time teaching my wife on the bunny slopes and Sugar & Spice, which were perfect for learning and building confidence. Snow conditions were packed powder in the morning and got a bit icy toward late afternoon, which is pretty typical. Overall, a fun, well-run mountain with a great family vibe. We'll definitely be back.

Incredible ride in the gondola. Great coaster at the top! Breathtaking views from the top…read more Enjoyed everything. Be advised though - it is NOT cheap. Be prepared to spend hundreds of dollars for this experience. Worth it though.

2 of 2 Yelp Reviews…read more We were Heavenly customers before Vail Resorts bought them in March of 2002. Our season pass also applies to Northstar, acquired in October 2010, and Kirkwood, acquired in April 2012. I am very happy with all the acquisitions; I feel I am getting a better value from my season pass. But now that I am a loyal Mt Rose customer, it gets harder and harder to come to the Vail/Epic resorts... Quality/Quantity - My favorite lifts and runs are at Heavenly Ski Resort. And more specifically, at the Stagecoach lift!! Long lift, long run, less people. Too bad the season is over and the NV side is closed. And due to the poor season and lack of snow, we needed to shuttle from the Sky/Canyon lift to the Gondola chairs (Dipper and Comet lifts)?!?! Lastly, the Tamarack lift opened half an hour late, not until 9:30am! Today was my worst day at Heavenly EVER!! Two seasons ago, I broke my vertical record with my daughter!! And on a Sunday! Ambiance - See above. Public paid parking lots. But today, my wife dropped me off and went to the lake house to relax. Well to check on the property. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm. Service - Plenty of employees today, thank you. Price - I have a season pass. But due to the poor season and me being too lazy to drive an hour to ski, I have only used it once. This was one expensive day! I will probably not renew my pass for next season... Sadly. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your successes with your 42 resorts in 3 countries. Look forward to skiing as many of your properties as possible.