I've been to the Village for tubing and snow play, this was my first time at the resort because my kids 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. read more

You can tell that Bear Valley is a ski area that time has left behind. It's not on any major ski pass 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. read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Heading over to Polar Express side - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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Everything. Worst ski resort in California and it's not even the smallest. The company is completely unprofessional and an embarrassment to the community. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere even dodge ridge or china peak which they own as well is better and that's saying something. This business is being run into the ground. read more

I've been going to Bear Valley for family trips for over 20yrs. While it has been a bit slow to keep up with the times, it has always held a special place in my heart as it was one of the places I first learned to ski. Earlier this week we went up, very excitedly as we couldn't wait to start the day bright and early. However, imagine our surprise when we get inside the lodge to find out the lockers are GONE! Now why on earth out of everything in the lodge would you remove the lockers? I can't speak for everyone but I was happy to pay for a locker to store my stuff in as I don't want to trek all the way back to my car in ski boots to change. But that's not even an option because they've been completely removed! Please for the love of everything put them back! Lockers aside. Every employee I interacted with throughout the day was very friendly and helpful. They were quick when offering assistance and also offered tips to the beginners of our group when getting on and off the lifts. The runs themselves at the resort are nicely groomed, and further up the mountain gives you these absolutely beautiful views all around. read more

New owners. New vibe. The Bear is back!!! So nice to have folks that are enhancing the experience! Such a groovy good fun this place is now - THANK YOU!! read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Memorial Day - can't ski here!!! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

Excellent ski resort with varied terrain for everyone and good facilities. I would also like to call out particular help from some of the staff that helped us in an emergency situation. read more

Had an epic Bear Valley ski weekend with the family. We went up for New years weekend, and the snow conditions were excellent! I loved the weather, easy parking, online ticket purchase, improved RFID ticketing and good vibes. At this time, only the front side of the mountain was open, but more runs should open up as additional snow falls in coming weeks. I liked the value Bear Valley provides for beginners trying to learn as well as advanced snow connoisseurs. Bear Valley had discounted beginner lift tickets $51/$79 peak, which gave access to the magic carpet and 2 beginner lifts, which was perfect for beginners to progress to intermediate levels (Super Cub had both green and blue run access). Then there's the All Mountain Pass that's $135/$155 peak, which gives access to the entire mountain resort. Super nice since the backside of Bear Valley has blue and diamond runs only, so you can shred all day long and still take the Polar Express lift back up top. We need more snowfall for the Grizzly and Polar Express to open up! Would highly recommend buying your lift tickets online, and then bring your phone (you'll be emailed QR code tickets) to the automated kiosks to print out the RFID lift ticket cards. Also, IMO the premium parking is totally worth it because at the end of all day downhill runs, the closer the car is, the sooner you'll get to dinner! read more

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Terrible experience with waiting to rent pair of snowboard boots. Waited over 2 hours and when I complained, they just brushed me off. Got there at 1030 and didn't get to board until 2. Paid for a day pass and was only able to get 2 runs in. They should at least have a 1/2 pass for situations like this. Became a waste of time as we barely were able to enjoy the trip. This was a poor experience and what made it worst was that I was brushed off when I complained. read more

Bear Valley Resort doesn't care about the health and safety of it customers. While there I saw MULTIPLE osha violations. Everything from rotten ingredients for food to faulty and shotty outlets and electrical. They DESPERATELY need to wake up! A person posted a video not long ago showing a SUPERVISOR using a gas powered snowblower in the building WITHOUT proper ventilation and PEOPLE inside. WTF is WRONG with your company's COMMON SENSE?!? https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0oFsCYfQJrBJsGk9vrSMJNyKwb5xA9SraajaGveSjSaxrBheP8k6gFQCDxKDnEmMzl&id=100069497083011&mibextid=Nif5oz read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

I'm a fan! We booked ski lessons for our daughters, and rented skis and boots. We arrived very early because we expected wait times, and didn't want to feel rushed. The initial process was a little flustering and anxiety inducing. I feel like there should be a big bright WELCOME sign with the necessary steps written in a handful of languages. There are a lot of tourists, and there was even more confusion. Nancy who checked us in was welcoming and friendly. She answered all of our questions, and patiently solved problems for the people in front of us. The young lady who we got our rental boots from was the exact opposite. In fact, she was a miserable little beast. She kept looking our daughters up and down, and fortunately she was the only staff member that wasn't nice. Our littles had a lesson with Collin, and our other daughter had a lesson with Leon. They enjoyed their lessons, had fun, and learned enough to confidently ski all day the following day. I enjoyed the ski lodge saloon, people watching, and taking in the beautiful view. The bartender was super sweet, just like the woman who gave us the skis, Also, people brought their dogs, and I LOVE dogs! My family ate at the lodge and they all said the food was good. All I can say is that the beer was excellent. If you're renting ski gear or taking a lesson, plan to arrive early, and have fun. read more

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They prohibited outside food and drinks. The resort guy literally taking away beer and food from people who didn't buy it from them. Other day same guy just dumped our belongings because we booked place few minutes before opening. with new ownership this place became very unfriendly. read more

Food is bad and expensive, for example, a cup of soup costs 12 dollars. Restroom is dirty. We preferred a coach and we were also told the coach was assigned to our lesson, but they changed coach without any notification. read more

Bear Valley is the perfect anti-Tahoe ski resort. It's funky and cute in its own way, and they really try to keep prices down and ski quality high. If you don't get there first thing in the morning, you may be parking a ways back, but they have a shuttle to get you to the lodge. The slopes rival anything Tahoe has to offer, as long as the bottom half of the mountain is open. The views are incredible, and you can even ski off the back side all the way down to the village, and take a free shuttle back up. The ski school is very professional, and they made sure that every member of my family could make decent turns by the end of their beginner 2-hour lesson. We are very lucky to still have resorts like Bear Valley around, where you can ski a great day for under 150 bucks. read more

If you're looking for a low-key ski adventure - that won't break the bank - I recommend checking out Skyline Bear Valley Resort. With short lift lines, friendly staff, and lots of terrain for a small mountain - Skyline rocks. The views are stunning and if you go mid-week - the slopes are pretty empty. In the lodge and in enclosed areas - we were pleased to see that most were being careful and practicing social distancing, as well as wearing their masks. They do have a restaurant here, but if you're looking to save some money and spend more time on the mountain - I suggest packing some sandwiches beforehand. Also if you're new to skiing - I hear wonderful things about instructors and their beginner slopes. Trust. read more

After snowboarding at this resort for many years, I will no longer continue to support Bear Valley Ski Resort after their recent changes for the following reasons. Mountain safety has gone completely down the drain after they let their head ski patroller go over the 23/24 season. I do not currently trust the mountain to make safe decisions regarding openings and closures during avalanche conditions. Bear Valley is no longer offering their Forever Pass option, thus breaking a contract with all the season pass holders who originally purchased a Forever Pass. They are also no longer offering mid-week or college passes, and their Military pass is outrageously priced. The Military pass used to be under $200 dollars just a few years ago, now they are offering only a slight discount on a normal pass. While many of the Bear Valley Ski Resort employees are incredibly helpful and a pleasure to be around, there are some really rotten eggs still working at this resort. It is sad to think that this used to be the best ski hill in California. read more

Long lines for everything. Understaffed and clueless management. Expensive bland food. It took them several years just to install useable internet for guests. Otherwise, some decent short runs for intermediates. When there's snow, that is, given its low elevation. Now the power went out and we've all been waiting in lift lines for over half an hour because they apparently don't have working backup generators. People are starting to walk all the way up the backside. No information provided by staff. Our only info is from phone calls to friends on the other side of the mountain. Changing my rating from 2 to 1 star. Horrible management. Nice but thinly spread staff. read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - People giving up and walking up the mountain - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

Had such a bad experience with no communication from anyone about the situation or a solution. I can understand the full parking lot after heavy snow day. I'm willing to be patient for waiting over an hour for rental equipment. But that's it. We paid $-50 for the day pass (wtf ?!?!) 3 lifts are not working, so basically our kids are fucked and can't do anything !!!! Other lifts are working on and off. Any attempt to get answers got me nowhere. Only around 2 pm the lifts started working. And as soon as we started to ski, we learned that our equipment is too loose !!!!!! The only thing that worked smoothly that day was the credit cards machine that was charging us !!! Sent an email to the company, still waiting for a response. read more

My husband and I skied Bear Valley 2/3/24, we spent $310 and have nothing good to say about this resort until it cleans up its act! The ticket area employees seemed confused about everything. The lady's bathroom had a sewer issue and backup, only 3 stalls, the floor was wet and, seemed to have sewer backup also and the disgusting bathroom was near a food area! There were also issues with the chair lift. I asked to speak with a manager/supervisor, staff didn't know if they had one and started making up stories; "They are at lunch", "The resort is for sale" and "We can't remember". I phoned multiple times when I returned and reached out via social media, NO RESPONSE! In January 2025 I spoke with a new manager Brad, Brad assured me he would have proposed response within 5 days. Emails, voice mail and calls, NOT ONE RESPONSE. I REQUESTED A REFUND, PROVIDED THE CONTACT JENNIFER, AND NO ONE RESPONDED! This resort is overpriced and filthy, if you have a problem do not expect anyone to respond! Skip this place, its not worth it. Yes- I shared a copy of the receipt. read more

In my opinion this resort is very relaxed. In comparison to others in the area. They have great slopes but especially for beginners. All the instructors are very friendly. I would recommend checking this resort out. read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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We have a sentimental attachment to this resort because our kids learned to ski here. You can't go in expecting to compare it to Kirkwood or Sierra much less Palisades, Heavenly or Northstar from an operational standpoint. Or I guess you could, but it would be unbecoming for you to whine about it. What you get: A) a ton of snow B) faster drive from San Jose and Peninsula without a major Echo/Carson/Donner pass situation when going to Arnold to stay on Friday night. We always got to our cabin, and then home on Sunday or Monday without major delays. Occasionally we could not make it from Arnold to the resort one ski day but it would generally have been storm conditions anyway. C) super relaxed atmosphere, bring your own cooler D) cheap. Especially with a season pass E) kids ski team option with less commitment than Tahoe teams. We didn't do it but wish we did now. F) it's almost never crowded. I never went during Christmas but mid week presidents week you could hot lap the high speed quads. Other reviews that say there are no high speed chairs are delusional the vast majority of the terrain is accessed by a front side, and then a backside quad. Our kids have moved on to North Lake resorts, as it did not have the advanced terrain (BV lower mountain usually closed). It can be a too laid back / hit or miss operationally so I might get my kids their first full week of ski lessons at Heavenly etc. - but after that for the first several years of development it is perfect here. Down the road I might buy a season pass just to ski there on days when the traffic and crowding is too bad at Tahoe. read more

This review is specific to ski lessons for 4-6 year olds, called cub club First of all, this mountain is almost entirely old two passenger lifts that don't slow down at the bottom or top of the run. Second the magic carpet where the small children are isn't functioning, we were told leaking hydraulic fluid so they have to walk uphill in skis after every run. The picnic table that they keep near the magic carpet collapsed when my daughter tried to sit on it. We came during the week and only had a class of 4 but the instructor was truly equipped to manage two at the most. There was either one child wandering or left unattended for a while after a fall nearly the entire time. On a positive note he did give the boy who fell down more often extra attention to start with. My daughter had one boot that wouldn't snap into the ski without assistance, another boy in her class lost a ski boot attached to the ski entirely in a simple tip over. During check in, none of the emergency contact information the will pre submitted was filled out, we also had to sign a duplicate release of liability. At lunch, the instructors all shout "who has an allergy" to the kids. If your kids is shy or embarrassed, keep that epipen handy. When my daughters friend dropped out of the class an hour into it, I went to check on her. She was sobbing that her legs hurt from all of the uphill walking they had to do. When I talked to the instructor about dropping he said my daughter wasn't ready for the larger working magic carpet area. Strange because last week at sugar bowl she was able to ski green runs, oh well, I think he just wasn't very attentive. read more

Just wanted to mention a really positive interaction with a fellow Bear Valley guest recently. A really kind fellow saw me with 4 kids unloading snowboards in the loading zone on a packed day, and he kindly offered me his nearby parking spot after I unloaded the kids. This was just totally unexpected, so thoughtful, and I just had to mention it. He was in a white Range Rover, and just the nicest fellow, and just asked me to pay it forward...which I definitely will. I've tried to do things similar to other complete strangers, and it is really nice to see others acting on pure kindness. Helps make the world a better place for all! Nothing really to do with Bear Valley here, other than perhaps this smaller town local ski mountain may attract a friendlier crowd than the large resorts. Hope this quick story helps brighten your day! read more

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My wife accidentally took the intermediate class instead of the beginner for my kids . The young kids staff were nice , they were willing to teach my son but the manage refuse them to do it . No refund . $ 214. She kicked us out of the ski area also . My son was so disappointed. I wouldn't not come back . read more

Visited Bear Valley to snowboard during COVID-19 and they did an incredible job of enforcing wearing masks and social distancing. They had strict requirements for mask and the standard ski mask was not good enough. They did have approved masks for people to use. The slopes themselves were beautiful and well groomed. The drive up was a breeze and parking was super easy. They had grab and go food with some limited outdoor seating. Would be nice if they reserved that limited seating to those who purchased food their rather than those who brought in their own food. I ordered at the outdoor BBQ and the food was really good. The bar was closed but they did have beer, wine, seltzers, and a fantastic pre-made cocktail option. The road conditions up were great and did not require to put chains but required you have them with you. Always check road conditions on CalTrans website and don't rely on past reviews. read more

Wonderful snow and great runs. Decent enough lodge with little in the way of meal options read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - My kids - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

We had a great time at the resort. Ski slopes were well maintained, skilled ski coaches. I am taking ofd 2 stars as I did not have a good experience during checkin and checkout. Most of the staff were extremely courteous, polite and helpful, but there were a few that were rude and were probably frustrated with their life. Here are some improvements they could do for a better ski experience: 1. I wish they had a better and easier ski rental process. For example, they could scan the shoes while giving it out, instead, they let people wear the show and lift the feet up so the barcode can be scanned 2. Some employees were rude and frustrated. A customer service training would probably help read more

There's a lot of runs here for beginners and intermediate ski/boarders. It's a bit further than Dodge Ridge from the Bay but it has a lot more runs and lifts. There's preferred parking for $20 which is a short walk to the main lodge and free parking is just as close if you come early. Otherwise it can easily be a 15 minute walk. There's a shuttle that will pick you up from the free area. Long lines for parking and the ticket office ate up a good hour of potential ski time. The parking lot was a bit icy when we left around 4pm but the roads to and from the resort are pretty good. read more

I'm new to snowboarding and I think Bear Valley is one of the best for beginners. It's closer in distance than Lake Tahoe, and it's higher in elevation than Dodgeridge. It's usually not as crowded either. Plus they sell curly fries in the cafeteria! Be warned, stay away from the hotdog though, the texture was horrible. Tip: 1) Free parking on the side of the road before you entered the parking lot 2) If you want to keep some stuff, there are small lockers that only takes cash (quarters I believe) read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Get the curly fries, stay away from the hotdog!! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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Very very good. Food is delicious!! Staff is awesome. ! Pizza is by far better than any pizza I ever had

After a ten year break in skiing, this was my second ski trip this year. Driving from the San Francisco bay area, the drive time took me a total of four hours, this was comprised of three hours from the bay area to Arnold, CA (just past Angels Camp), and then show chains required for the last hour to get to Bear Valley. When I saw the Cal Trains snow plow stuck in a ditch, I stopped and put on my chains. I drove past the city of Bear Valley, which is also a part of the "Village Side" ski area, which is almost all black diamond, If you opt for this skiing, when you get to the bottom, I heard you need to take a bus back to the "Day Lodge". Since I am still a beginner, I drove straight to the "Day Lodge". Take Highway 4 to Highway 207. I spent my time on the bunny slopes of the "upper mountain". From the Lodge, you have the choice of six different lifts. The lifts can take you to the peak, to reach the "Village side", or to the "Bear West". I found the area I was skiing to be 50% skiing and 50% boarders on a Sunday, and there were a number of ski schools running. If you go to the rental shop, to rent a helmet this is an extra and not any part of any ski rental package. I stopped for lunch in the main section of the "Day Lodge" and ate at Ebbetts Grill. Later I returned for some hot chocolate to defrost my self. There is also a Saloon where you can buy some Liquid Courage if required. During the non-winter season, the offer rock climbing, archery, camping, biking, hiking and kayaking, worth a return. read more

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I took a weekend trip to a cabin in Arnold with some family friends & we drove about 25 min to bear valley to snowboard, it was the second weekend of April & there was a beer & wine festival going on so we joined in on that! Although I do enjoy beer tasting, wine is my love! I got to talk to some great vendors & even considered joining a wine club lol.. it was a great time & I even got to keep my own wine glass that says "bear valley" on it :) There was also a ski competition going on which was pretty neat to watch! Didn't get to try out their food, we mainly stuck to booze. Great weekend trip here & I look forward to coming back! read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Snow view in April - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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THE RESORT was phenomenal... Late review, But from my experience. I came here Dec22, 2014 a week before the Winter Storm has passed by. Man, Im amazed how beautiful this place is. The abundance of snow... And plentiful of it, which made it fun to go snowboarding on fresh powder. FRESH POWDER I TELL YOU! Beats Boreal resort for sure. Which that place is always overly crowded compared to Bear Valley Ski Resort. IM lost at words, but yet again, "I WILL BE BACK!" FYI, bring your own food/drinks... Prices here are ridiculous expensive like Disneyland price. But don't let the price of refreshments and foods deter you away from coming here, overall, its expensive to bring food from the valley to truck it all the way up on the mountains to compensate. Namm sayinn... Moreover, You gotta try their Garlic Fries though... Sofa King Mmmmmm... read more

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With new ownership things got pretty ugly, especially customer service and staff attitude. They pushed us out of the table for having our own food, and they started charging $4 for a cup of hot water. On two different occasions we had to file a complaint about staff rudeness and complete disrespect but the office said this is their policy now. As the customer of five years I'm seriously considering moving to another place next year read more

I chose you resort because it said on your website that the beginner hills were groomed, $278 later there was no grooming I could see (12-26-20) It would have been fine except I was with a beginner and wanted them to have some groomers to start on. I checked your site at 715am before I left and it said you groomed and it still does. This is the first and last time this year you get my money. It's the little things that mater. read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

We had a really disappointing experience. The staff were honestly very rude at every turn. We spent nearly 1.5 hours just waiting to get our skis. While my kids were in a 1 hour and 45 min ski class I had time to go on just one run. I spent an insane amount of money. It is literally hard for me to go to sleep knowing how much money we spent for such a bad experience. Also the class for my kids was chaotic and had way too many kids (14 and one teacher). But the most frustrating part was how rude the staff were. We love the area but we won't be back to this ski resort. read more

1. Prices were not posted on the wall when you go and purchase tickets. Went online and saw they overcharged us, but come to find out it's a HOLIDAY "ski week" no indication whatsoever. 2. Not friendly at the register 3. Big Caucasian teen with curly hair at the snowboard rental section on 2/26 seemed annoyed, bad vibes from the beginning. 4. Once my kid was done snowboarding we waited in line to return the rentals, the Caucasian old lady told us I'm not allowed "the parent" because he's an adult. EXCUSE ME, just because he's tall doesn't mean he's an adult and for your information he's 11. VERY RUDE. Anyways, I passed by her because I needed help me kid. No one at the snowboarding section so I told my kid to take off his boots while we wait. When I saw the BIG TEEN at his stand I told my kid to take the snowboard, the teen was already walking towards us telling us to go around (to go through the front of building and back and line) I told him no i tried to explain but he didn't want to hear me, another employee walked by and told him we had already turned in our paperwork. I've been to several ski resorts and this is the WORST Customer Service I ever received. My family of 7 that snowboard & ski will not be returning. read more

I love Bear Valley. One of the most underrated ski resorts in California. Would recommend to anyone hoping to explore a new spot.

Closed today due to weather, again, this has become a regular occurrence at this poorly run resort. They claim avalanche risk at every opportunity to justify closing but all other resorts in the area are operating. If you want to waste a three hour drive to sit in your car while others ski fresh pow at resorts like Dodge Ridge, Kirkwood, Sierra at Tahoe or any other place in the sierras you should come here. This is also why everybody sites no lift lines. How willing are you to risk not skiing at all to get no lift lines? read more

I've been waiting years to write this review in fear of Bear Valley's secret getting out. We've been season pass holders at Bear for several years now, having gone for over 10 years. Bear continues to deliver in terms of snow, lack of crowds, great prices, and little traffic. It's the most beautiful drive (Highway 4) and definitely off-the-beaten-path a bit, which really helps with the crowds. It's located very close to the Bay Area (directly East of Stockton), so it makes a day or weekend trip feel manageable. Bear Valley is a great learner or expert mountain. The dispersion of greens, blues, and blacks is pretty impressive for the size of the mountain. With the Grizzly Bowl & Snow Valley terrain open, this mountain rivals and (in my book) wins over several in South Lake Tahoe. While the lodge is packed with families at lunch (what mountain isn't?) they have done a great job at extending the outdoor area, the over 21 y/o bar, and other spaces to accommodate lunch time. My only qualm here is that the food could be better, but you'll notice most people bring lunch from home. While Bear Valley sure takes their time on getting things going (lifts stop and start, avalanche control is cautious at opening Grizz), it's worth the wait. It feels like you're skiing and boarding among-st family at Bear, there is absolutely never animosity, people cutting in line, rudeness on lifts, etc... Finally, the pricing. Bear is not cheap, but it's a good deal compared to Tahoe... especially if you're investing in rentals/lessons/lift tickets all at once for several kids. Look at the season passes for the following winter at the end of this winter and you'll see that you can ski/board at a good price. I cannot say enough good things about Bear Valley and I look forward to creating many more amazing memories on this mountain. read more

I had my first snowboarding experience at Bear Valley in 2001 and have not stopped going since! I love how homey this mountain is! It offers some of the most intense powder riding in their lower bowl named "Grizzly" that rivals squaw valley! When it is dumping for 2 days and the storm subsides with blue bird pow pow: hit this place up! It is about half the price as the larger Tahoe Resorts-yes it is a bit small, but that is what attracts me to it! I love being able to know this mountain like the back of my hand and taking people who have never been here before because they often want to come back. Their terrain parks are not like NorthStars but this also means that there are NO CROWDS! Perfect for a weekend get away or a day trip. Takes about 3.5 hours to get here and Melissa at the Bar knows my drink by heart! I luv BV!!! read more

Skyline Bear Valley Resort - the mean green machines! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California