North America
Bear Valley Resort Guide
Closed for the season
Best months to book: February, January, March · last season + 30-yr record
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Off-season — closed March 28
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
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Resort Guide
Bear Valley is a ski resort located in the Central Sierra Nevada of California, offering over 1,600 acres of varied terrain suitable for all ability levels. The resort features a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, with a mix of groomed runs, advanced trails, and accessible beginner areas. Key amenities include ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rentals, multiple dining options, and a base village with lodging. Bear Valley is distinguished by its uncrowded slopes, scenic alpine setting, and a focus on approachable, community-oriented mountain experiences.
Gallery
Click to expand • 3 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Bear Valley
Lifts
9
Skiable area
1680 ac
Longest run
3.1 km / 1.9 mi
Runs by difficulty(75 total)
Beginner
19
25% of terrain
Intermediate
30
40% of terrain
Advanced
26
35% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- High-speed 61
- High-speed quad1
- Triple chair2
- Double chair4
- Surface lift2
Snowmaking covers about 100% of terrain.
Resort Info
Season dates
Ski passes
Indy Pass
Powder Alliance
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
Sky High Pizza & Pub – A popular après-ski spot in Bear Valley, Sky High Pizza & Pub is known for its welcoming atmosphere, hearty pizzas, and selection of craft beers, making it a favorite gathering place for skiers to unwind and socialize after a day on the slopes.
Season vs Historic
Updated Tue, Sep 22, 08:01 AM UTC
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Season Total
This Season to Date
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vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 696cm full-season avg
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vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 575cm full-season avg
696cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~549.8 cm. That's 21% below the 5-year average (696 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 4% below the 30-year average (575 cm).
Bear Valley Season Snowfall
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Bear Valley Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 632cm with an average of 60 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 36% above this average (859cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 56cm | 7 days | 12cm | 34cm | 20cm |
| December | 124cm | 10 days | 52cm | 92cm | 31cm |
| January | 122cm | 9 days | 96cm | 140cm | 29cm |
| February | 122cm | 10 days | 129cm | 170cm | 27cm |
| March | 111cm | 10 days | 153cm | 189cm | 26cm |
| April | 58cm | 7 days | 137cm | 171cm | 19cm |
| May | 21cm | 4 days | 78cm | 114cm | 10cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
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No full season on record
51 days scored, from 22 Feb
66
Best Day
13 Apr
5
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
5
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
February 2026
- 4722 Feb
- 3023 Feb
- 2924 Feb
March 2026
- 303 Mar3cm
- 242 Mar2cm
- 244 Mar
April 2026
- 6613 Apr25cm
- 6114 Apr2cm
- 5512 Apr23cm
April scored highest for Bear Valley in 2025-26. Based on 51 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Nov 27, 2026
Through Mar 28, 2027
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Bear Valley
- Where is Bear Valley?
- Bear Valley is a ski resort in the United States.
- How high is Bear Valley?
- Bear Valley runs from a base elevation of 2,073 m (6,801 ft) to a summit of 2,621 m (8,599 ft), giving a vertical drop of 548 m (1,798 ft).
- How big is Bear Valley?
- Bear Valley has 1,680 acres (680 hectares) of skiable terrain, 75 marked runs and 9 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Bear Valley?
- Bear Valley is on the Indy Pass and Powder Alliance. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Bear Valley?
- Bear Valley typically operates from November to March. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Bear Valley get in a typical season?
- Bear Valley averages 359 inches / 912 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
