Three Mountains of Adventure

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake, Calif., is within a few hours’ drive to places like Los Angeles, San Diego and the high desert surrounding Las Vegas, Nev., and Phoenix, Ariz. The city is also home to Big Bear Mountain Resort (BBMR), southern California’s destination of choice for good alpine fun that provides something for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities throughout the year.

“Our region features such a crossover culture in terms of outdoor recreation and sports and adventure sports, from surfing or skateboarding to snowboarding to skiing, and we see a lot of people who surf when it’s not snowing and then who will drive up here to enjoy the snow once the flakes start to fly,” said BBMR’s public relations and advertising director, Justin Kanton.

Three mountains, one resort

Owned by Alterra Mountain Company, BBMR has long been at the forefront of adventure. Since 1991, it has been creating, challenging and evolving the mountain experience over its three ski areas, Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and Snow Valley, each featuring its own look, feel and vibe.

Snow Summit:

• Base elevation: 7,000 feet (2,133 meters)
• Peak elevation: 8,200 feet (2,499 meters)
• Vertical: 1,200 feet (365 meters)
• 240 skiable acres
• 33 trails (18 skiable miles)
• 11 chairlifts (two high-speed quads)

Snow Summit’s 1,200-foot vertical drop has made it one of the most popular ski and snowboard destinations for more than 70 years. Snow Summit is generally regarded as having the best snow conditions in southern California, thanks to the resort’s extensive snow making system. Snow Summit was also the first ski location on the West Coast to have a permanent in-ground half-pipe.

Bear Mountain:

• Base elevation: 7,140 feet (2,176 meters)
• Peak elevation: 8,805 feet (2,683 meters)
• Vertical: 1,665 feet (507 meters)
• 198 skiable acres
• 27 trails (17 skiable miles)
• Eight chairlifts (two high-speed quads)

Founded as Moodridge Ski Area in 1943, Bear Mountain is one of the hottest destinations in the snow sports industry. Once a fierce competitor of Snow Summit, Bear Mountain was bought by BBMR in 2002 and is known today for its youthful atmosphere and innovative culture. With an expansive beginner area, Bear Mountain is also home to the first terrain park in North America, the highest lift-served peak and hosts many can’t-miss events throughout the winter.

Snow Valley:

• Base elevation: 6,800 feet (2,072 meters)
• Peak elevation: 7,841 feet (2,389 meters)
• Vertical: 1,041 feet (317 meters)
• 240 skiable acres
• 28 trails (18 skiable miles)
• 12 chairlifts (one high-speed six-pack)

Founded in 1924, Snow Valley is the longest continually operating resort in southern California. It features some of the region’s best beginner terrain, award-winning learning centers, lift-served sledding, snow tubing and southern California’s only high-speed, six-seat lift, the Snow Valley Express. In January 2023, Snow Valley was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company to be part of the BBMR family of resorts.

“You will definitely find something you love depending on your skill level and preference, and that’s what has kept people coming back to Big Bear Mountain Resort year after year.”

Justin Kanton, Big Bear Mountain Resort

“Each of our properties has its own unique personality to it, and we’re lucky to be able to provide three very different mountain experiences people can check out,” said Kanton. “Whether you’re at Snow Valley, which tends to be a little more of an introductory experience, at Snow Summit, which has a more traditional alpine and resort feel to it or at Bear Mountain, which is the mountain of choice for snowboarders, you will definitely find something you love depending on your skill level and preference. And that’s what has kept people coming back to BBMR year after year.”

No snow? It’s no problem

It can be a challenge operating a snow sport destination given southern California’s wide range of climate and weather patterns. However, BBMR’s reputation for superior snow quality and consistent conditions is a testament to its robust snowmaking prowess, which not only ensures unwavering skiing and snowboarding conditions, but elevates the snow experience throughout the entire season.

“Sometimes proximity works for you, sometimes it works against you,” said Kanton. “Located in southern California like we are, we can’t always say we are going to open on Day X and run to Day Y, we have some variability in our natural snowfall season. That said, we are a pioneer when it comes to snowmaking throughout the season and have been since the 1950s.”

The capability to make snow under a range of conditions made Snow Summit the natural choice to host the inaugural Winter X games in 1997, and its snowmaking prowess has only improved since. BBMR has pioneered snowmaking in the region, and its team is comprised of highly experienced individuals who have been dedicated to their roles for a considerable period of time. Some managers and directors have been a part of the BBMR team for more than 20 years, highlighting their commitment and expertise in the field.

The resort’s expansive snowmaking infrastructure includes over 700 hydrants, 330 snow guns and 40 fan guns. BBMR employs several types of snowmaking machines, equipment and practices to ensure optimal snow conditions:

SMI machines are an integral part of the resort’s snowmaking arsenal, with BBMR operating models such as the Wizard, Super Wizard, Kid Wizard and SMI’s newest model, Pole Cat.

Snow guns made by brands like, Demaclenko and TechnoAlpin. These devices generate water droplets by combining cooled water and compressed air via two distinct hoses leading to air and water hydrant stations.

Compressed snow guns, which are fixed in position and powered by compressed air, and fan guns that can be moved around and the fans can be used to disperse the snow. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit use compressed air guns and fan guns in their snowmaking operations. Snow Valley exclusively employs fan guns for snowmaking endeavors.

At Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, high-pressure air is propelled through water lines embedded in the hillside to create artificial snow.

BBMR performs grooming on the mountains nightly, including regrooms before night sessions when conditions permit. The resort uses a combination of PistonBully 400 ParkPro and 400 W and Prinoth Bison snowcats.

Off-season fun

During the off-season, the fun at BBMR does not slow down and instead offers a full slate of family-friendly activities, including mountain biking, hiking and zip-lining across the sun-splashed San Bernardino Mountains. BBMR also offers several base area activities at Snow Summit that are perfect for little explorers and adventurers, including a 30-foot climbing wall, a Eurojumper Bungee Trampoline and the Kids Full Throttle Course.

Golfers can also check out the links at Bear Mountain Golf Course – a true alpine golf course sitting at 7,000 feet, complete with Ponderosa pines, mountaintop vista and a pastoral nine-hole, par 35-course layout.

“A lot of people come up the mountain to beat the heat during the summer and when they get here, they end up looking for something to do,” said Kanton. “So, we try to offer a little bit of everything for everyone throughout the summer months when they visit, even if it’s just riding the chairs to the summit to take in the views.”

A culture of sustainability

Alterra Mountain Company understands that climate change is a threat to both its viability and the snow sports it supports. Through its head office in Denver, Colo., the company is deeply committed to making a true and lasting positive impact on the environment that builds a better future for outdoor adventure at resorts like BBMR.

In 2021, Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR and Vail Resorts co-released the Climate Collaborative Charter, the ski industry’s first unified effort to combat climate change with shared commitments around sustainability and advocacy. This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the four largest ski resort companies in North America that stipulates the four leaders agree to operate their respective resorts with sustainability at the forefront, as well as use their collective voice to advocate for effective public policy on climate action to leave a positive legacy for future generations of skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts.

“From reducing plastics on site, to encouraging our visitors to carpool up the mountain, we have undertaken many initiatives over the last couple of years to reduce waste and improve our overall sustainability,” said Kanton. “Right now, we are working on updating our infrastructure to ensure that our systems meet or exceed the standards when it comes to sustainability. This is what our guests have come to expect from a modern resort experience.”

The year ahead

There are several major initiatives for BBMR on the horizon, such as installing a new high-speed detachable six-seat chair at Bear Mountain that will get guests up the hill faster than before, and planning for Snow Mountain’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

“We really want to mark this milestone with the recognition it deserves and start celebrating the history of Snow Valley in this region, which a lot of people don’t know about,” said Kanton. “Our marketing team is finalizing the plans and we will have more to say about what the party will look like soon.”