bear valley mountain resort

My husband took me skiing for our anniversary celebration (belated!) this year. It was my first official time trying it, and he is an avid skiier. Our experience at Bear Valley was excellent. The beginner slope is very friendly to all levels, and the staff is helpful, even giving pointers in a most friendly manner. I can't wait to go again!

It's like having a private resort. Smaller than nearby Tahoe, Bear offers a more intimate and private feeling. Clients of mine have said so many times, while it's not the big resort with all the giant slopes and trams, it is very personable. "We feel like we own a part of it'. I refer to it as the softer, slower side of the mountain. Highway 4 closes at the entrance. You can't get lost looking for it - it at the end of the road all Winter. Well maintained, master groomers, beautiful views and scenery all around. Bear holds regular events throughout the ski season to add to the fun and opportunity to create memories. Worth it's weight in snow. Ski or snowboard.

I had heard that the snow was not good and almost cancelled my trip to Bear Valley. I am so glad that I did not. It was a gorgeous day of skiing. The weather was warm, there were no crowds, and the snow was "Spring" conditions: Icy in the morning and slushy in the afternoon. Bear Valley Resort has taken a lot of time to make snow this winter and it has made a huge difference. While the weather reports were accurate. It had rained on the 11 inches of new snow, this did not reflect the beautiful ski conditions. There were a few places where tips af trees were showing and places where the trail narrowed because of rocks, but there were not many of these and the resort had made an effort to groom and move snow to keep the runs in good condition. They are now charging for premium parking on weekends, but parking is free if you are willing to drop off, then park and walk back. We brought some things for lunch and had a picnic on the sun deck. However, both the cafeteria and snack bar were open for breakfast, lunch, or snack items. The staff was helpful. The lift operators were friendly and helped our 4 year old skiier on the lifts.

First snowboard experience. Really liked my time at this place. Got a private snowboard lesson which was great! My dad got a ski lesson and was really happy with his instructor too. The ski supervisor came over to us after lessons and gave us extra advice. He is very interested in how his customers are doing! The place is run really well. I'm going back this week.

Bear Valley Ski Resort is a nice ski resort for families. There are many nice runs, blues, greens, and blacks. Only downsides- old ski lifts need improvement. Also, there are long lines. The staff are very friendly. Overall, nice ski resort for families.

I have been going to Bear Valley in the winter and the summer for 10 years+ since my kids were 4 and 6. Now they are 14 and 16 and it is they still love it! We just spent 4 days for new years' again, and I am reminded how awesome this place is. Let me warn you however, this place is the furthest from Posh. You will not find good restaurants, you will not find great places to shop, you will not 'see' and 'be seen'. The fabulous thing about BV starts with the fact that you lose your cell phone connection in the last hour, and you get bad radio stations. If you plan ahead and don't bring any music, the great thing is that your teen kids start talking! I had an hour conversation with my 16 year old on my way up, more than I have had all year, I think!...then when you get up to BV, the incredible beauty is overwhelming. There is a great safe family atmosphere, and I feel completely fine to let them ski around on their own checking with me occasionally for meals/ snacks. We often go up the together, and come down either together or separately (they are much better skiers/snowboarders than me, so I stick to blue squares). Plenty of intermediate/easy stuff to keep us occupied! and the 'lunch run' is fairly moderate and takes us all morning, and then there's lunch! again, warning, the food is NOT anywhere near close to acceptable bay area fare. it is survival hamburger/pizza. But, that's NOT what you are there for, so if you adjust gourmet expectations and remember how people used to eat 20 years ago, you should be fine. .....Also love the cross country, and having a bbq hamburger in the chalet in the middle of nowhere!... the kids have snowmobiles and that's their favorite thing!, except you have to arm yourself with patience, because snowmobiles always have something going wrong with them...In the summer, we hike, kayak, swim in the freezing reservoirs, make bonfires... This is good FAMILY time, and it is special. So, bring special people who you LIKE spending time with...do NOT expect to just have money and go out and buy food/amenities. Bring your own stuff, do it together. I really recommend getting a rental (BV Real Estate) bringing your family and friends and spending it together. In our group--and we often go up like 12 at a time!... we do card games, board games and movies and margaritas at night, and occasionally Wii Dance or Wii Sing. If that all sounds good, this place is for you!

Yes, the resort is old, but things are in the works to tear it down (NOOOOO!!!!) and overall improvements (Yess). My brother and I have been going there at least once a winter for the last 10-13 years or so. We only go mid-week, and, good for us, probably not for the mountain and lodge, the place is almost totally deserted. We always have a blast. Even when the snow is "bad" we have been able to have some very acceptable skiing. No nightlife, but the locals are all very friendly and we've known many for years now.

Great place for family fun. It has mostly friendly workers. The lifts and lodge need improvements but the views are spectacular. They did a great job during a difficult snow year in getting runs open. If you are looking for night life head to Tahoe. If you want a place where your kids can ski with friends this is the spot. Our family loves the family atmosphere and our kids made lifetime friends in the devo program.

Bear Valley is old school but in a bad way: old & slow chair lifts, cafeteria food is on par w/ hot lunches served @ elementary schools, and facility is too small for weekend crowds. Do not expect it to be easy to schedule lessons - when they get semi-busy you will not be able to speak w/ someone live and even though they promise a quick follow-up, it won't happen. Call the resort on Hwy 88 and you'll get a great resort w/ friendly service, updated facilities, fast chair lifts, and a big open mtn.

If you are looking for a great skiing experience without the crowds of some of the Lake Tahoe resorts then Bear Valley is the place to go. Any day on the slopes is a great day unless you spend that day standing in the chair lift line.

Our two kids (5 and 7) had never been in the snow before so we took them up for the day. The equipment rental was fast and the lessons were really good. After a morning lesson, they were able to ski the "bunny hill" by themselves in the afternoon. Overall it may not be as great as Tahoe if you are good skier, but you can;t be the price or the location if you are driving from the bay area and just want to do a little skiing.

We decided to try Bear Valley Mountain for a couple of reasons:1. faster/easier driving compared to Tahoe area ski resorts2. smaller ski resort means less crowdsWhat can I say, we were right! Having been to larger ski resorts around Tahoe area, this was a much better kid-friendly experience. Ski school instructors are very thorough, adjust kids' skiing level as needed (we weren't 100% sure which level to enroll our child in). There are green, blue, and black slopes to choose from for all skiers and snowboarders, and practically no lines at the chair lifts.

We went over MLK weekend with another family who has a snow cabin there. So much faster and easier access than Tahoe from San Francisco. Amazing gorgeous forests blanketed with snow, and the ski mountain was fab. The lifts' lines not that long. The kids had their first snow board lesson, two hours, with one instructor whom they loved loved loved. By the end of the lesson, after many many hilarious falls, the girls were up and snowboarding. This was a holiday weekend and though the experienced folks there called it "crowded," to us it still seemed laid back. The lodge was so-so though. Utilitarian and clean but not luxurious.

Bear Valley has been our family favorite over Lake Tahoe. It's only a 3 hour drive from the Bay Area (as opposed to 4 or 5 to Tahoe... and that's if 80 isn't closed!). $55 discounted lift tickets, compared to $95. It's a much smaller mountain, but when you have kids that are 10 and 5, it doesn't matter. There are plenty of blue runs for intermediates, and Grizzly Bear has plenty of black diamond terrain when you split time from your kids.

Love the back side of the mountain and the high speed quad chair! Variety of runs for beginners and expert skiiers alike. Great instructions for kids and teens who want to learn the terrain park. Get a private lesson - totally worth the money. If staying at Bear Valley Lodge you can ski down to it from the back side or take a shuttle that runs all day. Another option is to stay down in Arnold, CA - its a 30 to 40 minute drive without traffic.