Read skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews on Bear Valley that rank the ski resort and mountain town on a scale of one to five stars for attributes such as terrain, nightlife and family friendliness. See how Bear Valley stacks up in the reviews, on and off the slopes, from skiing and family activities to the après scene. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. Don't forget to submit your own Bear Valley review! Scroll to the bottom of this page to let other travelers know about your skiing and resort experience.
Reviews for Bear Valley
Total (3.4)
A ski resort's overall star rating displayed here is not calculated based on a simple average but takes several factors, including the age of a review, into account.
It's a secret among California skiers. It's rarely crowded and the new owners (2024-) who also own Dodge Ridge and other California resorts know what they are doing, as opposed to the previous owner. There had been numerous improvements in terms of lifts and grooming, making more of the mountain accessible to more skiers.
Yet, it's rarely crowded, and you would rarely wait more than 5 minutes for a lift ride.
There are some challenges ahead though: 1) during the summer, the slopes need to be cleared better after the neglect from the previous owner so that the lower mountain would be open more often. 2) 1/3 of the mountain is still difficult to access due to the lack of a lift, relying on a sporadic shuttle bus. 3) the off-slope facilities are old and not terribly inviting and the area on the deck gets super crowded.
However, things are looking up after many years of neglect.
Ben
I have been skiing here for 35 years. Since acquisition by new owners, parking and lift lines have become intolerable on weekends. 15 - 20 minute lines are not unusual. Parking is often more than 1/2 mile from the lifts and I've never seen a shuttle in the morning. Walking from the car is dangerous. Just walking through the lodge is nearly impossible. I bring my lunch and eat in the lift lines. Since runs are short, I am better off skiing cross country at the nearby nordic center. On weekdays when the snow is low, it's better than most but I won't be back on a weekend.
Kaleigh
We have gone to BV every year for about 12 years, and it's only gotten worse and worse.
The lift staff is spotty, sometimes helpful, sometimes shockingly checked-out and unaware.
The electronic gates at the lifts are difficult and often can't read your pass.
There is very little room/tables at the lodge and often my family has to eat crouched down in a hallway somewhere.
Renting gear takes forever and the system is not intuitive. Most recently we had to get back in line and start over two times.
If you go on a 'ski team' weekend be prepared for crazy crowds at the lodge and long lines.
Joseph Stratemeier
This resort caters to skiers and riders from the Sacramento valley and Bay areas of CA. The resort has some breathtaking views, especially for a non-tahoe resort. The runs are pretty fun and can be challenging for a resort of its size. The base area is actually in the middle of the vertical drop of the resort, so half of it it above and half is below the base area, with the beginner and intermediate trails above 7,500'. This makes for pretty reliable snow above the base area most years. The issue is that the lower half of the mountain, which contains most of the advanced and all the expert terrain, sits at a low enough elevation that it rarely opens. And even when it is open, avalanche mitigation sometimes takes days. If you're a park skier or rider, there isn't much there. Some years they have a small beginner park, but that's it. Overall it's a fun and unique resort that escapes the crowded, built-up feel of tahoe while not sacrificing snow quality.
BK
Low key, family friendly park. During the middle of the week there are no lines. Overpriced for a mid-level resort and the facilities are in very poor condition (especially restrooms). Needs a total upgrade. Poor management. Staff lack adequate training. Most of the young kids barely understand their jobs. One young lady lost her ski exiting the lift and we had to yell at the lift operator to stop the lift.
Tom Thomas
Great during the week. Nice powder in the trees on the backside.
Short runs. Lifts spotty. New owners are cutting costs - For example, shuttle parking bus now runs only once per hour except on Saturday, when it's twice per hour. Not enough seating for lunch. Service at cafe is painfully slow, so I assume there's little training for young transient workers.
Zen Der
This has been our go-to resort for several years since we have a cabin in Arnold. We were never impressed with the corporate skiing of palisades and northstar and wanted at least some challenging terrain. Since BV is at decent altitude it gets pretty good coverage for at least the upper half of the mountain most years. Since it's basically at the end of the road (hwy 4) it is generally less crowded than the cluster&^*^#$ of the Tahoe resorts on busy weekends. They feature 2 high speed chairs which is an advantage over the nearest option (Dodge Ridge). There is enough blue terrain to keep you entertained for two days. On the third, it might get bored. The black stuff is decent but the BEST advanced runs are below the main resort (i.e. lower elevation) and I can't recall the last time they opened that chair. Sad because that was some of the juiciest bumps and bowls in the place and since the chair only serviced black runs, it was never crowded.
The main negative with BV is the ski "team" While I applaud their outreach to get kids skiing what this amounts to are weekend winter camps for the kids to ski together with an instructor. A small % probably to race, but mostly it's just camp. So far so good. The problem is that on team weekends (basically every other weekend during the season) it puts 100-200 additional skiers on the mountain. Still not the end of the world except for the fact they are allowed, as a group of 20 or so, to cut the line at the chairs with zero regard to the everyone else who, let's face it, also bought season passes, drove up, is spending money at the eatery. If it happens once or twice, no biggie, but it's EVERY SINGLE TIME you're waiting for a chair. Furthermore, the parents for the kids show up at 8 and camp out all the lunch tables with their gear. Some don't actually buy any food, they packed all their lunches. Long story short, the ski team is a great idea but I would suggest to make it a lot smaller, make the kids wait in line like everyone else and kick the parents to the curb from the restaurant seating if they're not actively eating food they purchased.
eric
Very poorly run resort, was once a hometown favorite but has become a travesty of miss management by corporate hacks. They are always the firs mountain in the area to close because of weather while others are operating. Chairs will frequently stop operating leaving you stranded on the backside for hours. Unless you only ski on sunny days when weather and good skiing are far from present go elsewhere. Today for example, they are again closed, however every single other resort in the area is operating and raving about how good the skiing is.
Sam Cremin
I have enjoyed bringing my family there for decades. The kids liked it there as kids and they still do.
G Shaver
Great place for a day trip. Pros: Won't break the bank, making it friendly for families, great beginners area, good intermediate terrain, the crowds aren't bad, the lifts keep things moving, relaxed staff, good vibe. Cons: It's not massive like Squaw or Heavenly, the expert terrain is farther down the mountain, meaning in lean snow years it won't be open, and it's not South Lake Tahoe for apres ski dining and partying.
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