Bear Valley

Skier-owned Highway 4 mountain with Grizzly Bowl.

A Central Sierra mountain on Highway 4 with about 1,680 acres, 1,900 ft of vertical and the steep, view-filled Grizzly Bowl. Skier-owned since December 2023, it has upgraded lifts and grooming and added Maury’s Mustang Bar, and it stays far quieter than Tahoe. The historic Bear Valley Lodge and a large cross-country center sit in the village a few minutes down the road.

The mountain

Vertical drop

1,900 ft

Summit

8,500 ft

Skiable terrain

1,680 acres

Trails

75

Lifts

9

Average snowfall

359″ a year

Snowmaking

6% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 25%
• Intermediate 40%
• Advanced 35%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• EventMid-to-late March (annual)Usually

  Nickolay Dodov Slopestyle & Fundraiser

  Long-running slopestyle contest and fundraiser; the 10th edition ran in March 2026.

Where to stay

• lodgeBear Valley Lodge

  Rustic, historic lodge in Bear Valley village with Sky High Pizza, a general store and pet-friendly rooms. $20 nightly resort fee.

  5 min drive
• lodgeArnold Timberline Lodge

  Lodge on Highway 4 in Arnold; a Bear Valley lodging partner.

  35 min drive
• hotelMurphys Historic Hotel

  Gold Rush hotel from 1856 on Main Street in Murphys, near the tasting rooms.

  55 min drive
• b&bBlack Bear Inn

  Five-room inn on 1.5 acres of gardens and sequoias in Arnold.

  40 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Bear Valley Adventure Company · Bear Valley village

  About 65 km of groomed skate and classic trails with a trailside café and three warming huts.

• Calaveras Big Trees State Park · 40 min drive

  Giant sequoia groves near Arnold; good for a snowy forest walk on a rest day.

• Sky High Pizza · Bear Valley village

  Pizza, salads and a full bar inside Bear Valley Lodge.

• Murphys Main Street · 55 min drive

  Gold Rush town lined with wine tasting rooms, a good stop on the drive down Highway 4.

Après and nightlife

• Maury’s Mustang Bar

  New slopeside bar honoring the Rasmussen family, with cocktails, wine and draft beer.

• Monte Wolfe Saloon

  Resort saloon named for a legendary 1930s Mokelumne hermit.

• Grizzly Lounge

  The bar in the Bear Valley Lodge in the village.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Sacramento International (SMF) · about 2 hr 45 min drive
• Sacramento · about 2.75 hr
• San Francisco · about 3.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps