Photo by Rachel Wolff.
What a weekend in the Hamptons is for New Yorkers in the Summer, is a Bay Area local’s draw to Tahoe in the winter. You can find San Franciscans grouping together for shared ski leases, helping to manage the hefty cost of a Tahoe winter cabin.
Here, après-ski becomes Americanized- with tech bro turned DJs hosting pop-ups at Palisades, fireball shooters, and Aviator Nation ski suits. There’s a sceney-ness to Tahoe that, of course, can be fun from time to time. You bump into familiar faces and you might develop a crush on the boy taking a shotski at the bar. But where there’s pilates studios and bougie ski gear, there’s long lines, traffic, and a certain lack of serenity or solitude that many escape to the mountains to find. For me, a winter ski I crave more than anything, is the time capsuled mountain of Bear Valley. Nestled in the Central Sierra Mountains and the Stanislaus National Forest, Bear Valley is a serene alpine haven and home to Bear Valley Mountain Resort.
Nearly 60 years ago, Bear Valley Mountain opened its slopes to the public and quickly became a hit. Hollywood stars like Clint Eastwood and Lloyd Bridges and all-time skiers like Jean-Claude Killy frequented the Mountain. Over the years, Bear Valley has turned a different corner - a quiet, simple one- where the call and response to “Bear Valley” is almost always met with, “Where is that?” While you no longer see Hollywood stars skiing down the slopes of Grizzly Bowl or sipping hot chocolates in the Lodge, you’ll still find the distinct charm that originally drew in such a crowd- and better yet, there’s no crowds at all!
At 27, I’ve had 27 Bear Valley winters. Here’s a guide to a winter in Bear Valley and why I think it’s one of the more underrated California winter escapes.
Photo by Rachel Wolff.
Where to Stay:
The most popular place to stay in Bear Valley (and one of the only) is Bear Valley Lodge, a rustic getaway centrally located in the village with easy mountain access. The wood-paneled lodge features an on-site restaurant, coffee shop, general store, and pizza parlor.
Bear Valley also has a variety of privately owned cabins and condos available for rent (try VRBO or Airbnb), whether you’re looking for somewhere for the whole family, a pet-friendly stay, a hot tub with a mountain vista, or WiFi to work from home.
The beauty of Bear Valley is its size, and therefore accessibility to the Mountain. An easy 10 minute drive from the lodge and village center, visitors can hop on the free shuttle that runs to and from the ski mountain. If you wish to drive, there's nearly never traffic and plenty of parking at the base of the ski mountain.
Photo by Rachel Wolff.
An Approachable Mountain:
Being a smaller mountain, Bear Valley is approachable and easy to navigate, making it ideal for beginners and anyone who finds large, sprawling resorts intimidating. Personally, I get overwhelmed at popular mountains, with the stampede of skiers or snowboarders flying behind me fueling my impending fear of getting hit. Bear Valley sees fewer boots on the slopes, making for more space to glide without distraction.
Another perk of Bear Valley’s lighter crowds is that you will never spend more than 15 minutes waiting for a chairlift. That means more time carving down the slopes and less time standing in the long lines that dominate larger, busier resorts.
Lastly, Bear Valley Mountain offers an affordability that’s hard to beat. Day and season passes are far more reasonable than the steep costs at popular resorts, making it a perfect place for beginners to learn without the resentment of spending hundreds to tumble down the slopes. You can see HERE for ticket prices.
For The Anti-Skier:
Bear Valley Adventure Co. offers a range of snow sports that are a great alternative to those who don’t want to ski or snowboard. See below for some of these options.
Cross Country Skiing: An extensive trail system with 60+ kilometers of groomed paths over 3,000 acres, Bear Valley offers 38 unique trails over scenic meadows for both track and skate skiing. In addition, a snowbound Meadow Cafe, and three warming huts throughout the trail system make for perfect breaks along the way of a difficult workout.
Snowshoeing: Along these same peaceful trails, snowshoeing offers a beautiful way to explore the landscape. With today’s easy-to-use equipment, the sport has grown in popularity. All you have to do is step in and go- no lessons needed.
Sledding and Tubing: Bear Valley Adventure Company offers both groomed tubing and sledding hills. Sledding sizes and hills range, making it an activity that can be enjoyed at all ages. Don’t let the notion of sledding being “just for kids” keep you from enjoying a joyful ride.
Photo by Rachel Wolff.
Additionally, winter sport options can be found HERE.
If sport isn’t your cup of tea, there’s nothing wrong with simply enjoying a cup of tea. Whether you want to sit by the fire in the lodge and enjoy a peppermint latte from Kofi Haus Cafe, or relax with a book in the cabin, there’s something magical about basking in the time capsule of Bear Valley.
Many people express disdain towards the never-changing nature of Bear Valley - wishing for more bars, newer restaurants, and a more exciting scene than that of Tahoe’s. But I find real joy in the untouched nostalgia and familiarity of the village. It’s true that nothing in life is permanent- but so far, Bear Valley is, and I hope it stays that way.
