Skiing & Snowboarding in Big Bear: How to Plan Your Day

Planning to ski or snowboard during a trip to Big Bear? Most of the important decisions happen before you reach the lifts: choosing between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, buying lift tickets, arranging rentals or lessons, understanding the parking system and checking winter road conditions.

Here's what you actually need to know to plan the day.

Choose Your Mountain: Snow Summit or Bear Mountain?

Big Bear has two major ski and snowboard mountains, both operated by Big Bear Mountain Resort.

Snow Summit

Snow Summit is near the central part of Big Bear Lake and offers a traditional all-around mountain experience with beginner terrain, groomed runs, intermediate and advanced terrain, terrain park features and night skiing on select dates.

It's a good choice for mixed-ability groups and visitors looking for a traditional ski or snowboard day.

 Read our Snow Summit Big Bear Guide →

Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain is in Moonridge and is particularly well known for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Terrain parks are a major part of the mountain, but Bear Mountain also has beginner learning areas and conventional trails.

 Read our Bear Mountain Big Bear Guide →

First time? Both mountains offer beginner terrain and lessons. Look at current open terrain, lesson availability and what your group wants from the day rather than assuming one mountain is always better for beginners.

Book These Before Your Ski Day

There are three main things to arrange before you arrive: lift tickets, rentals and lessons.

Buy Your Lift Tickets Before You Drive Up

Don't assume you can arrive at the mountain and buy a lift ticket.

Lift tickets can sell out, particularly on weekends, holidays and other high-demand winter dates. If skiing or snowboarding is the reason you're coming to Big Bear, secure your tickets before making the drive.

Waiting until you arrive risks planning an entire mountain trip around a ski day that may no longer be available.

A lift ticket provides access to the ski and snowboard terrain. Rentals and lessons are separate unless you've specifically purchased a package that includes them.

Book Lessons Early Too

If anyone in your group wants a ski or snowboard lesson, reserve it as soon as you know your travel dates.

Popular lesson times can fill before the day of your visit, especially on weekends and holidays. This is particularly important for children's lessons and groups trying to coordinate several reservations.

Don't plan on arriving at the resort and assuming the lesson time you want will still be available.

Renting Skis or a Snowboard

You don't need to bring your own equipment. You can rent at Snow Summit or Bear Mountain, or use one of the independent ski and snowboard rental shops around Big Bear Lake.

There are good reasons to consider both.

Renting at the Mountain

Renting at the resort means your equipment is already where you'll be skiing. You don't need to transport skis or snowboards in your vehicle or make another stop in town.

The tradeoff is that fitting and equipment pickup become part of your morning at the resort.

Renting in Town

Independent rental shops around Big Bear may offer less expensive options, and picking up your equipment the afternoon or evening before can save valuable time on the morning you ski.

The tradeoff comes at the end of the day.

You'll need to return the equipment to the shop, which can be inconvenient if you're driving home immediately after skiing. If you're staying another night, returning rentals later can be much easier.

Staying overnight before skiing? Picking up rentals in town ahead of time can make your morning easier.

Driving home immediately afterward? Resort rentals may save you an extra stop after a long ski day.

What Can You Rent?

Rental packages typically provide the major equipment:

• Skis or snowboard
• Boots
• Ski poles when needed
• Helmet options depending on the package

Check what's included in your specific rental.

You'll still need your own winter clothing, including a jacket, snow pants, gloves or mittens, ski socks, goggles or appropriate eye protection, and layers.

How Parking Works at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain

Parking is something you should understand before driving to the resort.

On dates when resort parking passes are required, purchasing a pass allows you to park at the resort. Having a parking pass doesn't necessarily mean you'll drive straight into an empty space, though. On busy mornings, you can still encounter traffic and lines of vehicles entering the lots.

If you don't purchase resort parking on a date when paid parking is in effect—such as certain busy weekends and holidays—you may be directed to an offsite parking area nearby.

From there, you have two options.

You may be able to walk to the resort, although some offsite parking areas can be a considerable walk, especially while carrying equipment or wearing ski boots.

The easier option for many visitors is the resort shuttle. Shuttles run back and forth between designated parking areas and the resorts throughout the day.

The system works, but it takes time.

Parking your car, unloading gear, waiting for a shuttle and riding to the base can add a meaningful amount of time between arriving near the resort and actually standing at the lifts .

Check the current parking requirements and available lots before your ski day because parking operations can vary by date.

Food & Drinks on the Mountain

You don't have to leave the resort when you're hungry.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have various restaurants, food stands and beverage locations offering different types of food and drinks around the resorts and mountain.

That makes it easy to stop for lunch or grab something quickly without ending your ski day and driving back into town.

You can also bring your own food. If you'd rather pack sandwiches, snacks or something simple, you don't have to purchase every meal at the resort.

On busy weekends and holidays, food locations can get crowded around the traditional lunch hour. Eating a little earlier or later can help you avoid some of the rush.

If your group has different skiing abilities and expects to split up, choose a lunch meeting location before everyone heads onto the mountain.

Music, DJs & Events

The resorts can also have a social side.

Throughout the winter, events may include live music, DJs, competitions and other entertainment around the mountains and base areas.

On certain weekends, you may find that the base is still lively even after you're finished skiing.

Check the resort's event calendar for your travel dates if this is something you'd like to build into your day.

Resort Snow Isn't the Same as Snow Around Town

This is one of the most important things for first-time Big Bear visitors to understand.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain make snow.

You can see dry streets and bare ground around parts of Big Bear Lake while the resorts still have skiable terrain.

The reverse can happen too. A major storm can leave plenty of natural snow around town while wind, weather or operational conditions affect what's actually open at the resorts.

If you're coming to ski or snowboard, check the resort's mountain report, open lifts and open terrain rather than judging ski conditions by how much snow you see around town.

 Check Current Big Bear Snow Conditions →

Driving Up for the Day? Pay Attention to the Roads

This is especially important if you're driving to Big Bear the same morning you plan to ski.

The highways into Big Bear are mountain roads, and much of the drive is on two-lane highways. When thousands of visitors are heading up after fresh snow or on a busy winter weekend, traffic can build quickly.

A drive that looks manageable on a map can take considerably longer when traffic is crawling up the mountain.

Winter weather adds another variable. Chain controls, snow removal, accidents and vehicles having trouble in winter conditions can all slow traffic.

Before leaving home, check:

• Current highway conditions
• Chain restrictions
• Mountain weather
• Resort operations
• Parking information

If you're driving up specifically to ski, don't schedule your morning as though you'll arrive at the exact time your navigation app predicts.

Also be careful about blindly following navigation apps onto unfamiliar alternate mountain roads to avoid traffic. A route that looks faster isn't necessarily the route you want during winter conditions.

 Read our Big Bear Chain Requirements & Winter Driving Guide →

Skiing With Kids & Families

Both resorts have options for children and families, including children's rental equipment and ski and snowboard lessons designed for different ages and skill levels.

If lessons are part of your trip, check current age requirements and reserve early. Children's programs and popular lesson times can fill during busy periods.

Snow Summit also gives families another option: snow tubing. That can be useful for families where not everyone wants to ski or snowboard, or when you want to combine time on the slopes with another snow activity.

Families also don't necessarily have to do everything together.

If one parent, older child or member of the group wants to keep skiing while someone else is finished, the base area gives the rest of the family somewhere to take a break. Grab food or hot cocoa, sit for a while and meet back up later.

That can make the resorts work well for groups where everyone has a different level of interest or stamina. One person doesn't have to ski from opening until closing simply because someone else wants to.

Big Bear Sun, Snow & Elevation

Don't let the snow fool you into assuming you'll feel freezing all day.

Big Bear Lake sits at roughly 6,750 feet, and the ski slopes take you higher. On a clear day, the mountain sun can feel surprisingly warm even when the air temperature is cold.

It's not unusual on sunny days to see experienced skiers or snowboarders shedding heavy outer layers and riding in hoodies—and occasionally even T-shirts when conditions are warm enough.

That doesn't mean you should arrive underdressed. Mountain weather can change quickly, and temperatures drop when the sun disappears.

The better approach is layers .

You can remove a layer when you're warm and put it back on when the temperature changes.

The combination of elevation and reflected sunlight off the snow also makes sunscreen and good eye protection important. Drink water throughout the day, especially if you've recently arrived from a much lower elevation.

 Read our Big Bear Lake Altitude Guide →

Night Skiing at Snow Summit

Night skiing at Snow Summit isn't simply an extra couple of hours added to the regular ski day. The mountain feels different after dark.

On select winter dates, lights illuminate designated runs and lifts, allowing skiing and snowboarding after the sun goes down.

You lose the sweeping daytime mountain views, but gain an entirely different experience: illuminated snow, colder mountain air and a ski area glowing against the dark surrounding mountains.

It can also be a good option if you're arriving in Big Bear later in the day or simply want to keep skiing after the daytime session winds down.

Night skiing isn't offered every night, and available terrain can differ from daytime operations, so check the current Night Session schedule before planning around it.

And bring another layer. Once the sun disappears, temperatures can drop quickly.

After Your Last Run

Before immediately heading back to your cabin or car, see what's happening at the resort.

If there's live music, a DJ or another event at the base, you may want to stick around for a while.

Otherwise, The Village is an easy after-ski destination for dinner, drinks, shopping or dessert. On cold winter evenings, the public outdoor fire pits add to the atmosphere when they're operating.

Restaurants can become busy as people leave the resorts, particularly on weekends and holidays. If there's somewhere specific you want to eat, check whether it accepts reservations.

 Explore The Village →

Traveling with someone who doesn't ski? Explore our Winter Activities Guide → for tubing, snow play, snowshoeing, indoor activities and other things to do.

First-Time Big Bear Ski Day Checklist

Before Your Trip

• Choose Snow Summit or Bear Mountain
• Buy lift tickets before they sell out
• Reserve lessons early if needed
• Decide whether to rent at the mountain or in town
• Reserve equipment
• Check whether you'll need resort parking
• Check the resort event calendar

The Night Before

• Check open lifts and terrain
• Check weather
• Check highway and chain conditions
• Check parking and shuttle information
• Confirm lessons and rentals
• If driving up that morning, allow extra time for mountain traffic

At the Resort

• Park or take the shuttle
• Pick up equipment if renting there
• Choose a meeting place if your group will separate
• Eat and drink during the day
• Check what's happening at the base after your last run

Skiing & Snowboarding in Big Bear FAQ

Can Big Bear lift tickets sell out?

Yes. High-demand dates can sell out, particularly weekends and holidays. If skiing or snowboarding is a major reason for your trip, purchase your lift ticket before driving to Big Bear.

Should I rent skis or a snowboard at the resort or in town?

Both can work. Resort rentals eliminate an additional stop and make returning equipment convenient. Rental shops in town may offer lower prices and allow you to pick up equipment ahead of time, saving time the morning you ski. If you're driving home immediately afterward, remember you'll need to return town rentals before leaving.

How does parking work at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain?

Parking varies by date. On dates when paid resort parking is required, you can purchase parking at the resort. Visitors without resort parking may use designated offsite lots and take resort shuttles to the mountain. Check current parking information before your visit.

Can I bring my own food to Snow Summit or Bear Mountain?

Yes. You can pack food such as sandwiches and snacks, or purchase food and drinks from the various restaurants and stands at the resorts.

Can I ski if there isn't snow around Big Bear Lake?

Possibly. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain use snowmaking, so conditions on the ski slopes can be very different from natural snow conditions around town. Check open lifts and terrain before your trip.

Is there skiing for kids in Big Bear?

Yes. Children's rentals and ski and snowboard lessons are available, with programs varying by age and ability. Snow Summit also offers snow tubing, giving families another winter activity option.

Does Big Bear have night skiing?

Snow Summit offers night skiing and snowboarding on select winter dates. Lights illuminate designated terrain after dark. Check the current Night Session schedule because night skiing isn't available every evening.

Are there restaurants and bars at the ski resorts?

There are multiple food and beverage locations at the resorts, with options varying by location and operating day. Resort events may also include live music, DJs and other entertainment.