Activity Guide

Sledding

Overview

What to Expect

Sledding looks like the simplest Big Bear winter activity, but finding snow is only the first step. The real challenge is finding a hill where recreation is allowed, your vehicle is legally parked and the sled has a safe place to stop. After storms, visitors often pull over at the first snowy slope they see, even when the bottom of the run points toward a road, the land is private or the turnout is needed for traffic and chain installation. A good sledding location is not just a hill—it is the combination of legal access, safe terrain, adequate snow and enough room away from vehicles, trees, rocks and other hazards.

Highlights

What Makes It Special

The Best Time to Go

Natural sledding depends on recent snowfall. The first hours after a storm are not necessarily the best time to go because roads may still be difficult, parking areas may not be cleared and chain controls can be active. Once travel is safer, snow quality is often best before repeated use packs the hill into ice. Strong mountain sun can also change a slope quickly from soft snow to wet snow and then hard refrozen surfaces.

Planning

Plan Your Visit

Local Tip

After a storm, a row of parked cars does not mean you found an official sledding hill. It may only mean several people made the same questionable parking decision. Look at the bottom of the hill first. If a child could slide into traffic, a parking area or another hazard, it is not a good sledding spot no matter how perfect the snow looks.

Parking and Access

Getting There