Big Bear in Winter
Southern California's snow playground sits at 6,750+ ft, a couple hours from LA. Here's everything to do when it's white — from the slopes to free sledding hills — plus the chain and driving know-how to get up the mountain safely.
2026–27 opening update — checked September 30, 2026. BBMR’s earliest possible opening is November 21, not a confirmed opening day. Check the resort’s current schedule. Opening dates and available terrain depend on conditions. Check resort opening information and Caltrans QuickMap before you travel. A season label is not a live operating report.
What to do in the snow
⛷️ Skiing & snowboarding
Snow Summit and Bear Mountain operate seasonally when snow and weather allow. Confirm opening dates before booking. Groomers vs parks — here's which mountain fits your crew.
Skiing guide →🛷 Snow play & sledding
Free sled hills on the north shore plus lift-served tube parks — and the county's new roadside-parking rules you need to know.
Snow play & sledding →🎿 Snow tubing parks
Grizzly Ridge, Big Bear Snow Play, Alpine Slide and more — hours, prices, height/age rules, and booking.
Tubing parks →🥾 Snowshoeing & winter hiking
When trails are snowed in, snowshoeing is the move. Best beginner routes, gear, and cross-country options.
Snowshoeing guide →Plan your winter trip
Big Bear by the month
When does it snow?
Big Bear's ski season typically runs December through March, with the most reliable snow and terrain availability dependent on conditions January through March. December snowfall varies widely; January is colder (highs in the 30s–low 40s, lows in the 20s) and often the snowiest. Holiday weekends — Christmas, New Year's, and the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents' Day weekends — are the busiest and priciest, so book lodging and ski parking early.