Winter Recreation in Big Bear: Ski Season and Snow Days

November is my favorite hinge month in Big Bear. The fall color fades, the first snows arrive, and the whole valley starts getting ready for winter the way kids watch the window on the last day of school. Ski season at Big Bear Mountain Resort typically opens in mid-to-late November, weather permitting, and runs well into spring, so right now is the perfect moment to start planning your snow days. Here is a born-and-raised local's guide to winter recreation in Big Bear, from groomed runs and long tube rides to the quiet snowshoe trails.

Big Bear earns its winter reputation with real winters: the valley sees roughly 60 to 120 inches of snow a year between November and March, at an elevation around 6,750 feet. Pair that with sunny Southern California days and you have the recipe for a mountain that fills up fast on powder weekends, which is exactly why locals keep a short list of favorite escapes. Consider this post that list.

When does ski season actually start?

Around here, the honest answer is: whenever the snow says so, and I think that is a healthier way to plan than any calendar date. Big Bear Mountain Resort, the combined home of Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, typically targets opening in mid-to-late November. In recent years opening day has landed anywhere from the last week of November to the first week of December: the 2025 season opened at the start of December after an early winter storm, and for the 2026-27 season the resorts have signaled roughly the last week of November as the earliest possible start. Snowmaking, grooming, and a little patience all play a part, and the season generally runs through April. So the best habit to build now: check the resort's own snow report and hours before you load the car, because opening dates have a way of moving.

Two mountains, one season pass

Big Bear Mountain Resort connects two mountains with very different personalities. Snow Summit skis like a classic resort: about 240 skiable acres, 33 trails, and 10 lifts of wide, well-groomed cruising, plus Night Sessions on select winter dates, when beginner- and intermediate-friendly runs stay lit into the evening. Bear Mountain, a short drive away, is the freestyle half: roughly 198 acres, 26 trails, and 7 lifts, and home to Southern California's only halfpipes, with terrain parks that draw riders from all over the West. Combined, the resort totals about 438 skiable acres, 59 runs, and 17 lifts, per the official numbers.

From gentle beginner areas to steep, bumpy lines, there is genuinely something for every level, and my local advice is to ski both mountains. First chair at Snow Summit on a bluebird morning for the wide-open groomers, then wander over to Bear Mountain in the afternoon to watch the park crew do things that defy physics.

What about tubers and sledders?

Not everyone in the family wants to strap boards on, and that is exactly what Big Bear Snow Play is for. The hill at 42825 Big Bear Blvd lays claim to some of the longest tube runs in Southern California, and a Magic Carpet lift carries you, tube and all, back to the top, so the fun-to-effort ratio stays excellent all day. They run day sessions through the afternoon and Night Glow Tubing on many Friday and Saturday evenings, and the winter season typically stretches from mid-November until around Easter, weather and conditions permitting. Tubing is as weather-dependent as everything else up here, so check the current status before you go; right after a storm, that hill is where every kid in the valley wants to be.

Snowshoeing, where the quiet locals hide

If downhill is the loud, sunny side of winter, snowshoeing is the hush, and it may be the best way to really feel this mountain. Start at the Big Bear Discovery Center on the north shore in Fawnskin. It is the gateway to the North Shore Nordic Club trail system in the San Bernardino National Forest, the staff there will point you to today's best snow, and they lead guided snowshoe tours with gear included, a lovely way for first-timers to try it.

Once you are outfitted, these are the loops and climbs I send friends to:

• Cougar Crest Trail, just west of the Discovery Center: a moderate climb with lake views where the trail meets the Pacific Crest Trail.
• Grout Bay and the Hanna Flat area, near Fawnskin off Highway 38: gentle, open terrain that stays quiet even when the resorts are packed.
• Pine Knot Trail from the Aspen Glen Picnic Area: about six miles round trip to Grand View Point, one of the best lookouts over the whole valley.
• Town Trail behind Snow Summit: an easy walk under three miles, perfect for kids and first-timers.

One note locals learn fast: several north-shore trailheads, including Cougar Crest and Grout Bay, sit on national forest land and require a Forest Service Adventure Pass, so grab one before you head out.

For cross-country skiers: the groomed quiet

And if you prefer glide to g-forces, Big Bear has you covered too: Rim Nordic, on Highway 18 near Running Springs, is Southern California's only machine-groomed cross-country ski area, with roughly 10 to 12 miles of groomed trails in classic and skate lanes, plus snowshoe routes and rentals. It sits on the route up the mountain rather than at the lake itself, but it is absolutely worth the extra stop.

A local's winter game plan

Three habits of people who live here year-round:

• The snow report rules the weekend. Hours, lift status, and opening dates can change overnight, so check the resort pages before you drive up.
• Carry chains from about now until late April. From roughly November into spring, you are required to carry chains or cables in your vehicle even on dry days, and when a storm moves in Caltrans puts chain controls on the highway. I wrote a full guide to the drive up and winter driving on this blog, and it is the one I hand every new neighbor.
• Beat the crowds and the sun. Weekday mornings are the locals' secret weapon, and so is sunscreen: the sun bounces off snow with surprising strength, even when the air is cold.

And when your legs are done for the day, the Village dresses up for the holidays, with twinkling lights and the tree lighting that make winter up here feel like a storybook. Grab a hot chocolate, run into everyone you know, and remember why you love this valley.

However you like winter best, on two boards, on a tube, or on your own two feet, Big Bear has room for you. And if snowy weekends and quiet mountain mornings have you dreaming of a place of your own up here, that is exactly the conversation I love to have: start with my Buying Guide, wander the Neighborhood Guides to find your community, and let us find your cabin before the first big storm of the season.

Your Big Bear Realtor, Holly Gardner.