New Six Pack Lift Coming To Ski Resort Near Los Angeles

Michael Fulton16 Aug 2024

TL;DR

Big Bear Mountain Resort is set for a major upgrade with a new six-pack chairlift coming to Bear Mountain next winter. This is just the beginning of potential expansions, including plans to connect Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, add new terrain, and introduce summer attractions. With its proximity to Los Angeles, Big Bear is poised for significant investment in the years ahead.

Level Up Your Ski Day — Download SnowStash on the App Store

Big Bear Mountain Resort is gearing up for a ripper of an upgrade next winter. But before we dive in, let's get you sorted on the lay of the land. Big Bear Mountain Resort isn't just one mountain – it's actually three separate spots. You've got Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, which are close mates but not quite connected yet. Then there's Snow Valley, about a 21-kilometre drive from Snow Summit. Alterra, the big boss who owns the other two mountains, bought Snow Valley in 2023.Now, here's the big news: Bear Mountain's getting a new high-speed detachable six-pack chairlift. This beauty will replace the old Chair 2 and Chair 5, which were both fixed-grip lifts. The new lift will get you to Bear's terrain park network faster than ever. Plus, the new Midway chairlift will be a real treat for beginners, making it easier to get on and off near the trails. Bear Mountain is making significant improvements for the 24/25 winter season. As part of these upgrades, Chairs 2 & 5 will be replaced with a new 6-pack chairlift. Stay tuned for updates across all three locations. In the meantime, look at the new Bear Mountain winter trail map. pic.twitter.com/C3INU0nOAx— Big Bear Mountain Resort (@BigBearMtResort) August 7, 2024 But wait, there's more! This is just the start of what could be a game-changing time for Big Bear. Back in 2020, they released a Master Development Plan, which the U.S. Forest Service gave the thumbs up to. In 2023, they put forward some big ideas for approval. We're talking about new terrain pods and lifts to finally connect Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, a new beginner area at Bear Mountain, and even a snowmaking pond at the top of Snow Summit.They're not just thinking about winter either. The plan includes 12 new mountain biking trails, a mountain coaster, and a zipline network for summer fun. No word yet on when all this will happen, but it's clear Alterra's keen to keep improving Big Bear Mountain Resort in the coming years, especially with Los Angeles just down the road.

Skiing in Japan vs USA: Which Country Offers Better Value in 2024?

About the author

Michael Fulton

Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

50+ resorts visited15 years skiing

Keep reading

More from the SnowStash desk

View all news →

Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.

25 Aug 2026

Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.

23 Aug 2026

Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.

23 Aug 2026

Two Confirmed Dead as Search Continues After Swiss Alps Fire

The death toll from Thursday night's fire at Restaurant Beverin in Thusis, Switzerland, has begun to firm up. One Swiss outlet, citing Graubünden Cantonal Police, reports that two of the five people initially reported missing have now been confirmed dead, leaving three unaccounted for. The building's collapsed stairwell and structural instability have slowed recovery efforts throughout. Here's what's changed since the fire broke out, and what's still unconfirmed.

22 Aug 2026

Selwyn Snow Resort Closes Early as Rain Ends Its 2026 Season

Selwyn Snow Resort has called an early end to its 2026 season, a day after Victoria's Mount Baw Baw did the same. Rain on Thursday stripped what was left of the snowpack, and the cold nights needed to rebuild it through snowmaking never arrived. It's a rough result for a resort that only just found its footing again after being burned to the ground in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires and a multi-year rebuild. Here's how the season fell apart, and where Selwyn's been since the fire.

22 Aug 2026

Mt Baw Baw Becomes First Australian Resort to Close for 2026

Mt Baw Baw is calling time on its 2026 season this Sunday at 5pm, becoming the first Australian resort to close for the year after warm spells and rain wore through its snowpack. Lifts stop, but the resort stays open, entry fees get waived, and there's one last Bollywood Weekend before the lights go out. Fifty-seven days after opening, here's how the season ended and what it means for the rest of Australia's struggling snowpack.

21 Aug 2026

Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair

Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.

20 Aug 2026

Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

19 Aug 2026