Snow Valley
240 acres, 317m vertical, 140 inches annual snow. Southern California's longest operating resort in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
5 Dec 2026
Closes
15 Mar 2027
Days open
100
Annual snow
12ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Snow Valley spans 240 acres across 30 runs between 2,073 and 2,390 metres elevation, delivering 317 metres of vertical drop in the San Bernardino National Forest. The terrain divides into 32% beginner, 13% intermediate, 41% advanced and 14% expert, with Slide Peak offering the steepest pitches in Southern California. The resort averages 140 inches of annual snowfall and operates under special use permit from the United States Forest Service. Established in 1924, it holds the distinction as Southern California's longest continually operating ski resort and was acquired by Alterra Mountain Company in January 2023.
Slide Peak anchors the advanced terrain with runs like Show Me and Snake Run, whilst the expanded beginner area near Chair 2 provides dedicated learning space. The Snow Valley Express high-speed six-pack accesses over 300 metres of vertical and serves as Southern California's only lift of its kind. The resort maintains 100% snowmaking coverage across its accessible terrain, though water supply constraints mean the upper third operates primarily during natural snow cycles. Hidden Valley and Peak 9 deliver backcountry-style terrain accessible via Lift 9, with gladed runs and powder-filled bowls.
The base lodge sits at 2,073 metres with views across the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. Thunder Mountain BBQ & Bar provides slopeside dining, whilst the Coyote Creek Tube Park offers Southern California's only chairlift-served sledding operation. Running Springs, 8 kilometres west, supplies the closest services, with Lake Arrowhead 18 kilometres distant. Night skiing operates Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 8:30pm. The resort draws primarily from Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, with manageable weekend crowds compared to Big Bear alternatives.
Indy Pass holders receive two days of access with no blackout dates, whilst the resort's own season pass costs USD 479 for unlimited skiing. Daily lift tickets range from USD 65 midweek to USD 95 on peak dates, with beginner-only access available from USD 45. Big Bear Mountain Resort manages Snow Valley alongside Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, creating a three-mountain network 21 kilometres apart. The resort suits families, learning skiers and Los Angeles day-trippers seeking accessible terrain without the Mammoth drive.
1,040ft
Vertical
30
Runs
240 acres
Skiable
12ft
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
30 runs across 240 acres skiable
Snow Valley spreads 30 runs across 240 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 41%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 16 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
30
runs
30 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 32%
Intermediate4 runs · 13%
Advanced12 runs · 41%
Expert4 runs · 14%
Time it right
When to visit Snow Valley
The 2025-26 season runs from 5 December 2025 through 15 March 2026, providing 131 operational days. Snow Valley typically opens in early to mid-December depending on natural snowfall and snowmaking progress, with closures between late March and mid-April. The season length ranks among California's shortest due to the resort's relatively low elevation and Southern California's variable winter precipitation. Weekend-only operations occur during marginal snow years, whilst strong winters support daily operations from late December through February.
Annual snowfall averages 140 inches, with extreme volatility between seasons. Roughly 6% of winter months receive 90 inches or more, whilst 40% see less than 12 inches. The resort sits lower than Big Bear Lake's mountains at 2,073 metres base elevation, making it susceptible to rain events during warm storm cycles. Snowmaking covers 100% of operational terrain but relies on a limited water supply, typically supporting the lower two-thirds of the mountain. Mid-winter storms from late January through February deliver the most reliable powder, with Slide Peak holding snow longer than lower-elevation runs.
February offers peak conditions with the highest average snowfall and coldest temperatures. December and early January see building snowpack and holiday crowds, whilst March brings spring corn snow and thinning cover. Midweek visits from late January through February provide the best combination of snow quality, terrain availability and minimal lift queues. Night skiing Friday and Saturday evenings extends riding time for weekend visitors, with illuminated terrain on the lower mountain. Avoid Presidents' Day weekend and the week between Christmas and New Year for crowd management.
The resort hosts occasional competitions and learn-to-ski events but maintains a low-key events calendar compared to destination resorts. Alterra's acquisition has introduced limited synergy with Big Bear Mountain Resort programming. No major seasonal festivals anchor the calendar. Summer operations include lift-served mountain biking on weekends from May through October, scenic chairlift rides and special food and beverage events.
Season 2026 - 2027
5 Dec 2026
Opens
15 Mar 2027
Closes
100
Days open
12 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Snow Valley, and where to stay
Snow Valley sits at 2,073 metres elevation in the San Bernardino National Forest on State Route 18, 8 kilometres east of Running Springs in San Bernardino County. The resort occupies mid-mountain terrain on the northern slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains, which rise between the Inland Empire and the Mojave Desert. Running Springs functions as the gateway community at the junction of SR-18 and SR-330, elevation 1,850 metres. The mountains form an east-west trending range reaching 3,500 metres at San Gorgonio Mountain, 50 kilometres east.
San Bernardino lies 58 kilometres southwest and 1,700 metres lower in elevation, serving as the primary urban centre. Los Angeles sits 140 kilometres west, Orange County 145 kilometres southwest, and San Diego 240 kilometres south. Lake Arrowhead, a resort community of 12,000, lies 18 kilometres northwest at 1,650 metres elevation. Big Bear Lake, the region's largest mountain town with year-round population of 5,000, sits 27 kilometres east at 2,070 metres. The National Children's Forest, a 1,400-hectare interpretive area created after the 1970 Bear Fire, borders the resort on Highway 18.
From Los Angeles and Orange County, take Interstate 10 east to Highway 330 north in Highland, which climbs 1,500 metres through switchbacks to Running Springs in 45 minutes. Highway 18 continues east 8 kilometres to Snow Valley. Total driving time from central Los Angeles averages 90 minutes in clear conditions, though weekend traffic on Highway 330 frequently doubles travel time during winter. An alternative route via Interstate 15 north to Highway 138 east and Highway 18 through Crestline adds 20 minutes but avoids Highway 330 congestion. From San Diego, take Interstate 15 north 200 kilometres to the Highway 138 junction.
Ontario International Airport sits 61 kilometres southwest with approximately one-hour driving time, offering major airline service and rental cars. Los Angeles International Airport lies 160 kilometres west with two-hour minimum driving time. Palm Springs International Airport, 110 kilometres southeast, provides seasonal winter access. Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority operates bus service from San Bernardino via Ontario Airport to Running Springs and Big Bear, with limited frequency unsuitable for day visits. Metrolink trains serve San Bernardino station, connecting to Mountain Transit buses, though total journey time from Los Angeles exceeds four hours. Private vehicles remain the practical access method, with chains or four-wheel-drive required during active storms.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Snow Valley, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Snow Valley Webcams
2 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Snow Valley's live webcams
Check live conditions across Snow Valley with 2 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Snow Valley Base6,798ft
- Monitor base area operations through this essential Snow Valley webcam positioned at the main lodge at 2072 meters elevation. This Snow Valley live cam provides continuous real-time views of lift loading, guest services, and current snow conditions throughout the day. Perfect for checking crowd levels and weather before your visit, this live snow cam helps families plan their arrival at this classic Southern California ski destination.
- Snow Valley Summit7,838ft
- Experience commanding mountain vistas through this Snow Valley live cam stationed at the summit at 2389 meters elevation. This Snow Valley web cam captures panoramic views across the San Bernardino National Forest and reveals current conditions on the resort's upper terrain. Essential for assessing visibility and snow quality, this live snow cam showcases the spectacular alpine environment at SoCal's oldest ski resort.
Snow Valley snow cams FAQ
How often do Snow Valley snow cams update?
All Snow Valley snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Snow Valley.
Which Snow Valley webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Snow Valley Summit webcam at 2,389m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Snow Valley webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Snow Valley lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Snow Valley snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Snow Valley snow cams?
Check Snow Valley webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Snow Valley lift tickets?
Use our Snow Valley webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Snow Valley webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Snow Valley snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Snow Valley intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.