LOOSE / Spot guides / big bear snowboarding
snowboard guide · big bear lake, ca
Big Bear: SoCal's park town
Big Bear Mountain Resort runs three mountains in the San Bernardinos: Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and Snow Valley. For snowboarders, Bear Mountain is the park mountain; Summit and Valley are where you go for night laps and easier days.
Park feature counts on the resort's terrain park page are updated by the park crew and can change daily. Park layouts, lifts, hours and ticket rules change through the season (and with the snow), so check the linked official page on the day you go.
The three mountains
Bear Mountain
43101 Goldmine Dr, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Home to Southern California's only halfpipes (two of them) and park terrain from beginner to expert, with parks on runs like Easy Street, Learning Curve, Park Run, Expressway, Outlaw's Alley, Street Scene and Gambler. It also has Skill Builder Parks and what the resort calls the largest learning area in SoCal. Its Geronimo peak (8,805 ft) is the highest lift-served point in SoCal.
Snow Summit
880 Summit Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Known for snowmaking and a family feel, with parks on Cruiser, Sundown, Westridge Park and ZZYZX Park, and night sessions. It hosted the first Winter X Games in 1997.
Snow Valley
35100 CA-18, Running Springs, CA 92382
The resort recommends it for beginners and families. It has terrain parks too (on Eagle Flats, The EDGE, East Bowl and The Hideout) and night sessions.
Tickets, nights and getting around
| Thing | How it works (per the resort) |
|---|---|
| Day lift tickets | Valid same day at all three mountains |
| Night sessions | Snow Summit and Snow Valley only; night tickets are bought separately |
| Bear ↔ Summit | No connecting lifts; a free Intermountain Shuttle runs between them |
| Snow Valley | Not on the Intermountain Shuttle; Mountain Transit links Running Springs and Big Bear Lake |
A bit of history
Big Bear Mountain Resort's own timeline says North America's first terrain park, Outlaw, was built at Big Bear Mountain in 1992. You can still ride a park called Outlaw's Alley there.
Tips
- Park day = Bear. If you want pipe or bigger jumps, start at Bear Mountain. For a first day on a board, Snow Valley or the Bear Mountain learning area are easier.
- Check features before you drive. The terrain park page lists boxes, rails, jumps and jibs per park, and early or late season it can be close to zero.
- Mountain roads. Big Bear is a mountain drive; carry chains in winter and check road conditions before you leave.
Park etiquette (applies everywhere)
- Orange ovals mean freestyle terrain. Resorts like Mammoth and Big Bear mark terrain parks with an orange oval. Read the signs at the entrance before you drop in.
- Scope first, then hit. Ride your first lap past the features, not over them. Look at the takeoff and the landing.
- One rider per feature. Call your drop, wait your turn and clear the landing fast.
- Start small. Every resort here has a beginner or progression zone. Work up from there.
- Helmet. Some parks require one; wear one in all of them.
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Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources (checked Oct 2026). The wording is our own.