Bear Valley Mountain

Bear Valley is a great alternative to Tahoe. The traffic is easier to handle from the Bay Area to Bear Valley. The Gold Country towns in the region are really fun and charming. And the mountain is not half bad. It is no Squaw Valley, but it has enough terrain to keep you busy. The snow has been very decent every time I have skied there.

If you just want an easy backdrop for visiting Arnold or Murphys, then BV is a good enough place to ride for a day or 2. After that, you will be bored by the short runs (unless Grizz is open and you are an EXPERT skier). The amenities (think food, lodge, etc) are minimal - nothing to rave about. The staff is usually friendly, but others have had problems. BV doesn't handle large crowds well, so pick a good snow day that is NOT during the Holidays. As I said, the runs are short, almost all lifts are antiques, and it is more difficult than it should be for riders to get from the lodge to the first lifts. Ticket prices should be lower than Tahoe (they are not), since the place
 doesn't even compare to a true ski resort experience.

This area does not have the long runs of some Lake Tahoe resorts, or a village to shop and spend the night.  It does have a nice layout, good cruisers for the little ones, and some challenging terrain. The restaurant is adequate...there is nothing gourmet on the mountain.   It is a pleasure avoiding the Tahoe traffic driving there.  You can even visit some nice caves on the way back home.  Overall, Bear is a good value for families and for those who don't need to ski the bigger mountains of Lake Tahoe  My family will go back there.

Bear can be the best around.  The Area still hold the US record for snowfall.  On a good year, when Grizzly Valley is open 4 months, you can't beat the steeps and soft boundaries anywhere in the Sierra.
Jer Nelson