Sat13Jun
Bear Valley Trail Stewardship
Hike & WalkJoin us on volunteer trail work days
8:30 AM - 12:30 PMBear Valley·Bear Valley Adventure Company
Bear Valley events: skiing, the Music Festival, and the Village Lodge
The top of the 4. 6,600 to 8,500 feet, snow half the year, music in the summer.
7,000 ft
Bear Valley Mountain Resort sits at the summit of Hwy 4 with 1,680 skiable acres, 75 trails, 9 lifts, and a base elevation of 8,495 ft. Season runs late November through mid-April, and the Bear Valley Music Festival anchors the summer (2026 dates: July 17 to August 2).
› Read more about Bear Valley
Bear Valley is the last stop on the 4 before the road closes for winter. About 30 minutes up from Arnold, a different climate, a different feel. Less Tahoe, more Sierra retro.
Heads up for the 25/26 ski season: the resort consolidated most food and beverage to the Village Lodge. Sky High Pizza is open Thursday through Sunday evenings during the season, the General Store runs 9am to 5pm year-round, and Kofi Haus does mornings in winter. Monte Wolfe Saloon, Ebbetts Grill, and Basecamp Pizza are flagged for re-opening in the 26/27 season. Creekside Bistro was closed as of May 2026. Check bearvalley.com before you promise anyone a specific spot.
Summer is the underrated season. The Music Festival brings classical, jazz, and world music for about two and a half weeks in mid-July through early August. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and the scenic chairlift fill in the rest. Ebbetts Pass typically opens late spring to mid-summer (the date moves around with the snowpack), and when it does, the drive over the top to Markleeville is one of the best in California.
What's happening in Bear Valley
Sat13Jun
High Sierra Archery Shoot
OtherAn archery shooting event held at Bear Valley Mountain Resort. The event runs June 13–14, 2026.
Bear Valley·Bear Valley Mountain Resort
Mon15Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Tue16Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Wed17Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
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Thu18Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Fri19Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Mon22Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Tue23Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Wed24Jun
Bear Valley Summer Day Camp
KidsGet ready for adventure, new friends, and memories that last way beyond summer.
9:00 AM - 2:45 PMBear Valley·Perry Walther Community Center
Worth a trip if…
- →If you're skiing for the weekend from the Bay Area: it's less crowded than Tahoe, the drive from Arnold is 30 minutes, and on-mountain F&B is reduced this season. Eat at the Village Lodge or come down to Arnold for dinner.
- →If you're a renter or Airbnb guest heading up: bring chains November through April, and don't assume every restaurant on the resort site is open. The 25/26 lineup is Sky High Pizza, Kofi Haus, and the General Store. The rest comes back 26/27.
- →If you're planning a summer trip and don't care about snow: aim for mid-July through early August and build the weekend around a Music Festival concert. Days are for hiking, evenings are for the festival tent.
- →If you live in Arnold or BLS and want a low-key date night in winter: Sky High Pizza on a Thursday is a 30-minute drive, deck views, and you'll get a table.
- →If you're a cross-country skier: 3,000 acres of XC terrain with four trailside huts. Way quieter than the downhill side, and the Meadow Café route is the easy intro.
Worth knowing
- ·Resort stats: 1,680 skiable acres, 75 trails, 9 lifts, 1,900 ft of vertical, base elevation 8,495 ft.
- ·Snowfall: resort claims 359 inches; long-term average per onthesnow.com is about 282 inches. Either way, real snow.
- ·Season runs late November through mid-April, weather dependent. Sky High Pizza closes for the season April 12, 2026.
- ·Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4 east of the resort) closes roughly mid-November to late spring. 'The pass is open' is a real local milestone, not a slogan.
- ·Chain control is normal on Hwy 4 in winter. R-1 lets most cars through with snow tires on a drive axle; R-2 requires chains unless you're 4WD/AWD with snow tires on all four. Speed under control is 25 mph.
- ·Snowmobiling: 70 miles of groomed trails. Some Bear Valley streets are snowmobile-only in winter.
- ·Bear Valley Music Festival: 2026 runs July 17 to August 2. Tickets via bearvalleymusicfestival.org.
- ·The General Store at the Village Lodge carries Joma's ice cream (the Murphys outfit) and Gold Country Roasters coffee at Kofi Haus (the Murphys roaster). Local supply chain even at 8,000 ft.
- ·The closest full grocery is Big Trees Market in Arnold, 30 minutes back down the hill. Stock up before you head up.
- ·Cell service at the resort is workable but spotty along stretches of Hwy 4 between Arnold and the Mt Reba turnoff.
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One email Thursday morning with what's coming up in Bear Valley and the rest of the corridor. No spam, no ads.
Venues we track in Bear Valley
- Bear Valley Mountain Resort
- Bear Valley Music Festival Tent
- Perry Walther Community Center
About Bear Valley
› Is Bear Valley open this winter (25/26 season)?
Yes, the mountain is open for skiing and snowboarding late November through mid-April. But on-mountain food and beverage is consolidated to the Village Lodge for the 25/26 season. Sky High Pizza, Kofi Haus, and the General Store are running. Monte Wolfe Saloon, Ebbetts Grill, and Basecamp Pizza return for 26/27. Confirm at bearvalley.com before you go.
› When is the Bear Valley Music Festival?
The 2026 festival runs July 17 through August 2, about two and a half weeks of classical, jazz, and world music programming. Details and tickets at bearvalleymusicfestival.org.
› How far is Bear Valley from Arnold?
About 30 minutes up Highway 4. From the Bay Area (Los Gatos) figure roughly 2.5 hours to Arnold, plus the 30 to Bear Valley. From Stockton, about 90 minutes to Murphys plus another hour up.
› Do I need chains to drive to Bear Valley in winter?
Usually yes from November through April. Caltrans posts chain control on Hwy 4 above Arnold during storms. R-1 exempts most cars with snow tires on a drive axle; R-2 requires chains unless you have 4WD/AWD with snow tires on all four. Carry chains regardless.
› Is there anything to do at Bear Valley in summer?
Yes. The Music Festival in mid-July to early August is the anchor. Otherwise: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, swimming, and a scenic chairlift. Once Ebbetts Pass opens, the drive east to Markleeville is one of the best two-lane routes in California.
