We had a gala of time over 3 days. First day was Snow tubing (they were not open for sledding)... while it was crowded being the 2nd day after the first snowfall of hte season, it was fine. The kicker was that they gave a 50% off Learn to Ski package (cross-country skiing) which saved us several $$$ the next few days. Not only did cross-country skiing was fun (first time for us), the instructors were very patient and effective. The 2nd day I went (on a Monday morning), my group lesson became Private lesson as I was the only on in the class. Even more savings :-) The Warming Hut cafe is a great touch after doing some trails. The food was great here. The tracks for cross-country skiing was kept up. Our entire group (multiple kids and adults) had a great time. Weather was good as well as a bonus. read more

It was a toss up between BV or Leland's...after reading the reviews for Leland's, I opted for BV. It was my kids first time in the snow and I didn't want them to have a horrible crowded first experience. We had to leave early because I wanted to be there close to opening time if 9am, we got there around 10am and there were plenty of parking spots and tubes for the kids to ride. For 6 people, 4 tube rentals for 2hrs it cost me $160. At Leland's I would've paid $240. It was a pleasant experience. The staff was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy doing their job. We had so much fun, the kids were whooped after the two hrs. At first I don't think that two hrs would be enough, but it was perfect. It's an honor system for the amount of time you use the tubes, don't be the one who tries to use them all day. There are a lot of people coming into the park at all times of the mid morning. 2 1/2hes is more than plenty to wear the little ones out. We will definitely be back and would recommend Bear Valley Adventure Co to anyone who has kids. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Even though it was really warm today 2/21, there's still snow on the field...so let's play! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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We rented life jackets for our 2 and 5 year old kids from them. They also went above and beyond to help us inflate our kayak which we forgot the pump for. Very friendly and helpful. read more

There are several "free" places to snowshoe in the Bear Valley area (mostly by pulling off the road at designated spots; some require a small fee). We chose the "pay" option by going to BVAC because: a) it was a convenient walk from our lodging, and b) they offered a variety of pre-groomed trails and a decent map. It seemed the best option for a group who hadn't done this in a while. We encountered a very friendly staff here, mostly seniors and retirees. Tickets for the snow park were purchased inside their headquarters/store. (Snowshoes could be rented here too, but all of us either owned a pair or opted to rent before the trip.) The price to walk on their trails seemed pretty steep to me ($45/person) considering it was self-guided. We saw zero staff beyond the main entrance. But all in all we had a great snowshoeing adventure in BVAC's snow park, walking to two different warming huts at the higher elevations (bare shelters, unstaffed, no stoves). The well-marked, groomed trails made for less work overall, but we still did some off-piste travel in deep snow at a few of the prettier spots. On our return trip we were hit by a short-lived squall which dumped a another inch or so on our heads. (We eventually paused in the trees to share a flask of Bulleit Rye). One nit - BVAC seemed to come up short on contingency/emergency operations. For example, after returning to the park entrance we heard one cross-country skier tell an elderly staff member that her mom had called to say she was lost. The staff member seemed perplexed on what to do; she took no action besides asking a few questions. You'd think they'd have someone on call to lead some kind of assistance effort, but that didn't seem to be an option. (The daughter decided to go back out to look for her.) Thankfully we were in no need of being rescued that day, and we returned to our rental condo with some great photos and good memories. read more

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I have rented bikes, paddle boards and shopped at this store over several years and always feel satisfied with my experience. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The renting process is fairly simple and the equipment quality and condition ranges from above average to excellent. The store is very small but offers a selection of products for just about everything you might need to get outdoors. My only criticism is the pricing is quite high. That said, I do understand that it is a remote location that requires everything to be trucked in, which adds to their cost. I recommend this shop while visiting the Bear Valley area. read more

Pleasant staff, great ski shop, many varied slopes, great grooming, full sized lockers.

Great place to take your kids to enjoy playing in the snow. It's located right off highway 4 so it's easy to get to. Rented snow tubes and reasonably priced. Staff were friendly and we enjoyed our time there. read more

Wow, it's been 13 years since I got to break the news about BVAC on Yelp! I guess it's time for an update. Staff at BVAC are always super nice and they are doing a great job maintaining safety during the pandemic. The trails look great -- even last April when my friend and I were there for the last day of the season, everyone was super warm, professional and everyone was there to have an enjoyable outing. The trails are never super crowded and there's always good parking. Next year will be the year that I get a season pass (now that I have a 4wd and ski rack!). Keep up the good work, BVAC! read more

I wasn't really sure where to post this review.. thankfully now days our photos tell us where we are! My boys and I were headed to Round Valley Sno-Park at the entrance of the Bear Valley ski resort like we do every January. So this year there is a TON of snow and road markers were hard to find. Thinking we were at our destination, I turned left.. hmmm, don't remember a gas station or store and looked different. I went in to make sure Siri didn't send me awry (ha, she did..) and I was right.. need to continue up the road a few more miles. However, the staff here was SO friendly and helpful I wanted to make mention of that. Not only did they have all the winter clothing and gear you need, they had ice cream bars, basic grocery essentials and a stop on the way back to use the restroom and grab a bottle of wine for our campsite about 45 min down the mountain was awesome! Super clean, very friendly and might have to check out the tubing here as we got a bit too crazy up the hill and don't suggest tubes up there.. stick to sleds and saucers so you don't fly into a tree or off a ledge.. LOL SO much snow and fun. Stay safe! We very much appreciated this stop and never noticed it in past years oddly enough.. we will definitely remember it even if for a snack not far from where we like to sled. read more

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This place is a MUST-VISIT for anyone in Northern California, specifically the Bay Area. We brought the whole family and it was amazing! Gorgeous, pristine and fun. Special thanks to Aaron, David, Jenni, & John for making our visit so memorable. We had a member in our party with handicap requirements and the staff went out if their way to accommodate and make everyone feel included and comfortable. The tubes, the hills, and particularly the staff were all superb. The meadows cafe had the most delicious tomato bisque also! Hats off to Jenny & John. Thank you David for being so helpful. Can't wait to return! read more

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Just like to give a big thank you to David for working on my bike. He is the best that area has to offer as the Bear Valley bike shop in Arnold has become toxic with its owner and staff And we hope they all move to Nevada City as everyone hates them in Arnold! read more

Great place to take the kids sledding one hour from Angels camp. Very close. Friendly staff nice sledding hills. Price is a little high but we had a lot of fun. We go every year and the kids love it. There are picnic tables and one outhouse restroom. read more

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Visited on 2/9/25. Staff were super-friendly, outgoing and quick to get you on your way for fun! I took the teenage kids to the tubing and sled hills for a quick getaway and we all had a great time. read more

Super nice and helpful people. They can answer lots of questions and give good tips. Easy snow shoe rental. It's small, so a line develops if more than a couple customers are in there, but they do their best. read more

My thrill seeking husband and I are always looking for activities we both enjoy. Cross country skiing was a fun compromise. Bear Valley is easy to do as a day trip from the Tri-Valley and less expensive than downhill skiing. We arrived before 10am and snagged a parking spot. It seemed to get busier after we arrived and they have parking down in the road if the lot fills up. We sprung for a skating lesson with Larry and for $20 more than the day pass and rentals had a private one hour lesson. I don't think it is always private it just worked out well. The lesson helped us build confidence and learn the fundamentals before we skied the groomed trails. It's a large trail system with enough to do that if we returned we won't be bored. Seems like a lot of families were sledding and tubing. We felt very distanced from others on the trails and it was an accessible challenge. The staff was friendly and kind. Highly recommend. Bring a backpack with water and snacks. You will need both. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Nice flight area called Runway - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

We came here during Presiden't week break. We chose this place since it's very close from south San Jose compared going to Lake Tahoe. The trail is very kids friendly, I won't suggest for pro skiers to go here if you want more challenged trails. There's a mini cafe that sells burger, hot dog, soup, hot chocolate 5 minutes away from the entrace of the trail. They also have sledding and tubing available for kids to play, very safe and not too hilly. Parking can be tough since they only have limited parking spots near the office. I would recommend to go early so you can get parking spot not too far from the trail. read more

This place is a great ski resort with lots of kid/beginner slopes within easy range of the lodge. Pricing at bear valley is better than Tahoe but still can be pricey if paying full price for tickets day of. Try to convince someone in your group to get a season pass and you'll get 4 free buddy passes! Such a good bang for your buck. We have a senior in our group who skies and his season pass was only $126, so 5 of us skied for about $25 each. Great bargain! Only issue is sometimes lines to get on lifts were long due to chair lift issues and rebooting the lifts. All in all, it's a good place to go with the family. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Green/beginners runs near lodge area - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

This is a good place if you are with young kids and want an easy snow experience. Prices for tube rentals are very reasonable and our kids had a good time tubing. The store was very particular about enforcing masks and the ladies at the store were helpful. The trail of course is absolutely gorgeous. We went on a Wednesday and had the entire area to ourselves. One star less is due to the fact that their ski and snow shoe equipment seemed a bit dated and expensive. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Snow tubing area - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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Tried going tubing there. Long wait time, not enough tubes, no lift or magic carpet, and one rude staff. After staying in line for 45 minutes they ran out of tubes. Then they asked me and my three year old to leave and not play in the snow if we are not tubing. read more

We were back this year. We were impressed that rental equipment was all new! Furthermore, we found out about the program where for children can purchase ski equipment, that can be swapped out for bigger sizes (lightly used) following years. Aaron was very patient in accommodating us even during busy holiday season. Kids and us were absolutely thrilled! Great snow (felt like a well-earned reward after 3 days of shoveling), made for fun skiing. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Rental ski boot coming apart. - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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I've been coming here for Cross Country Skiing for at least 20 years. The store has been a reliable source of info on the area as well as the gateway to fantastic cross country skiing with miles of trails for all abilities and top rate instruction. I haven't been here for at least 5 years but thought it would be a good place to come for a days of COVID safe outdoor fun. It turns out that outdoor equipment doesn't last forever. The staff at the store were very helpful getting us what we needed and making sure we had a great time. This weekend the snow was just about perfect but we could hear the staff out there at night grooming the trails to make them perfect. We will be remaking Bear Valley our tradition in the years to come. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Aspen Trail - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

Great place to rent snow tubes for sledding. They have some nice hills and easy parking. The only challenge is the honor system policy on the 2-hour rentals. So if you get there late in the day, you may not be able to get a tube if folks are just camping out on them. Otherwise, it's a great deal for those parents that need a bit more than the DIY sno-park. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Snow tube adventure - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

FUN TIME!! We came here for the kid's Spring break. We chose this place since it was close to San Jose compare to the Lake Tahoe drive. We went tubing and sledding for $35.00 total for 2 kids for 2 hours. The tubing area was perfect for 6 year olds and it was a bit of a climb going up the hill but they were fine and had a blast! We did sledding the next day less climbing up the hill in comparison and they loved it more than tubing! We had lunch at the Café and it was good. They have burgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks and snacks. The wait was not too long and nice to take a break and have a bathroom instead of an outside outhouse. Parking was free in the parking lot but get there early since they fill up on the weekend. We did not ski but it looked decent for beginner to intermediate skiers. It was nice having everything in one place. We will be back! read more

It is good area to enjoy for kids, but you have to pay for everything in northern cali. After finishing at bear valley ski resort. We just stop by to play snow with kids. The owner/ranger was not welcoming, until we are ready to pay for their. They don't have respect for people with family. All money minded. I would have given 5 star if they have been atleast friendly and guided us for play area well . 2 star for only for having fun for 30 min. Note: please don't bring sledge, it is prohibited here and any activity area. read more

Went there yesterday and it was best day ever!! Ski class for kids and lunch at The Meadow Cafe! Hot tea and coffee, a lot of snow and all of the people who work there are very very nice, helpful and professional. Thank you!!!!! We just absolutely happy ;) 100000% will be back! read more

Went on a trip with family on Sunday 1/17/2021 I wanted to go in the parking lot in the store at the Entrance of bear valley. This old white guy was being very rude at the entrance he yelled at us. I think because we were Mexican he was being rude to us. He told us we couldn't enter the parking lot when there was plenty of parking. read more

We had an excellent time in the snow on 3/28/2021 here with our young children! We chose the tubing experience for the kids and rented a clean, good conditioned tube for our two girls, 5 and 3, and daddy was able to take them up the small hills many, many times with the girls laughing and giggling the whole time. The rental rate at $20/2 hours was reasonable and the group of people there that day felt safe so we could socially distance, while still enjoy each other's presence in a fun; outdoor atmosphere. We appreciated the gentleman who helped us get set up and payment was fast and easy, as well as the check out procedure. We would return! read more

We wanted an easy tubing experience for the kids and Bear Valley was wonderful! We arrived really early so were the first people out on the tubing hills at 9 am and were the only ones there for about half an hour. Even when it started to fill up and when we left around 11, it wasn't so crowded that you'd have to wait more than a couple minutes probably to wait your turn down a hill. The park is big enough that you can distance as you feel comfy and it looked like most people were wearing masks around others and respectful of distance. The staff were really friendly and cheerful. We paid $20 each for two tubes and they charge an admission fee for those not getting a tube ($50 total for the four of us). After lunch we walked to a non fee area and had a great time digging and making castles, and sliding. Would highly recommend to families with younger children! The drive is slightly shorter than going to Tahoe which is really nice but beware it's a two way single road and coming from the bay area you're directly up against the sun rising and setting. read more

Primarily a snow gear rental place, with skis, lessons, snow shoes, and trail passes. They also have a shop with anything you may have forgotten (hats, gloves, boots, etc.) and a small restaurant area with craft beer. Staff are friendly and helpful: we came in fairly close to closing and they were happy to help us make alternate plans and suggest other ski areas, without gouging our wallets or suggesting unnecessary expenses. read more

Great friendly customer service! Amazing. Took the family to the Adventure Park. We paid for one activity and the pool. The "park" has several activities for kids, ropes course, rock climbing and a jumpy thing. We swam first, the pool is 25 feet long and about 12 feet wide -huge. The pool is heated, clean and plenty of space for tons of people. Pool is 3 1/2 feet to 9 feet deep. There are tons of seating and loung chairs. We swam several hours and then took the kids to the Adventure Park, my kids were exhausted. The opted to do the jumpy thing and was too tired after a minute to go any further. Had a great time. read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Bear Valley heated swimming pool, 3 1/2 to 9 feet deep. - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

Had a great time cross country skiing. Staff got us set up with rental equipment quickly. Trails are extensive, beautiful and well maintained. Prices are reasonable. Delicious food at the on-trail care. Great day! read more

Super convenient that they deliver kayaks to most of the surrounding areas! It definitely add my camping experience that much more fun. Very easy to work with and always make sure you're set to have fun. read more

Very friendly and helpful staff. Had gone there on Dec 27. Though snow was very low, the staff tried their to help us make the best of our trip. Wish they could open more tubing areas and allow to book for tubing slots online. read more

We had a great time x-country skiing here. Maybe a bit of a splurge financially, but it was worth it. And these people understand customer service--everyone we dealt with was fantastic. read more

LOVED the sledding and tubing hills - just the snow play we were looking for! We sledded in the morning on seriously well-groomed hills, went back to our room at the Lodge across the street for lunch and a nap, and then tubed the afternoon away. The staff is super-friendly, the grounds are beautifully taken care of, and the equipment was in good shape. Thanks for a great day! read more

Cross-country skiing can take many forms. Sometimes, it comes in the shape of a white-knuckled adventure along the continental divide in a raging snowstorm, at a place like Marias Pass in Glacier National Park. Or you ski past geysers and frozen waterfalls in the dark depths of a Yellowstone winter. Or you glide through knee-high fresh powder along ungroomed forest service and logging roads in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana and Idaho, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. But sometimes, you ski in style, in bright California sunshine and 40 degree weather, with perfectly manicured trails and open meadows all around you, as water freezes and flows in charming streams and cedar and aspen and spruce trees shake off their frosting and fallen snows. You stop at a picnic table for a cup of warm herbal tea from your thermos, or you grab a beer and burger at a meadow cafe while lounging on the sun deck as hordes of children and their parents slide or tube down nearby slopes, and as very active senior citizens pass by on skis and fat-tire mountain bikes. You glide for miles on level, soft tracks as the sky turns an even deeper blue and the sun reflects off frozen snow fields and distant mountains, and you think to yourself: what a wonderful world. Bear Valley Cross Country is like this. Miles of groomed trails for in-line and skate skiing, tracks reset each morning to be pristine and perfect, and a vast range of beginner-level trails for learning how to ski even if you have never done so before. There are harder trails here, too, ones that climb to ridgelines and higher spots with views of the Dardanelles and surrounding high peaks of the Sierra Nevada, but Bear Valley is above all about an expansive, sub-alpine meadow formed by the Bear Creek and Bloods Creek convergence, beautiful, flat terrain, slightly more than 7,000 feet in elevation, where you can forget yourself for a few hours and just glide on the surface of the snow, sun glistening off the frozen landscape as you move back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, finding a groove and a rhythm that works for you. $25 gets you a trail pass, with discounts for multiple day passes, and if you have the skill level to handle them, there are challenging trails that lead off in the forest. Or you can luxuriate in the meadows, on the flat, smooth surfaces that make skiing fun, not an ordeal. It takes a lot of work to make these trails happen each winter. Grooming doesn't happen by itself. But it's worth it for those who love the thrills and quiet pleasures of being outdoors in winter. Hope you'll get a chance soon to experience Bear Valley for yourselves! read more

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I adore this place. I'm a father of two who loves to be outside with my family, and this is the ideal way to do that in the winter. The trails are gorgeous and very well maintained. The warming hut is so charming and a great place to stop for lunch. Every employee I've encountered is friendly and helpful, and genuinely seems to find joy in getting people out for some cross country skiing. This is truly one of my favorite places to come and have fun with family and friends. read more

This review is for the Sledding and Tubing experience here. Didn't try XC. My wife and I borrowed a friends cabin in Arnold for a few days and wanted something fun for our 3 year-old to do. There was no snow anywhere near Arnold, so we decided to head up the hill to Bear Valley. The ski resort doesn't do sledding and my daughter was too young for skiing, but the resort sent me down the hill to this place. The sledding and tubing hills are located in the middle of a nice sized cross country skiing park, you pay at the gas station and grab a sled. It was about $20 for the three of us and two sleds. We were directed to cross the highway and follow the sled markers to a pretty modest hill. There are what looked like 4 "runs" each with a slightly different slope, but all were combed and had a walking path between them to climb to the top. There is no "lifts" you climb up and sled down. My daughter loved going down, but didn't really care to climb back up. (not a surprise) After a about a dozen runs I got tired and my daughter got a bit annoyed with the cold, so after a little over a hour we called it quits. Was it worth it? I didn't mind the cost, and since the runs were completely empty we didn't have to deal with crowds or waiting. I can imagine if this place was busy my enjoyment of the experience would've been lessened. But it was quite beautiful and we had a lot of fun. The young ladies at the gas station were pleasant and friendly. Bottom line is I don't know if I would come here again, but I'm definitely not sorry that I came here today. read more

Definitely nice and helpful staff. Rented Kayaks for a week. Came with all the extra bits! Life vests, oars, foam pads for top of the car and tie downs at no extra cost! They even helped us load them. The store had clean bathrooms! Score! A few cute Bear Valley items, but mostly filled with things that you may have forgotten on your trip. Very useful! Past the bathrooms on the right was almost a convenience store area with a staff break room feel with a microwave for quick food and freezer full of its it's and other frozen treats. Yes, they do have bags of marshmallows and a gopro. Depends on your spending allowance. :-) read more

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Front of the Store! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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Perfect 1st time snow destination. Our 7year old was ready for his snow intro. We decided to start slow with a day trip. Plenty of parking close to the main building at 10am-ish, were told to cross the road to a small building adjacent to the meadow. Very reasonable rates for a plastic sled rental. We spent the morning/early afternoon sliding down small hills and exploring the wooded area. It had become busy by 1:00pm, but still plenty of room for everyone. We'll be back for more relaxed snow play. Thanks BVCC&AC! read more