Bear Valley, CA, Confirms 7-Days-a-Week Operations for 2026-27 Winter

Bear Valley Mountain Resort in California has officially put an end to the rumors: the ski area will be open seven days a week throughout the 2026-27 winter season. That means Monday skiing. Tuesday skiing. Wednesday skiing. And every other day of the week. The resort announced the news on social media, making clear that it plans to operate seven days a week this winter, rather than limiting midweek operations as smaller ski areas sometimes do.

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Located at the end of Highway 4 in the Sierra Nevada, Bear Valley has long stood apart from the larger resorts around Lake Tahoe. The mountain is roughly 40 miles south of Lake Tahoe as the crow flies, but its remote location means skiers can escape much of the congestion associated with the region’s better-known resorts.

Bear Valley first opened in 1967 and has grown into a 1,680-acre ski area with 75 trails, 9 lifts, 1,900 feet of vertical and an average annual snowfall of around 359 inches. The mountain’s terrain ranges from beginner slopes around the main lodge to steep, largely ungroomed terrain in the 300-acre Grizzly Bowl. Bear West offers longer intermediate runs and gladed terrain, while the Village side provides wide-open skiing with access that requires a bus ride back toward the resort.

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That relatively difficult access is part of Bear Valley’s appeal. Crowds are rarely a major issue at Bear Valley, and the mountain is known for maintaining an uncrowded feel even when larger Sierra resorts are busy. After a storm, fresh snow can often remain available well after the powder rush has moved through other nearby mountains.

The resort is located approximately two and a half hours from Sacramento and more than three hours from Lake Tahoe by road, depending on conditions. Its position makes it more of a destination ski area than a convenient day-trip option for many Bay Area skiers — but that distance also helps keep skier traffic down.

For the 2026-27 season, Bear Valley is promising something increasingly valuable for skiers: midweek skiing without having to wait for the weekend.

The season pass for Bear Valley is currently on sale at only $629 for adults 23-69 years of age. Cheaper pass products are available for different age groups. If you buy your season pass by the end of Labor Day today, you will receive a free day pass so you can bring a friend and share the joy. Bear Valley is also on the Cali Pass, so you can also buy the $729 Cali Pass which also gives you access to Dodge Ridge, China Peak, and Mountain High as well as three days each at 14 Powder Alliance resorts. Bear Valley is also on the Indy Pass.

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Bear Valley’s announcement comes as independent and smaller ski areas across the West continue to look for ways to compete with larger destination resorts. Consistent seven-day operations give Bear Valley another reason for skiers to make the drive into the Sierra.

Winter is coming and Bear Valley says it will be ready every day of the week.