Big Bear Lake, California — A new six-pack is coming to Big Bear Mountain Resort next winter.
Before we get into the lift replacement, it’s probably best to explain that Big Bear Mountain Resort is three separate mountains. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are located near each other but aren’t connected via trails or lifts. However, that could change in the coming years (more on that shortly). Snow Valley was acquired by Alterra in 2023, which owns the two previously mentioned mountains. While it’s now considered part of Big Bear Mountain Resort, it’s around a 13-mile drive from Snow Summit.
Okay, back to the main story. Yesterday, Big Bear Mountain Resort announced that a new high-speed detachable six-pack chairlift is coming to Bear Mountain. It will replace Chair 2 and Chair 5, both fixed-grip lifts. This new lift will give quicker access to Bear’s terrain park network. In addition, the new Midway chairlift will make it easier for beginners to load and unload into a terrain pod with mellow trails.
In comparison, here’s the old trail map at Bear Mountain:
This is the beginning of what could be a transformative period for Big Bear. In 2020, Big Bear released a Master Development Plan, which the U.S. Forest Service accepted. As mentioned above, Snow Valley was acquired by Alterra in 2023, so it wasn’t a part of this MDP.
In 2023, they submitted a proposal for approval for various master development plan projects. These proposals included two new terrain pods & lifts that connect Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, a new beginner terrain pod & lift at Bear Mountain, a new connector trail on the outskirts of the Ripcord and Amusement Park runs, and a snowmaking pond atop Snow Summit. Some summer attractions were also proposed, including 12 more mountain biking trails, a mountain coaster, and a zipline network. A timeline for these projects has yet to be announced.
With its proximity to the Los Angeles market, Alterra is clearly going to continue to invest in Big Bear Mountain Resort in the coming years.
Image Credits: Big Bear Mountain Resort
