Snow Valley Mountain Resort
Snow Valley is Lake Arrowhead's ski hill — 25 minutes east in Running Springs, and since 2023 part of Big Bear Mountain Resort, so one BBMR lift ticket works at Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain the same day. Tickets are dynamically priced online (buy ahead; night tickets $59 at Snow Valley). The gotcha: peak-date parking must be reserved online at least a day ahead — see the parking guide.
The facts
- Status
- Ski operations closed for summer; winter ops typically resume in December
- Season
- Roughly December–March, snowfall depending
- Parking
- Free non-peak; $25–40 reserved-only on peak dates
- Tickets & passes
- BBMR tickets (valid all 3 mountains, dynamic pricing); night $59; on Ikon Pass
- Drive from Lake Arrowhead
- ~25 min from Lake Arrowhead Village
Getting there
35100 CA-18, Running Springs, CA 92382
Get directions →What Snow Valley is (and isn't)
Snow Valley is the family hill: wide groomers, a strong ski-school operation, night skiing under the lights, and a managed snow-play/tubing area — the place you take kids for their first turns. It is not a big mountain; strong intermediates will ski everything in a morning. That's what the Big Bear Mountain Resort acquisition fixed: since 2023, Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain operate on one ticket valid at all three, same day, so you can warm up at Snow Valley and chase terrain parks at Bear Mountain after lunch.
Tickets are dynamically priced — buying online days ahead is meaningfully cheaper than the window. Night sessions run $59 for Snow Valley only, or $109 for the BBMR night ticket that also covers Snow Summit. Ikon Pass holders get access plus priority lift-line lanes; the Snow Valley Anytime local pass (renewals from ~$379) is the budget play for Arrowhead locals.
The two things that ruin Snow Valley days
Parking, not lift lines: on peak and holiday dates, parking is reservation-only ($25–40), sold online through the day before, and when it sells out you will be turned away — no overflow lot, no shuttle, no roadside option on Highway 18. Full breakdown in our Snow Valley parking guide.
The drive: storm-day chain control on Highways 18 and 330 catches flatlanders every single weekend. Carry chains even in an AWD and read the chain-control guide before a powder-day mission.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Snow Valley from Lake Arrowhead?
About 25 minutes: Highway 18 east through Running Springs, resort entrance at 35100 CA-18. On storm weekends, add time for chain control and traffic.
Is a Snow Valley ticket valid at Big Bear?
Yes — since the Big Bear Mountain Resort acquisition, standard BBMR lift tickets are valid same-day at Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain (night tickets have their own rules: $59 Snow Valley-only, $109 for Snow Valley + Snow Summit).
Does Snow Valley have snow tubing or snow play?
Yes, a managed snow-play/tubing area alongside the ski operation. For dedicated tubing, Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park in Green Valley Lake is the area's classic; Rim Nordic in Running Springs grooms sledding lanes.
Is Snow Valley on the Ikon Pass?
Yes — Snow Valley is included with Big Bear Mountain Resort on Ikon products, and pass holders get priority lift-line access. There's also a Snow Valley-only Anytime season pass (renewals from about $379).
Facts on this page last verified July 17, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.