Bear Valley has very good snow frequency of 15.7% of winter days with 6 inches or more and 33% of winter months with 90 inches or more, but also endures 26% of winter months with less than 30 inches. Bear Valley is forested to its 8,500 foot summit, so powder skiing can be good even on severe storm days. Average snow density of 12% is not the blower of the Rockies but easily managed on modern fat rockered skis.

Accumulation and Preservation

It takes high snowfall for Bear Valley to reach full operation by Christmas, because its steepest terrain is at low altitude. California droughts can be extreme, so even the snowiest areas are less than ¼ open at Christmas in the worst 15% of seasons. Bear Valley is about half north-facing but tops out at 8,500 feet, so overall snow preservation is about average for California.