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Sunspot

Black diamond Bear Valley, CA

Steepest pitch54°
Vertical1,046 ft
Length2,420 ft
Average pitch27°
FacesN
Top7,696 ft

Sunspot drops 1,046 vertical feet over 2,420 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 54° about 590 feet below the top. That's steeper than 100% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 1st steepest of 74 named runs at Bear Valley. It faces north.

How well Sunspot holds snow

Snow preservationExcellent

Facing north at an average 27°, Sunspot gets about 47% of the winter sun that flat ground at Bear Valley does, December through March. That's shadier than 95% of the runs we've measured, and the 18th shadiest named run at Bear Valley. Its top sits at 7,700 feet.

Shaded snow stays colder and drier, so it holds powder longer after a storm and is slower to crust over or turn to slush in spring. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Sunspot profile

under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.

Where it is on the mountain

Nearby at Bear Valley

Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.