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Bear's Lair

Black diamond Big Sky, MT

Steepest pitch33°
Vertical1,097 ft
Length2,906 ft
Average pitch23°
FacesE
Top8,543 ft

Bear's Lair drops 1,097 vertical feet over 2,906 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 33° about 1,820 feet below the top. That's steeper than 73% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 91st steepest of 290 named runs at Big Sky. It faces east.

How well Bear's Lair holds snow

Snow preservationAverage

Facing east at an average 23°, Bear's Lair gets about 88% of the winter sun that flat ground at Big Sky does, December through March. That's sunnier than 57% of the runs we've measured, and the 148th sunniest named run at Big Sky. Its top sits at 8,540 feet.

It gets an ordinary dose of sun: powder lasts a typical amount of time, and spring snow softens on a normal schedule. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Bear's Lair profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Bear's Lair elsewhere

Nearby at Big Sky

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.