Snow Summit
Encyclopedia
Snow Summit is a ski resort
that was established in 1952 and is in the San Bernardino Mountains
in Southern California
. It is located by Big Bear Lake
along with its sister resort Bear Mountain
; these two resorts which operate under the same management are collectively known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR).
Snow Summit is one of the larger ski areas in Southern California, and is considered to be one of the most popular ski and snowboard destinations for patrons from around the Los Angeles area. Snow Summit is a mid-sized resort, with a 1209 ft (368.5 m) topographic vertical drop, and 240 acre (97.1 ha) of skiable terrain, all of it covered by snowmaking.
. S.K.I. invested millions of dollars in ski resort improvements to Bear Mountain, raising the level of competition facing Snow Summit. In 2002, Snow Summit purchased Bear Mountain, and the two are operated as one company.
Today, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are marketed as dual resorts, both branded under the Big Bear Mountain Resorts name. Both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain lift tickets can be used at either resort, and there is a free shuttle bus service between the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain that allows patrons to easily connect back and forth to ski or snowboard the either two resorts on the same pass.
. The resort has invested millions of dollars in a system which sources water from Big Bear Lake
and allows for high snowmaking capacity over all of the resort’s marked terrain. In the winter, Snow Summit undergoes aggressive snowmaking to ensure suitable snow conditions throughout its operating season.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
that was established in 1952 and is in the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. It is located by Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake, California
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, located northeast of the city of San Bernardino. The population was 5,019 at the 2010 census, down from 5,438 at the 2000 census...
along with its sister resort Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain (Ski Area)
Bear Mountain , formerly Goldmine Mountain, is a ski area in Southern California. It is the sister resort of Snow Summit, together known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts. In 2002 Bear Mountain was purchased by Snow Summit, and the two resorts are now accessible with a single lift ticket...
; these two resorts which operate under the same management are collectively known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR).
Snow Summit is one of the larger ski areas in Southern California, and is considered to be one of the most popular ski and snowboard destinations for patrons from around the Los Angeles area. Snow Summit is a mid-sized resort, with a 1209 ft (368.5 m) topographic vertical drop, and 240 acre (97.1 ha) of skiable terrain, all of it covered by snowmaking.
Bear Mountain relationship
For decades, Snow Summit and neighboring Goldmine Mountain, less than two miles apart from each other, operated as two independent ski resorts. In 1988, Goldmine was bought by a major ski company, S.K.I., and was renamed to Bear MountainBear Mountain (Ski Area)
Bear Mountain , formerly Goldmine Mountain, is a ski area in Southern California. It is the sister resort of Snow Summit, together known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts. In 2002 Bear Mountain was purchased by Snow Summit, and the two resorts are now accessible with a single lift ticket...
. S.K.I. invested millions of dollars in ski resort improvements to Bear Mountain, raising the level of competition facing Snow Summit. In 2002, Snow Summit purchased Bear Mountain, and the two are operated as one company.
Today, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are marketed as dual resorts, both branded under the Big Bear Mountain Resorts name. Both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain lift tickets can be used at either resort, and there is a free shuttle bus service between the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain that allows patrons to easily connect back and forth to ski or snowboard the either two resorts on the same pass.
Snowmaking
Snow Summit is known to have an expansive snowmaking systemSnowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
. The resort has invested millions of dollars in a system which sources water from Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake, California
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, located northeast of the city of San Bernardino. The population was 5,019 at the 2010 census, down from 5,438 at the 2000 census...
and allows for high snowmaking capacity over all of the resort’s marked terrain. In the winter, Snow Summit undergoes aggressive snowmaking to ensure suitable snow conditions throughout its operating season.
Snow Summit trails
| Beginner | Intermediate | Difficult | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyline Creek | Cruiser | Ego Trip Park | The Wall |
| Sundown | Mainstream | Dicky's | Olympic |
| Summit Run | Westridge Freestyle Park | Tommi's | Side Chute |
| East Why | |||
| Zzyzx | |||
| Miracle Mile | |||
| Off Chute | |||
| Log Chute | |||
| Timber Ridge | |||
| 7-Down | |||
| Perfect Pitches | |||
| Side Show | |||
| Sugar Pine | |||
| Jo's |