Frequently touted as the premiere place to learn to ski in Southern California, Snow Summit offers up heaps of beginner and intermediate terrain. Its partnership with nearby Big Bear ensures that more advanced riders can take the free shuttle to Big Bear and use the same lift ticket to experience some of the most challenging and thrilling backcountry terrain in Southern California. Snow Summit is by no means a big resort, but it does have a big heart and some of the friendliest staff around. It’s a perfect family and couples destination and in less than two hours guests can go from L.A. chic to mountain rustic.
There are over 30 trails: 35 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 25 percent expert/advanced. The trails are spread throughout 240 skiable acres of winter wonderland. The resort is intimate and offers guests the chance to explore terrain without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. Ideal for first-timers and small children this resort has impeccably groomed terrain and long meandering runs that will delight everyone.
Their passion for grooming goes well beyond their ski runs—the effort is also seen in their terrain park construction and maintenance. The resort features nightly maintenance and shaping to provide the most consistent surfaces and features possible. Their incredibly talented park staff makes sure the terrain parks remain some of the most innovative in California.
Snow Summit also offers a series of great ski and snowboard learning programs with certified instructors as well as equipment rentals for guests aged four and up. Snow Summit offers complete packages, which include lessons, area lift tickets and heavily discounted rates on equipment rentals. Their ‘learn to ski’ packages are some of the best and most affordable in the region. All-day camps are also available for children between the ages of four and seven. Be sure to check out their array of budget-friendly learn to ski and snowboard packages.
On mountain dining is available at Snow Summit including the View Haus, located at the summit, the restaurant provides spectacular views, spacious sun-soaked decks, as well as a full and varied menu. There are other wonderful dining options on the mountain or hop the shuttle and have lunch at Big Bear, which also has a few great bars. There is not slope side lodging available, but the resort partners up with many great accommodations such as hotels, lodges, condos, and cabins to offer guests great ski and stay packages.
Snow Summit aims to have the best terrain, the friendliest staff, and the most affordable ski experience in Southern California, and it succeeds. A Southern California family favorite for decades, Snow Summit is a breathtakingly simple resort.
The resort boasts 100% snowmaking on its developed runs and can produce powder of three to five feet, which helps immensely given the resorts temperate climate and plentiful sunshine. There are nearly 250 acres of terrain and more than 30 runs. They are fairly evenly distributed based on ability levels, 35% beginner, 40 percent intermediate and 25 percent for more advanced riders. They also boast some terrific night riding on its beginner runs and at its premiere park, Westridge terrain park.
For beginners and little ones there are Fun Zones which are great places to learn to ride park and boast many smaller jibs and features. Westridge and Ego Trip are the famous terrain parks and are used to host a series of events and competitions every winter. Recently the park has been geared toward making itself more family-friendly with progressive terrain for beginners and low-intermediates. However, the two terrain parks feature a fabulous array of intermediate and advanced jumps and jibs. Fortunately for park riders and freestyle skiers, Snow Summit and Big Bear team up so one lift ticket grants access to not only the massive terrain parks at Big Bear during the day but also at Snow Summit for excellent day and night park riding.
The ski area is only a few hours from L.A., a metropolis brimming with activity, nightlife, and some of the best shopping in the world. The beach is also a few hours away, perfect for snowboarders who also surf. In and around the area there is a plethora of winter activities like sledding, snowtubing, ice skating and more. Indoor activities include great shopping, museums, art galleries among the lure of Hollywood and its idyllic year-round weather.
There is one bar at summit and several just a 10-minute shuttle away at Big Bear, including a beach-themed bar that offers delicious (and gigantic) tropical drinks. Again the greater Los Angeles area is replete with live music, theatre, nightclubs, lounges and amazing bars, basically anything imaginable will exist either in Los Angeles or in the surrounding areas.