Despite limited snowfall, several weather phenomena have combined to create some of the best cross country skiing conditions in Bear Valley this winter. What lacks in quantity and kilometers of open trails is superseded by the top-notch quality of the 25 open kilometers.

I first discovered Bear Valley Cross Country in the early 1970s.  We used Bonna wooden skis and bamboo poles, and always avoided using a klister wax!

Enjoy the third installment of “Project Warming Hut,” where new Bear Valley homeowners had a memorable experience taking their extended family to the Warming Hut and beyond.

Most of us know the Meadow Cafe as a sunny spot to refuel midway through a fun day on the snow.  A place to rest while children build snow people and forts and engage in all-out war as snowballs fly and shrieks of laughter fill the air.

Back in ancient times, when dinosaurs roamed the area, Bear Valley needed a sales office where people could learn about the valley and its development. Highway 4 was just being widened, and the only houses in the valley were in what is now known as the old subdivision …

The 2024/2025 winter season kicked off on Thanksgiving Day with near-perfect cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing conditions. A healthy dose of "Sierra Cement" sloshed into the meadow shortly before the weekend, providing an excellent substrate to start building trails.

The end of October brought the first signs of snow. This time of year is always exciting, with fall colors accenting the landscape while big and small creatures make final preparations before the arrival of winter.

After a brief encounter of wintery weather in early September, Bear Valley has returned to warm and calm fall weather. These late summer conditions, commonly called "Indian Summer," are one of the finest seasons in the High Sierra.

The Bear Valley Music Festival has come and gone. While the final week is still ahead at the time of this writing, the cultural and economic injection this event brings to our community is unmistakable. A heartfelt appreciation to the organizers and patrons is well-deserved. Thank you!

The birds are chirping, the mosquitos are buzzing, and the wildflowers are finally here! Sweet peas line the highway before and around Arnold, but you may notice they stop short of Bear Valley, unable to survive in the harsher, higher elevations.

Summer arrived right on schedule in Bear Valley. By July 4th, hiking and biking trails were clear of snow and debris, all lakes were accessible, including Highland Lakes, and the wildflowers were giving a fantastic display of diversity and color.

Delve into the evolving lifecycles of ravens in and around Bear Valley and the Sierra Nevada Range. Learn more about our opportunistic and transitory aerial neighbors, the Common Raven.

The meadow was starting to grumble, and the Bear Valley Adventure Company (BVAC) ceased winter operations on Sunday, April 30th, with great skiing and live music at the Meadow Cafe. Then, by May 1st, the meadow made it loud and clear that winter was over, …

The Bear Valley Adventure Company is excited to sponsor “Project Warming Hut,” which seeks stories that capture the heart and soul of a place we hold dear. We want to hear from you!

As the winter season comes to a close in Bear Valley, so too does the denning season of our namesake, the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) …

While the saying "in like a lamb, out like a lion" is often associated with March weather, we think it fits this winter's pattern. Looking back at November & December, warmer-than-average temperatures with a few storms …

Throughout our trail system we have three huts; The Equipe Hut, The Bjornlopett Hut, and the Osborne Ridge Hut.

February proved a little longer than usual, not because of the Leap Year Day on February 29th but because of all the cool happenings at the Bear Valley Adventure Company (BVAC). For starters …

The 51st Annual Bjornloppet XC Ski Race Weekend will happen on March 9th and 10th, 2024. This event is one of the longest-running ski races in the West and is open to a range of abilities. The weekend starts …

Patience has been the key to welcoming winter this season. Without snowmaking, the Bear Valley Adventure Company (BVAC) manages low snow conditions the old-fashioned way by shoveling and transporting snow onto the trails. Fortunately, …