Bear Valley

This pleasantly off-the-grid winter destination feels and looks like a secret escape in the middle of rugged alpine wilderness. With its laid-back, family-friendly vibe, this low-key mountain town, roughly half way between Lake Tahoe to the north and Yosemite National Park to the south, has a comfortably retro feel, the kind of place that might make you reminisce about your own favourite childhood holidays. As for skiing and boarding, Bear Valley Mountain Resorts features 9 lifts access, 75 trails with nearly 1,700 acres of skiable terrain. Trails range from the easy to the challenges of Grizzly Bowl, so everyone can find places to play. Snow making keeps things skiable in dryer years. 

In snowy winters, Highway 4, also known as Ebbetts Pass and a designated National Scenic Byway, closes just east of Bear Valley. Though vehicles cannot cross the mountains here, the snow-covered highway turns into an easy-to-follow route for snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. Hire snow-shoes or cross country skis in town, then follow the road to views of craggy mountains and hushed forests. For more trails, visit Bear Valley Cross Country, with groomed trails for track and skate skiing, four trail side huts and the Meadow Café, plus picnic tables for when the weather is good, all dotting some 3,000 acres  of varied terrain. There is also a gentle slope where you can practice your downhill technique on Nordic skis. But don’t worry, it gets easier with practice. There are also sledging and tubing hills, plus fat-tyre snow bikes for a new twist on winter fun.

Snowmobiles are also popular in the region. Bear Valley Snowmobile offers hires and 15 miles of groomed trails, with the Highland Lakes area a popular destination. 

Insider’s tip: Come back in the summer for the annual Bear Valley Music Festival, featuring a full orchestra and other top music under the pines.