5 Best Ski Resorts Near Orange County

It’s time get all your snowboarding and ski gear ready to go for the season! Skiing in Southern California is one of our favorite things to do in the winter season. And lucky for us because we have some of the most beautiful snowcapped mountains that have perfect slopes for beginner skiers/snowboarders and challenging slopes for advanced skiers/snowboarders.

Here are the best ski resorts near Orange County!

Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain Resort is the home of the Superpipe, and is lucky to house the highest lift-served peaks and only half pipes in Southern California! This beautiful resort is a great escape for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Keep in mind that even though it doesn’t have a lot of steep terrains, the whole mountain is a terrain park.

For all the snowboarders out there, Bear Mountain is truly the perfect spot for seasonal snowboarding! It’s definitely a resort built for advanced skiers, so I wouldn’t recommended this for downhill skiers, families, or beginners. But the good news is there’s plenty of other options in Orange County!

One of the perks of the resort is that the lift pass can also be used at the nearby Snow Summit Mountain Resort. There’s plenty of nearby lodging, and lots of great choices in Big Bear City or Big Bear Lake. Plus, there’s lots of delicious restaurants nearby to grab lunch or dinner!

Drive Time: 2 hours from Orange County

Ski Season: December 1, 2024 – April 16, 2025

Snow Summit

Snow Summit Mountain Resort is located in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. This resort is best known for the amazing snow skiing. It has a dedicated beginner’s area (perfect for any age – including me), and is a great family park to learn how to ski or snowboard. The extensive snowmaking operation at Snow Summit, allows the trails to stay open all night and throughout the entire season. Oh, and don’t forget to try out the night skiing and snowboarding – so much fun! There’s also plenty of places to eat at the resort, so make your plans to hit the slopes this winter!

Drive Time: 2 Hours from Orange County

Ski Season: December 2, 2024 – April 16, 2025

Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain is another great resort close to Orange County, with one of the biggest ski areas in Southern California! It also has the longest season in North America, running from November all the way until the end of May. The resort is known for it’s great slopes, and is perfect for both skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

Another reason why this is a top destination for families is because there is an abundant amount of snow and other winter sports to enjoy… even if your family does not like skiing and snowboarding! Mammoth Mountain has tubing, snowmobiling, gondola rides, snowcat tours, and cross-country skiing. So there’s definitely something for everyone!

Another perk to the area is that you can also take advantage of the amazing Mammoth Lakes. And there are plenty of options for lodging and restaurants around the mountain.

Drive Time: 5 1/2 hours from Orange County

Ski Season: November 15, 2024 – May 29, 2025

Mountain High

Mountain High is another good option for those close to Orange County looking for a more challenging mountain terrain of varying difficulty. It has designated areas for advanced skiers, and terrain parks for intermediate and beginner skiers.

Mountain High is made up of three resorts. The East Resort and the West Resort have the most challenging and longest terrain to ski. While the North Resort is a great place for families, beginners, and even adult beginners. The only downside to Mountain High is its changing conditions with snowmaking. The resort has a hard time making snow and does have extensive snowmaking operations like Snow Summit. One thing to note is that advanced skiers may miss having steep chutes and trails.

For those not interested in hitting the slopes, it also has tubing and sledding for the little ones at the Yeti Snow Park!

Drive Time: About an hour and a half from Orange County

Ski Season: November 29, 2024 – April 16, 2025

Snow Valley

Snow Valley Mountain Resort is a quiet family park that is a great option for learning to ski and snowboard. There are plenty of places for the kids to play in the snow, and a large sun deck to lounge after a few runs. One thing that makes this resort different is that it does not have any lodging nearby, so it does not get nearly as crowded as Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.

Snow Valley also has night skiing on weekends, so it’s a great destination if you want to head out for a fun night out. Conditions of the snow can vary since it is on a lower elevation of the mountain. It is a great place to go if you just want to ski and snowboard without the crowds and hassle of a packed resort.

Drive Time: About an hour and a half from Orange County

Ski Season: December 9, 2024 – April 9, 2025

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Howard Chung

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5 Best Ski Resorts Near Orange County

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Bear Mountain

Snow Summit

Mammoth Mountain

Mountain High

Snow Valley

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