Snow Summit is the larger of Big Bear's two ski resorts, established in 1952 and covering 240 acres of terrain across 13 lifts. It caters to all ability levels, with wide groomed runs for beginners on the upper mountain and more challenging steeps and terrain parks for experienced riders. Snow Summit also operates a snowboard park that helped put Big Bear on the action-sports map.
In summer, Snow Summit rebrands as a mountain biking destination. The lifts carry riders and their bikes to the summit, from where a network of trails descends through pine and cedar forest. The views south toward the Inland Empire valleys, often with the Salton Sea visible on clear days, are among the best in Southern California.