DAY TRIP Big Bear

Despite its being a mountain resort surrounded by desert communities, Big Bear Mountain flourishes during the winter season as the premier ski, snowboard and winter fun area within three hours’ driving time.

Assorted mom-and-pop shops outline the main roads, and many clump together in the village section that hosts shopping, entertainment and food. Restaurants aren’t sparse, with numerous types — Cuban to French, barbecue to Italian — found all over the mountain. But the main reason people take a tour of Big Bear is for its slopes.

Not counting the smaller Snow Valley found on the ride up to Big Bear, the mountain holds two resorts, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, both owned by the same company.

They feature fresh and man-made snow and are just now opening up main runs for the season. Altitudes for the mountain start at 6,750 feet but reach heights of 9,000 feet.

HOURS

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The night sessions are open from 3 to 9:30 p.m. most Fridays, Saturdays and holiday weekends, but times are subject to change due to weather.

PRICE

Tickets to ski and snowboarding resorts vary in price, depending on age of rider, and whether it’s a regular-season day, holiday or peak weekend. For regular-season days it is $51 for adults 22 years and over; $41 for ages 13 to 21; $20 for those 7 to 12, and free for children 6 and under. Half-days, nights and half-night tickets are all at discounted rates.

GETTING THERE

There are a number of possible routes to Big Bear Lake that eventually end up on the I-10 east toward Redlands.

Take CA-55 north to CA-91 east. Follow CA-91 to I-215 north and exit onto I-10 east. Follow the signs that direct you to Mountain Resorts. Take CA-30 west to CA-330 north. Follow CA-330 as it bends left about halfway up the mountain and becomes CA-18.

Turn right at Big Bear Boulevard when you reach the dam. If you want to avoid CA-91, you can take CA-57 north to I-10 east.

If you want to avoid some mountain driving, then travel through Lucerne Valley. Take CA-57 north to I-10 east. Exit onto I-15 north until the Bear Valley Road exit. Turn right at Bear Valley Road and follow until it ends at CA-18 and turn right. Take CA-18 through Lucerne Valley and turn right to continue on CA-18 when signs direct you to do so near the Chevron gas station.

Follow CA-18 all the way up to Big Bear City for about 15 to 20 minutes of mountain driving. Once on the mountain, turn left at Division Road and right at Big Bear Boulevard.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

There is no natural snow yet, although conditions are cold enough with temperatures during the day in the 40s.

They have been making snow, and have 12 to 24 inches of machine groomed, hard-packed powder, providing for most runs to be full-width, but rough around the edges.

— Daniel Tedford