Facility Overview

The Bear Mountain Base Lot is the primary on-site surface parking facility serving Big Bear Mountain Resort, positioned at 43101 Goldmine Drive in the Moonridge neighborhood of Big Bear Lake, California. Laid out across expansive asphalt terraced tiers directly at the foot of the ski resort\'s base lodge, the lot provides steps-from-the-snow access to chairlifts, ticket windows, ski rentals, and mountain dining. Because it is an entirely open-air grade-level parking lot, there are no vertical clearance height restrictions, making it exceptionally well-suited for high-profile four-wheel-drive vehicles, lifted pickup trucks, ski-rack outfitted SUVs, and large family crossovers. Note that overnight parking and camping are strictly prohibited year-round, with strict towing enforcement taking place after resort closing hours.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

This car park is ideally situated for winter sports enthusiasts, summer alpine adventurers, and mountain sightseers visiting Big Bear\'s premier alpine venues:

• Bear Mountain Ski Resort & Terrain Parks: Direct pedestrian access (1 to 3-minute walk) to Chair 9, Chair 7, the base lodge, equipment rentals, and slope-side amenities.
• Bear Mountain Golf Course: Located right on-site during spring, summer, and autumn months (1-minute walk) offering a scenic 9-hole mountain golf experience.
• Big Bear Alpine Zoo: Located approximately 0.8 miles down Goldmine Drive (a 3-minute drive or scenic stroll), home to rescued alpine wildlife.
• Moonridge Corridor: Situated about 1 mile away, offering local coffee shops, ski tune shops, pizzerias, and casual mountain dining.
• Snow Summit Ski Resort: Accessible via the complimentary inter-resort shuttle that connects visitors between Bear Mountain and Snow Summit throughout the day.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular ingress is via Moonridge Road onto Goldmine Drive, guiding motorists up the mountain canyon directly into the resort gates. During peak winter weekends, holidays, and heavy snowfall days, resort parking staff direct inbound traffic tier-by-tier to maximize parking density. Exiting down Goldmine Drive after the lifts close at 4:00 PM can experience significant bottleneck congestion; travelers heading off the mountain can connect to Big Bear Boulevard (CA-18) to exit towards Lucerne Valley via CA-18 North or down the mountain to San Bernardino via CA-330 / CA-18 West. Big Bear\'s local Mountain Transit (Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority - MARTA) provides ski season bus routes connecting local transit hubs and lodging with Bear Mountain, supplemented by Big Bear Mountain Resort\'s inter-property shuttle network linking remote overflow lots (such as Sandalwood lot) to the base.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-air multi-tiered paved surface parking with direct ski-in/walk-up resort access.
• No overhead height barriers, accommodating standard cars, ski-racked trucks, and large SUVs.
• Dedicated ADA-accessible parking spaces situated closest to the main guest services lodge.
• Seasonal resort attendants and parking marshals assisting with traffic flow and vehicle positioning.
• Complimentary resort shuttle connection linking directly to Snow Summit and satellite lots.
• Digital parking pass scanning and online daily reservation options during peak winter operations.
• Well-lit pedestrian crosswalks and safety lanes linking parking tiers to resort entrances.

Ideal For

• Skiers, snowboarders, and terrain park riders demanding quick ski-in/walk-up access to the slopes.
• Families and groups transporting heavy ski bags, snowboards, and equipment who want to minimize walking distance.
• Summer golfers and hikers accessing Bear Mountain Golf Course and surrounding San Bernardino National Forest trailheads.
• Day trippers visiting the alpine base lodge for sun-deck dining, apres-ski gatherings, and mountain events.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During winter peak season, weekends, and powder days, the Base Lot often reaches full capacity before 8:30 AM. Arriving by 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM or reserving daily premium parking permits in advance via the Big Bear Mountain Resort website is highly recommended. If the base lot fills, electronic signs along Moonridge Road will divert incoming vehicles to remote satellite parking areas (such as Sandalwood Lot) where free shuttles transport guests to the base. Mountain drivers should carry snow chains as mandated by California Highway Patrol during winter storm conditions. Crucially, heed the facility\'s explicit policy: all vehicles must exit by evening resort closure, as overnight parking or sleeping in vehicles is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate impounding.