Bear Valley is a census-designated place in Alpine County, California, best known as the location of the Bear Valley ski area. The population was 121 at the 2010 census, down from 133 at the 2000 census.

Bear Valley is within the Stanislaus National Forest and is reached by State Route 4. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km), of which 99.58% is land and 0.42% is water. Although inside Alpine County, Bear Valley Fire Department has contracted with California Department of Forestry, San Andreas, for dispatching.

Bear Valley's central Sierra location and elevation gives it a warm-summer Mediterranean climate that is nearly a subarctic climate. Precipitation is seen for a lot of the year except for the middle of the summer, which can experience rare, but not unseen, thunderstorms. Late fall to early spring brings in most of the yearly precipitation, typically in the form of abundant snowfall. Furthermore, summers are warm with cool nights while winters are cold and relatively long.

Bear Valley post office opened in 1967.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	128		—
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Bear Valley had a population of 121. The population density was 23.4 inhabitants per square mile (9.0/km). The racial makeup of Bear Valley was 119 (98.3%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 1 (0.8%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 1 (0.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 persons (0.8%).

The Census reported that 121 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 67 households, out of which 11 (16.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 27 (40.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 0 (0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 0 (0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 4 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 33 households (49.3%) were made up of individuals, and 4 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81. There were 27 families (40.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.67.

The population was spread out, with 18 people (14.9%) under the age of 18, 7 people (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 28 people (23.1%) aged 25 to 44, 51 people (42.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 17 people (14.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 124.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 139.5 males.

There were 531 housing units at an average density of 102.6 per square mile (39.6/km), of which 67 were occupied, of which 47 (70.1%) were owner-occupied, and 20 (29.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 29.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 75.3%. 94 people (77.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 27 people (22.3%) lived in rental housing units.

As of the census of 2000, there were 133 people, 67 households, and 32 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 25.8 inhabitants per square mile (10.0/km). There were 431 housing units at an average density of 83.8 per square mile (32.4/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.23% White, 2.26% Native American, 0.75% from other races, and 6.77% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 67 households, out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.2% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 16.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 37.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $49,583, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,252. There were 14.3% of families and 8.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under 18 and 0.0% of those over 64.

• Bear Valley (resort)

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Valley, Alpine County, California

"Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit: 2005 Pre-Fire Management Plan September 28, 2005 Edition," California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 09-28-2005, pp. 16.

• Bear Valley music festival
• Bear Valley wiki