Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s premier recreational lake. It has approximately 22 miles of shoreline and is seven miles long. Spring fever brings hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-roading, golfing, boating, waterskiing, parasailing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing activities. When the colors start to change and the temperatures drop, Big Bear begins to “think snow.” Downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and moonlight snowshoeing move to the top of the must do list.
Winter
Big Bear Lake is the ultimate winter playground. From your home in Southern California, you can enjoy your favorite winter sport—downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and lots of snow play—in no time at all.
Big Bear features one of the most advanced snowmaking systems in the country and two world-class ski resorts where the lift tickets are interchangeable. There are plenty of locations for equipment rentals. Whatever your skill level, Olympic snowboarder or master snowman builder, Big Bear Lake offers plenty of wintertime fun.
Spring, Summer & Fall
Leave all the heat and smog and traffic far behind and come chill-out in beautiful Big Bear. Big Bear Lake is cool and inviting.
Big Bear Discovery Center is operated cooperatively by the U.S. Forest Service and San Bernardino National Forest Association. Guests visit the center for naturalist-led interpretive programs, evening nature lectures, hiking and camping information and to view the changing exhibits which include every thing from native animals to fire prevention. Tours on foot or by canoe are available for the more adventuresome providing opportunities to learn about Big Bear waterfowl, aquatic and animal life. The Adventure Outpost is an onsite retail store which offers one-of-a-kind gifts.
Also unique to Big Bear is the Moonridge Zoo, a 2.5 acre facility for animals wounded in the wilderness. The area fires of 1959 brought about the need to house injured animals that could be treated and returned to the forest. For those healthy but non-releasable birds and animals, the Moonridge Zoo became their protective new home, and the Moonridge Animal Park was “born.” At least 200 injured wild birds and animals are treated annually at the park, and the majority are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Expansion efforts are currently underway.
The Big Bear Solar Observatory takes advantage of the excellent climatic conditions of Big Bear to study the sun. The observatory is located in the middle of Big Bear Lake to reduce image distortion, and turbulent motions in the air are also reduced by the smooth flow of the wind across the lake. These conditions, combined with the usually cloudless skies over Big Bear Lake and the clarity of the air at this elevation, make the observatory a premier site for solar observations.
No trip to Big Bear is complete without a visit to the Big Bear Valley Historical Museum. The museum has many exhibits that begin with the Indian period and include an 1875 log cabin, gold mining artifacts, cattle ranching and lumbering exhibits, and many other historical artifacts.
The Alpine Water Slide is taking people on wet and wild ride. Located at Big Bear’s Magic Mountain, it features water slide, bobsleds, go-karts, miniature golf, snack bar and BBQs. Winter snow-play hill with the “Magic Carpet Ride.”
The Baldwin Lake Stables & Petting Zoo offers a delightful and educational experience. Visit and learn about many of nature's wild animals in their natural mountain habitat. Simply enjoy a more playful menagerie at The Petting Zoo.
The Bear Mountain Golf Course is a 9-hole, mountain-style, full-service, course, with pro-shop, driving range, practice green, course pro and restaurant. Closed in winter.
For daily Big Bear Lake tours with live entertainment and authentic pirates, hop on the Time Bandit Pirate Ship Tours. Also available for private parties.
Big Bear Off-Road Adventures is the area’s only year-round 4-wheel-drive tours. Come explore all the natural terrain of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains.
Secluded Fawnskin Harbor offers a wide variety of big city services with a serene, uncrowded small-town ambience at the Captain John's Fawn Harbor & Marina.
Holloway’s Marina is where you can find hook-ups, boat rentals, supplies.
At Pine Knot Landing you will find narrated Big Bear Lake tours aboard the Sierra Belle. Boat rentals, slips and moorings, parasailing, wave runners, bait and tackle, private “Dock Club” and more.
The Pleasure Point Marina is the oldest continually operated marina. Boat and slip rentals, supplies, fishing licenses, lake permits, repair, winterizing and storage.
If you want a gigantic All-Mountain Freestyle Park, visit Big Bear Mountain Resorts, where you can try the 9-hole Bear Mountain Golf Course and see how far a golf ball flies at 7,000'! Come play in mild summer breezes and blue skies for a unique golf experience. Riding the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair to the 8,200' summit is a must do activity for Big Bear visitors—for an hour or an entire day! From the top of the Sky Chair, cross-country mountain bikers can enjoy over 40 miles of Forest Service roads and trails, offering some of the most breathtaking vistas in Southern California. Ride up the Sky Chair and take a leisurely walk around the mountain top. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the chair up and hike all the way back down to the base area.
Waterskiing hours on the lake are between 7:00 am and sunset.