Big Bear Lake Reviews

A lovely lake to visit. The water is pretty cold this time of year. But it's nice to feed the ducks and put your feet in.

Visiting Big Bear Lake every year, sometimes twice. This time it was a nice surprise that the Big bear Lake had a lot of water, compare August 2018, when parts of the lake had NO water at all. Like Boulder Bay Park and the North Shore Drive.

Big Bear is a great destination for those who want to experience the snow. Going to give you a couple of helpful tips to be prepared & help out the locals a bit. First, be prepared! Most underestimate the snow & go in tennis or bearpaw boots & none water proof gloves, pants & jackets. I know it can be expensive, so buy everything at a second hand store or eBay, but trust me! You want to be prepared or you will get ALL WET! Take everything you need with you, some convenience store are ridiculously overpriced! We do have StaterBros, Vons & Dollar Tree but always super busy & out of certain necessities. Traffic jams & parking, pretty please be considerate of the locals & don’t block or park in their driveways. Please look for other ways to get to your destination to help minimize traffic jams, back streets etc. Last but not least, try to park far & walk a bit, use this time to chat with your family, exercise a bit lol this helps out a lot with traffic jams & congestion. Hope this helps a bit & enjoy!

This place is easy to get to from Southern California. Around 2 hours drive. The lake is at 6700 feet so a great retreat from LA summers.

Went on July 4th weekend to do some kayaking. There are literally no place to launch your kayak due to low water level. Yes, you can rent at the marina, but we have our own. Our 2 favorite places to launch are Boulder Bay Park and Meadow Park. These 2 places are totally dried out. Aside from not able to kayak, the water district still charges for permit. What a joke? They should waive the permit for personal kayak due to water level issue.

This is a great city for family vacations. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed the lake, although the drought has made it very low. Some places there is no water. The people are friendly and they have many good restaurants.

I visited in August and the water was very dirty. It was covered by algae and smelled bad as well. It was a huge disappointment.

Spent a couple of days up here mountain biking, spent a full day going around the lake and the centre, followed by an awesome day on the trials, can't wait to go back

Skiing, Hiking, sailing, paddle boarding, bbqs, friends..... so much to do and see. The restaurants are great the shopping is fun, nightlife and entertainment is good. There is always something to do and we are so excited about the NEW ALPINE MOONRIDGE ZOO opening soon.

First time here at this small town and first time to experience snow. It was a time well spent. Love the place that it has a lot of attractions to offer and it is just a three hour drive from LA. Big bear village is really homey with lots of taverns and artsy shops a perfect place to have a cold evening walk. I will definitely come back again!!

Beautiful lake at the top of the mountain. Some ducks roaming around. Surrounded by many lodging and restaurants. It was a gorgeous afternoon

I've broken an arm snowboarding, so I am no longer doing snow sports. What I didn't realize until last summer that Big Bear is a great place to visit in the summer. No chains required or getting stuck on the road on the way up. There are lots of activities int he summertime and quite peaceful if you stay at the right place.

I arrived in Big Bear Lake on the luck of the draw. Unscheduled road trip, picked at random and so glad I did! Upon entering the area, you do notice (sadly) that some of the bodies of water have dried up. I hear this is cyclical, so with a bit of rain and snow pack hopefully they will be restored. Big Bear Lake itself is low, but still viable. I have spent the past two days just driving around the lake, hitting The Village... the whole place has the feel of the Adirondacks, which I remember from childhood. So worth a stopover, there are many cabins vying for your business, so accommodations should not be a challenge. Plenty of great places to eat, as well. Love it

This town is not only beautiful in the summer, fall, winter and spring, it also offers many things to do in each season! Just a few are....Water & Snow Skiing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Rock Climbing, Horseback Riding, Parasailing, Zip Lines, Ropes Course, Jeep Tours, Golf Course..... and so much more!

Be warned before you set out for Big Bear Lake. The water level is extremely low, the first 50 to 100 feet of water that there is is full of green algae. The lake itself is a brackish gray color, not the sparkling blue you see in the pictures. We saw a few people attempting to have fun on the water, but there is absolutely nothing inviting about this lake at this time.

First time to Big Bear Lake, was somewhat disappointed at the water level of the lake, I guess the drought is affecting all of California. We took a few short little hikes. Alpine Pedal Path was a 5.0 mile out and back along the north shore of the lake. Although this was an asphalt path between the lake and hwy 38 there were paths down to the shoreline and you could hike along the shore. Also hike the Towne Trail is a 3 mile out and back dirt trail that is very easy to follow and provides some nice views of Big Bear Lake from the south side. Our final hike was the Woodland Trail, another nice easy dirt loop. Be sure to pick up one of the pamphlets at the beginning of the trail what you are looking at each of the 16 numbered markers along the trail.

We visited Big Bear Lake for my fiancé’s birthday last December. I was personally surprised that the lake was... empty? I’m sure it makes sense for that area, but after looking at pictures of the hotel and surrounding area, I was surprised. We got to walk out off the dock into the lake bed and watch the stars. I would love to come back in the summer, when there’s a lake. I’m giving the lake 5 stars, because it was beautiful regardless.

We love Big Bear Lake! It’s beautiful and fun for the kids! The 4th of July firework show is amazing! Lots of great hiking and fishing spots :)
Weather is great in the summer time!

Although the lake is still low was wonderful for a good brisk hike around The colors of all the leaves turning was magnificent and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Am looking forward to many more hikes around this lake!

If you ever find yourself in the San Bernardino area, take the scenic trip up State Rd. 18 towards Lake Arrowhead, onto Running Springs to Big Bear Lake. Scenery all along the way! Little quaint towns along the way. Big Bear Lake town is worth a stop for shopping at its many amazing little shops. Have fun!

The views are as you would expect but the town is a little run down , some of the shops are fine but why oh why do the souvenir shops have to sell over priced junk from China ? I think we know. Nearly bought a sheep skin jacket looked a real cowboy NO made in China. Good selection of restaurants though.

On a cold evening (First snow started that night) we enjoyed a nice sunset behind the clouds above the lake.

This town gives you the feeling that we are in a little sky European-American village. We really enjoyed visiting this little town. You can find art galleries, good restaurants and activities.

A big town compared with Lake Arrowhead a lot of supermarkets you can shop around offseason not many people around you.

I visited this place from Orange County, CA way back in 2012 and then in Jan 2013 (twice). People who stay in CA do not see any snow and one who is missing it, should visit this place.

This is a quiet place during the weekdays but crowded during the weekends. Finding parking is difficult as well (weekends).The village got its name from the Lake (of-course). The place is all iced during the winter and it has lot to offer in games and recreation during the season. Skiing and Tubing are at every corner of the village. I do not believe an pre booking is needed but do call in advance to check. Make sure you take good winter jacket if going in winter its sub zero and chilling in winter.

It has good market to purchase, but expensive. I got Indian food to eat at this place and that was remarkable (though the food was not that good). Search for restaurant called 'Himalaya' in this area and its just in the market.

Driving during the night in Winter bit risky as its all hilly road and pretty much covered in dense fog.

We visited on a beautiful summer day and dipped our feet in the lake along with hundreds of others on the beach. There were lots of families taking advantage of the warm and sunny weather and setting up a space for the entire day.

Drove around the complete area of the lake and all the views of the lake were fantastic. We stopped at a public park run by the forest service and it was very clean and the people were very friendly. We were sad to see and hear that the lake has dropped about 12 feet in water due to the drought that California has experience. If you are in the area, the lake is a must ...

We love Big Bear Lake. This is our second visit. We were here last summer and are now enjoying the winter snow. This will be our vacation destination again next summer. Love it!

I don't know if it was the timing of our visit or the place in general but it didn't really impress me as much as it is hyped. It was very windy and COLD. Had a quiet feel to it. But nothing really exciting!

I've come to big bear about 5 times (every time in winter) and its beautiful, there are a lot of fun activities (mostly snow related). try to get a lake view cabin close to snow summit!

Grate mountain community with a lot to do. I think my family would love it here. We will definitely come back

A truly restful respite in the country. The mountains and air are wonderful. Nice restaurants and a lot to do. Been coming here for over 35 years and love it year round. The spring and summer are as great as the winter. Come an enjoy!!

Big Bear Lake is so beautiful. It's a great place to relax and forget about it all. There are spots to picnic, relax etc.

There are some foolish jet skiers who have no clue about safety, courtesy or boating laws. Saturdays are the worst. Rental jet skiers are a hazard. Enforcement of laws needs to be a priority. In one afternoon on the water in our smi boat and at a small beach we saw at least a dozen violations. Speeding in the no wake zone near swimmers. Jet skiing close to wakeboarders and kids being towed on tubes. Jet skiers jumping our boat wake. It was awful.

In Big Bear Lake Ca you can fish, swim,
bike, motorcycle, zip line, helicopter tour,
take a ski lift to to the top of snow summit and back or just take a stroll through the village and have a great meal. Rooms are plentiful and the scenery to die for, makes you glad to be alive.

Great fun in both summer and winter with fishing, boating, both snow and water skiing, backpacking and day hiking. There are a number of hotels in different price ranges. There are also two hostels in town. Dining choices are many and they range from fine dinning to fast food. I like to hike and backpack and the Pacific Crest Trail skims the town plus there are a number of day hikes with different degrees of difficulty available. The hostel will pick you up at the PCT and you can even get pizza delivered out there.

The Big Bear Lake is an excellent place to relax and unwind yourself with friends or family.

The Lake has options for boating, kayaking and other water sports etc.

The nearby Big Bear City offers a complete option of cabins and hotels for rentals.

You can also rent bikes and boats as well

Can you imagine that you can find an amazing sky mountain in south california? That is Big Bear Lake. Less than one hour from LA, with an amazing road and a beautiful mountain for sky and for have fun with family. I am not a good snow boarding, but I think the mountain is amazing dor the sport and has a good restaurant. Just perfect.

My wife, daughter, son in law and 2 year old grandson all took the Riverboat ride to see the entire lake. The ride was very nice, cool and windy if you chose to be out on second floor or warm and comfortable inside. The boat had a snack bar and bathrooms. I would recommend this boat over the Pirate ship- fun great experience, learned a lot about the lake and community. Would highly recommend.

We were so sad to see the water at Big Bear lake so low during our visit. We’ve visited this lake several times for fishing and other water activities but this time it was different. The water was so low that several lake front properties that had docks for boats were completely broken and left on pure sand. The lake has seriously shrunk in size. We chose not to fish or rent a boat this year due to the lake shortage. Hopefully with next years winter comes plenty of snow.

Took a paddle boat history tour of the lake for 90 minutes. It was fun and informative. The lake has a really interesting past life.

Big Bear itself is great fun. But Beware! The local drivers go up and down Hwy. 330 likes bats out of Hades, tailgating at way above speed limit and hugging your bumper. One of our party was nearly run off the (cliff) side of the road by an F-150 doing an illegal pass in my friend's lane going the wrong way! We had to pull over multiple times in each direction due to aggressive tailgaters even though we were going the speed limit on narrow, steep and windy road.

Also, many of the stores will not do any return, for any reason, which they will say is due to "COVID," but will offer you an exchange. That makes absolutely no sense - for an exchange your item is going back on the rack, right? Same as if you did a return. As soon as you swipe your credit card, it's yours, whether you discover a flaw or it doesn't fit, etc. Try on first and examine items closely.

the lake is beyond beautiful. The sad part is that it has to be down 20-30 feet. Your missing 1/2 the lake when you come over from Serrano Campground across the bridge, there is no lake to the left anymore. Really hoping we get a BUNCH of rain soon but don't let that stop you. The right side of the lake is still bright blue and beautiful.

Had great fun with the family and some family friends visiting us. It had snowed the previous night and we saw all the houses and vehicles covered in snow. A nice experience for all of us especially for the children who saw snow for the first time.

I have visited this small town about three times. Just day visits. Haven’t stayed there yet but looking forward to do it.
The place is lovely.

2nd week of a 3 week late summer R&R trip. Lake is down 12-15 foot so swim beaches are non-existant. South shore along Hwy 18 has just about any business you could imagine and an abundance of restaurants from fast food to cloth napkin. North shore is more rural with little commercialism. Temps running about 20 degrees lower "on the mountain" than San Bernadino less than an hour away.
Part of the trip was to drive some of the scenic highways like Rim Of The World (Ca-18) and Angeles Crest (Ca-2) West of I-15. The most spectacular scenery is 2 due to the terrain and the fact it goes thru a national forest where no development other than recreational is allowed. Passed thru the recent devastation of the Blue Cut fire and the older La Canada/Flintridge fire. So sad but amazing what a great job the fire crews did to save as many structures as they did in the Blue Cut blaze.
Other scenic roads are Ca-18, 38, 330 and 138. Enjoy.

When travelling to the mountains in the Winter months, you are required to carry chains and its a good idea to keep a flashlight, water, snacks and a blanket in the car - just in case there is a traffic delay due to a storm.

The Big Bear Lake area ranges in altitude from 6,750 feet to 9,000 feet above sea level and has an alpine tundra climate. Unlike the flatlands below, this unique area has four distinct seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.The average temp ranges from a pleasant 70 degrees to 88 degrees during the day, and a cool 45 to 60 degrees at night. It is one of the sunniest places in the world, and a typical summer day is clear with blue skies, barring an occasional thundershower. Remember when it is cloudy and hazy down below, on top of the mountain, Big Bear Lake is usually enjoying beautiful, clear blue skies. Average winter temperatures range is from 20-64 degrees during the day and 10-39 degrees at night.

There are so many walks, trails biking and hiking around Big Bear Lake. You can park around the lake but watch for signs, you can get a ticket. Do NOT go on the ice in winter, you can fall through. The lake/shore area is very beautiful at sunset/sunrise and the immediate areas. You can just find your way around and it an easy walk with children over the age of 5. I would not recommend wheelchairs.

There are paved paths and you can google Big Bear paved paths, these are also used by bikers and hikers who are all very polite. Nice way to see the area if you cannot get out of a wheelchair or have issues with climbing over boulders, trees, etc.

Great area for photos for Facebook, Instagram, etc. Cannot take a bad photo!

While in California we drove up to big bear lake to check out the snow, the drive there and back was slow but worth it the kids had the time of their lives in the snow, the scenery up there is beautiful.

It is a great drive around the entire lake. Unfortunately, a road closure meant we couldn't, but we drove around as much as we could. The views were amazing, it is just a shame we were out of season and couldn't go on a boat trip - hopefully next time,

Lakeside Vintage and Ahhhdorable Vintage Cabins the TWO most wonderful Cabins in the world in Big Bear are NO LONGER with Big Bear Cool Cabins. The owners became very discouraged with how the cabins were compromised and neglected with the Cool Cabins management. They have MOVED with a new company called VaCasa and the cabins are meticulously clean and now perfectly represented. Those two cabins are AWESOME and will show you a perfect Big Bear Vacation!!! Remember: VaCasa Vacation Rentals!!! We Love Big Bear!!! So glad we found our two favorite places! "Ahhhdorable Vintage" is real close (walkable) to the Village Town Square. And "Lakeside Vintage" is RIGHT on Big Bear Lake and both are excellent cabins!!!

The ride up to the lake was beautiful. The lake was a bit disappointing as the water level was considerably reduced. The town was touristy, but not overly so - expected assortment of shops and enough restaurants. The surrounding area is beautiful and worth exploring.

Year round activities to do here at Big Bear. Bikes ( street, dirt, bmx and off road motor) swim, boat, jet ski,kayaking, wine and beet tasting and Hiking.And for the less active, the zoo and self guided drive tours. Plenty of shops and antique-Ing to be done. Zip line, Jeep and helicopter tours. Night life at the Cave and entertainment at the Restaurants. Then all the winter sports!

It was close to 100 degrees in S. Cal. Area, so we decided to rent a cabin and escape the heat for the weekend. Sure enough, Big Bear was so cool and comfortable, we almost took another day off. The scenery is so beautiful, the water was clear and the sky was blue, and the temperature was only in the 60's-70's. The night is cold, we had to buy another sleeping bag just to get thru the next night. Big Bear Lake is only about 2 hours drive from LA, so if anyone wants to escape the heat, just head to the mountains.

We called Big Bear Getaways for a vacation rental, just 2 days before We had 041 a lovely cottage with 2 spacious bedrooms,2bathes. It had a homey feeling. Coming from LasVegas it took 4 hrs and worth the drive. Best rates midweek. This rental had a fenced in yard and jacuzzi in the backyard. Two flat spring TVs lovely touches throughout the home. The backyard comfortable cushioned chairs made sitting out listening to the birds a morning treat. The neighborhood was quiet so an afternoon nap was delightful. Highly recommend and will return!!

Such an exquisite big Lake at such a high level. Almost at the top of the mountain lies thus vast amount of water. I think it is scarce to see such a place in another area. The surrounding is beautiful too. Lots of cabins and houses in the midst of old big trees. Feels great to hike around the lake. One thing I noticed is that the north shore is much more scenic and attractive than the south one . A great journey indeed.

Took a drive from Apple Valley, nice drive and beautiful scenary. Take the drive all the way around the lake if you take North Shore drive you can drive around the entire lake - less than an hour.

Just a quick piece of advice if you ski at Snow Summit. Always, always, always take the singles line, even if in a large group. On lifts 1, 2 and 3, they will allow you to go as a group once you are at the front of the singles line. It will save you between 20-25 minutes in those lines.

Although I've lived in southern California all my life, I'd never been to Big Bear. I finally got the chance when, after listening to a three-hour time-share pitch, I received a voucher that resulted in a\ free week in Big Bear. We stayed at the Snow Lake Lodge, an all-suite time-share with full kitchens and a fireplace in both the living room and bedroom. The lodge was clean, had very nice front desk staff and was ideally located within a few minutes driving distance of everything we wanted to see and do. We were there during the slow season: the snow was gone, but it was still too chilly to do summer stuff. This had its pros (little traffic, easy parking), and cons (many businesses closed early or wouldn't even open until Memorial Day). We had no idea there was so much to do in Big Bear and had a thoroughly great time. We did touristy things like take the lake tour on the Miss Liberty paddlewheel boat, visited the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, with its black bears, grizzlies, cougars, and wolves, and drove around the lake twice. We swam in the Lodge pool, which was heated to a comfortable temperature, and the air temperature was warm every afternoon between 3:00 and 4:30pm, when the sun was strongest.. We had a great dinner at the Pines fine dining restaurant with enough left over prime rib and champagne chicken to feed both of us twice more. And the prime rib cost only $19.95!
We had hamburgers at Get-a-Burger, which would have been perfect if we'd remembered to ask that they be cooked medium, with toasted buns. Even so, the burgers were delicious. We tried to eat at Botana, but it was closed Thursday night in spite of my reservation and the "Open" sign on the door. We had most of our meals in our suite's kitchen, but went to the Peppercorn on our last night, and although I made the mistake of ordering the meat lasagna (not bad, just not
to my taste - too much cheese), my partner's capellini pomodoro was sublime, the perfect balance of basil, tomatoes and garlic on angel hair pasta.
We went to the Big Bear Discovery Center, but did not have time to take any hikes. There were many things we did not do, and we plan to drive the twisty road back soon!

Extremely disappointed with this lake community. Not a good vibe going on here like other mountain towns. Plain, boring, and not very scenic. Lack of snow and drought is taking a toll. Resorts can barely stay open and only with snow-making most of the year. A lot of the trees are dead. Big Bear Lake is a dying lake, and drying up fast (the adjoining 'lake', Baldwin, has already dried up!!). No comparison to Mammoth nor Sierras. Basically a place for the riffraff of San Bernardino to come escape the heat.

The water level in BIG BEAR LAKE is so low, its hard to do anything having to do with the lake for fun.

Listed as 3 and a 1/2 hours outside a Las Vegas was incorrect more like 5 climbing up a very windy Hill Big Bear Lake itself is very quaint with many mom and pop type stores and restaurants. Boat rentals are available as well as several nice parks. Do not expect much in the way of beach or swimming the water is brackish and full of seaweed. Many people fishing but no one catching anything.
Many hiking trails and scenic drives around the Lake . Be sure to take one of the tour boats
for a very interesting history of the area.

Beautiful fresh Blue water lake. Great for picnics, a stroll, scenic views, boating, and other water sports or activities. the We did the jet skis as a family. Our teen son had a blast, and they offer a go pro waterproof camera for memories of your water adventure for an additional cost and perk. Friendly and helpful staff, talk to John or Cody on the dock!

Nice quaint town with a nice selection of restaurants and activities. We rented a house big enough to sleep 14. Rented kayaks and went out on the lake for a couple of hours. Although the water level is really low, we still underestimated the size of the lake while kayaking. We hiked on one of the trails and enjoyed the views from high above.

Big bear is a magical place of enchantment and joyful songs sang by birds that have migrated from lands as far as the Canadian frost. Big bear has given life to the thrill seeker, it has given breath to those who are trapped in everyday life. This place is a paradise it’s magical it’s extravagant a place that only exist in books and fairytales. I love coming here with friends and families simply to get away from the everyday life we all live

YEAR ROUND FUN - not just the winter

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If you live in Southern California you know all about the local skiing and snowboarding in Big Bear in the winter months but did you know it is a YEAR ROUND vacation area too.

Since my days of skiing were long over I had not been up to Big Bear in years. So this summer I decided to take a drive up there and I was absolutely astounded by the amount of things you can now do in the Spring, Summer & Fall.

They have 4 different boats that give lake tours, Snow Summit & Snow Valley both have a “Scenic Chairlift” for those without mountain biking experience and Bike Parks for people who do. The Alpine Slide amusement park has a slide, mountain coaster, mini golf, Soaring Eagle chairlift and Go Karts. There are Ziplines, Segway tours, Horse stables, a 9 hole golf course, a new as of Nov. 2020, Alpine Zoo, Escape rooms, Bowling, Jeep rock climbing, several marinas that rent boats, kayaks, paddle boards, pontoon boats, and jet skis. Bowling, helicopter tours, bike and electric bike rentals, axe throwing not to mention miles of easy and expert hiking trails. Plus Lake Arrowhead is just 30 minutes down the hill and a must see in my opinion if you drive up there.

We ended up renting a beautiful “cabin”, house and stayed for a full week and still did not see everything we wanted to.

MPORTANT TIP ;-)

ROAD CLOSURES
There are only three Highways up the mountain. Hwy 18, Hwy 38 and 330 to Running Springs One or the other will CLOSE FREQUENTLY for maintenance in the Summer, Spring & Fall.

For example in June 2021 Hwy 18 was closed at Running Springs from 8:30am to 3:30pm Monday thru Thursday for maintenance and we could not get up to Big Bear and ended up driving back down the mountain and then back up Hwy 38.
In the Winter the snow can close the Highways. YOU MUST CARRY CHAINS IN THE WINTER EVEN IF IT IS NOT SNOWING

CHECK THE DAY YOU ARE DRIVING UP with either:
Big Bear Mountain Resort dot com /transportation/road-conditions
CalTrans or twitter - big bear roads Or the person(s) you rented your accommodations from

went to 5 lakes on the mountain. did hiking and Harley riding. you just need to get out and see all to offer.

I love the drive around the lake. Nice peaceful scenery. The view quite amazing and the houses makes me envy.

My family of 5 just rented a gorgeous log cabin home in big bear lake for a family vacation. We were lucky to have snow so went tubing and sledding. Big bear lake is pet friendly and some homes and businesses welcomed pets! We enjoyed walking around the shops and restaurants downtown too! The lake was so pretty all iced over! Highly recommend renting a home and visiting!

Just 40 minutes down the mountain, you are engulfed in 100+ degree weather and up in the clear mountain sky it was 75 degrees. The people here in Big Bear Lake are rather friendly too and the quaint shops are pretty cool and there’s no pressure to buy. The water level right now is the lowest I’v ever seen it but hopefully that will be just for a while. The lowering water level hasn’t detracted from the beauty of the scenery but I advise you come see this gem before it’s too late and just in case it continues to lower.

The lake needs to fill up with water and return to her old beautiful self. Going thru a tuff time now.

We stayed in a nearby cabin, and since there was snow on the ground, we did not go out on the lake, but it is a lovely setting.

Very nice day to go swimming in the beautiful big bear lake and have a picnic and watch the car show which had over 500 classic cars, perfect place for all ages!

Not a smile to be found in any establishment we walked into. No public restrooms anywhere and when we asked all they did was apologize and suggest we move onto the next town. Guess we won’t be spending any money here.

I've got 2 teens and 2 toddlers, we took a drive up during summer to see the scenery and area without snow. I hate the drive up and worse is the drive down. The drive from Orange County took us 1 hr and 45 mins. When your going up, you can take little stops to breathe and take in the scenery. Once we got up, we stopped at the Big Bear Visitor Center. They provided us with so many different areas to park, rent watercrafts and places to relax with kids. The main street is full of restaurants and crowded with people. Its fun to park and walk around. But we were looking for somewhere to put up canopies and chairs and just walk along the water. We tried many spots on the main lake but its was packed. So we took a drive around to Fawskin side which is a 5 min drive from the main street and parked in the boat launching area. There's a little side beach that was perfect for us. No bathrooms or restuarants but we enjoyed the quiet. no crowd and shallow water. We only stayed there for 2 hours. The drive down was horrible, your doing downhill, a little faster, and swervey.. my kids threw up and I did as well. DONT EAT before your drive down. I can't figure out if I want to drive up again..if the lake is worth it for all that car sickness from 4 kids for 2 hours. It was FREEZING COLD too. The clouds come in and the wind blows winter air. When the sun's out, its warm but that rarely happened. My kids went jetskiing and were freezing in August.

One of Southern California most popular recreational lake is in the San Bernardino Mountains. Camping, skiing (in winter), boat rentals (summer), swimming, fishing, horseback riding, shopping, and many other activities.

My kids and I LOVED visiting Big Bear! There are so many things to do and see. My kids are young (8,9 and 10). We went paddle boarding, visited the History Museum and did gold panning, went on the Alpine Slide, Waterside, mini gold, went on the sky chair to the top of snow summit, went to the Gold Rush Mining Adventure, went on the Pirate Ship cruise and so much more! The kids didn't want to leave! The Village is a nice spot to walk around and shop. There are many restaurants there as well. There are many bike paths and hiking trails with beautiful views. The locals seems very nice and friendly. We will be coming back in the winter time and I have a feeling Big Bear will be the number 1 choice for my kids to vacation at!

It is a pretty lake for photos. An the Village is just a walk across the street. We ate at Village Pizza which is really good. It was nice weather for it being summer (june) i would love to come up to big bear in the winter when its snowing.

so fun I ate fish, bear, and eagle you should go. they had boat riding and other cool activities. the bear was the best please go its so fun

The lake is like everything else in CA, it needs water but in order to keep this treasure alive everyone needs to continue to visit the area in this hard time. It still has its own beauty and the community is trying to make you feel welcomed. They need all of our help so visit soon and leave some money behind! You will enjoy your trip there.

There's not a whole lot to do but it is a nice lake.It has a few attraction enough to keep you busy why you are there.But the lake is very nice.

The local area offers many outdoor activities for all ages. We loved seeing beautiful fall colors while driving around the lake and hiking on local trails. Several trails have great lake views.

The Big Bear area has an inviting, friendly, and fun small town atmosphere, which allows for a relaxing and peaceful vacation. We especially enjoyed the community's Halloween festival.

My Mother has lived in Big Bear over 10 years. She is 86 (don't tell her i said that) This year, she was admitted to their (BVH) perminate resident program, for total care of elderly and accident recovering patients. I flew out from Ohio, of May 10th for 2 weeks. Her care is more than excellant care, she is getting superior care. They told me it was our turn to care for her. I went twice a day to see her (she needs an afternoon nap). By the 2nd day the nursing staff was calling me by name. The resident wing is very clean and the patient's needs are being taken care of. This is where she wanted to go and is very happy there.I highly recommend any that this hospital renders.

Had a nice paddle over to the dam from Boulder Bay. Water was weedy this time of year. Fished right at the dam and clipped onto a buoy. Was a little windy but not too hot, very pleasant. The trout were on vacation. I threw everything I had at them and wasn’t very successful in a couple spots near the red house too. I had Fun and enjoyed the wind at my back on the return to Boulder Bay.

There are ample opportunities for water fun including jet skiing, boating, fishing and horseback riding

Great place for wildlife viewing and relaxed fishing atmosphere. In summer kayaking and swimming is good.

The resort at Moonridge next to Big Bear is nice.We book by Air bnb.About 15 minutes from Big Bear Lake.We re amazing with snow around the resort.
In front of resort there is a jaguzzi tub with warm water.The best memory for
our family.

While the lake itself is at full tilt in summer, it is somewhat dormant this time of year. However, there is still plenty to do around the lake the rest of the year. The town of Big Bear is still active with stores and restaurants open providing a getaway from the heat of the desert. In addition there are still campsite available and numerous trails on the north side of the lake. The lake itself is spectacular for photography.

We were looking for a place to start our road trip through Southern California and chose Big Bear Lake. It is a fascinating area with just about everything that holiday-makers might ever want. It was October and the weather was beautiful, but I would like to return in the winter and experience the other side of Big Bear.

During my 3 day travels here, drove around the lake several times. Came here to hike but did get in the water, a bit murky. all and all a nice place especially for families and not as many boats as Arrowhead Lake... Life Is
Good

Can boat, jet ski, canoe, or Pirate ship on it. Water not clear but presummably safe to swim in. Limited beaches...

We own a timeshare at Lagonita Lodge and spend time in the lake, on the lake or walking the path by the lake. It is peaceful, clean, and I hear a good place to fish. What I like the most is that it isn't completely surrounded by houses on the lake like Lake Arrowhead. Yes, there are many houses and cabins but it isn't over built and there is still open land. Also the town has a special charm about it that adds to the beauty of the lake. The Boulder Bay Area has been nicely landscaped and is very inviting. Sorry to say the lake is quite low due to the drought of many years. But it is still beautiful and we can't wait to spend time there at least 2-3 times a year!!!

kayacked the whole lake, plenty of rangers patrolling the lake to make it a very safe place , very resonable launching rates < and parking is a breze , we went on labor day weekend , weather was beautiful

Although the lake was down due to the drought, it was still beautiful. We enjoyed all the hiking trails--several perfect for those of us not up to anything strenuous.

We enjoyed taking a pontoon boat ride on the lake. The lake level is relatively low and the lack of rain this year didn't help much so it should even be lower this summer. But talking to the fishermen they were still catching fish.

We come here every year. The best time is during the snow season because that's when this lake area really shines! I love the christmas feel of the town when there's snow, xmas lights, and lots of good places to eat. The locals are very friendly to tourist and every person i talk to in the stores are very helpful if you are not familiar with the area.
During the summer, you can also go on the lake for kayaking, boat tours, or light hiking/ bicycling. We have done a couple of boat tours in the lake - lots of history for this little town that I didn't know!!
The lake is the perfect backdrop for a family vacation in southern california. The skiing is also great for all levels. There's also sledding parks which can be fun for small children. Definitely recommend this lake for year round activities - but if you can come during the snow season, do it!

We went to Big Bear Lake to escape the Los Angeles heat over the 4th of July weekend. It's a beautiful place with a small, walkable downtown village for tourists, full of ice cream shops, souvenir stores, restaurants of every kind & nightlife opportunities.

Over the holiday weekend, there were also two different street fairs going on, with an interesting array of arts, crafts, clothing, jewelry & live entertainment. We also enjoyed the big fireworks display over the lake on the evening of the 4th of July.

Being a holiday weekend, it was crowded & the traffic was sometimes frustrating, but not really too bad, considering it was the popular 4th of July weekend.

Winter or Summer, great weather, light traffic most times. Great place to chill in the Summer or Winter. Been skiing here for 30 years. 2 hours from most places in So Cal. Plenty of summer activities for kids all ages. Highly recommend !

My husband and I live in Palm Desert and have been escaping to Big Bear in the summertime for more than 10 years. We usually go in August, which is the perfect time. For the most part the weather is sunny and beautiful. Gets down to the 40's (sometimes upper 30's) at night. It can warm up to the mid 80's in the afternoon but it is usually in the 70's. All I know is, that sure beats 120 degrees in the shade!!! Other than the bad experience we had at the Black Forest Lodge last year, we have always had a wonderful memorable time and NO complaints. We usually go in on a nice two bedroom cabin with another couple, (which includes a hot tub and pool table) for a week and book it with Cool Cabins. They are the best!!! It usually costs per couple between $500-$600. This is a great deal!!! The cabins have always been charming, clean and in great neighborhoods generally about 5-10 minutes from the lake and shopping. Cool Cabins has always given us exactly what we want. Big Bear is quaint and lovely with beautiful mountainous terrain. There is so much to do!!! We love to shop at The Village and always bring home great gifts and souvenirs. The locals are very accommodating and nice. The Big Bear Discovery Center and Moonridge Animal Park are a must see. We usually rent a large pontoon boat for a day ($200) and cruise the lake. It's an absolute blast!! We sunbathe and fish, then find a nice beach area to have lunch and throw the Frisbee around and play catch with the dogs. Big Bear is dog friendly which I LOVE!! Boulder Bay Park is another fun place to go and have a picnic and just walk around. Very pretty. We always take a day and cruise the lake, then find a trail or a park to walk/hike on. We try to go when the Renaissance Fair is in town, which is always fun. Some of our favorite restaurants are Hacienda Grill, Lumber Jack Cafe, Old Country Inn, Stillwells Restaurant, Thelma's Family Restaurant and Nottinghams Tavern. My overall review is that Big Bear is an excellent place to escape for the weekend or a week. The perfect place to just relax and unwind.

big bear lake is a place ive been going scence i was a little girl and will continue going for the rest of my life.

It is a nice lake, the trail around it is ok. We enjoyed taking pictures with snow still on the mountains.

Apparently the area had experienced a mild winter and hot summer so the lake was only half as full as usual. However, it was also not as big as I had anticipated. Enjoyed our visit, nevertheless, as it's a nice area.

This mountain lake is like a dream--cold blue waters over which you can kayak, though not swim. It offers all sorts of recreational options, including various boats for rent in summer, skiing during winter, and restaurants of all types in an alpine village.

A great romantic getaway. Enjoyed walking around the lake on the trail. It's breaks my heart to see the water in the lake was low.

We drove up here on a bright warm sunday and thuroughly enjoyed every minute of it. the shops and restaurants were so diverse and wonderful. It wasn't too packed like a touristy place. it reminded me of Lake Placid Ny, one of my favorite places.

We took a day trip to Big Bear Lake and stayed for lunch at a corner restaurant with outdoor seating. Wandered around the small town and down to the lake. Beautiful peaceful area - great for a day trip from the desert during the extremely warm days.

Went to Big Bear for a week with family and friends. Went skiing durning and want to do sometime one night. So who doesn't love bowling. Everyone had a great time bowl, playing game, eating and drinking. Was a fun night out...

Big Bear is a Resort town that has a little for everyone , Fishing in summer to Fall.. Boating, Boat Tours. Mountain Biking. hiking, shopping .. Great food .. Many restaurants to enjoy a great meal. Oktoberfest in Sept to Nov. good German food and great bands from Germany.. Winter Skiing to great resorts.. Snow play.. etc .. race car area.. Discovery Center, Zoo. just everything..

My wife and I stayed here in early November in 2017. Drove from Vegas on a whim since we had never been to California. We stayed at The Club at Big Bear which was absolutely beautiful and amazing!

The small village was so wonderful and charming. We were here for two nights and three days and loved every minute of it. I would have never dreamed southern California would hold something like this. We walked and drove around exploring the entire area and even took a drive up CA18 which was breathtaking.

If you ever watch a movie which has a small town setting and wonder where it was filmed because the town looked so cool; well this is one of those places!

Our chocolate lab was born and raised in Alaska and use to swimming in lakes. We were tired of Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory so we decided to explore Big Bear Lake. GORGEOUS and not crowded!

The lake was beautiful and relaxing. Boat rentals are around $60 for small fishing boats, around $115 for pontoon boats. Good fishing, swimming, boating, waterskiing, and lots of great local hikes around.

The lake is beautiful and after the snow this Winter, the level is up from last year. Water sports abound: fishing, boating, biking around it, kayaking...so much to do. And you can take tours on the lake also.

Big Bear Lake is the ultimate mountain escape. The lake itself is stunning crystal blue water perfect for summer boating or just vibing on a paddleboard. But the real charm is the houses; you’ll see everything from tiny, rustic log cabins to massive, modern lakefront estates with private docks. Waking up in a cozy A-frame surrounded by pines is a total dream. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and mountain soul!

I will try to do this trip at least once a year! my family and me had an awesome time! there are a lot of activities snow bording, the zoo, and simply the snow is one of the best time of the year !

This vacation place has it all no matter the season there is always something to do. Hiking, biking, after sports, fishing, skiing. Or just hanging out and relaxing.

We went up the mountain(way up!) to vacation in a cabin at Big Bear Lake, unfortunately, the lake was way down because of the drought. We were able to take a pontoon out on it anyway and get some nice pictures.

Nice place to visit for tourism. If you have enough time, i will suggest to stay one night there... Those who loves snow activities, this place is heaven for them...

Drove up to Big Bear from outside of LA. Enjoyable drive with great views of the surrounding area and mountains. Big Bear has lots of character and is really a world away from any of the surrounding countryside. Nice shops and restaurants, plenty of activities in all seasons.

Big Bear lake is beautiful, clean, fun Nd friendly! The VILLAGE IS GORGEOUS, filled with quaint boutiques, shops, gift stores, And great restaurants, friendly atmosphere and cool places for nightlife too, looking forward to coming again and maybe try the kayaks, canoes, bobsleds, or fishing! Lots to do here!

Hello fellow travelers, the firework show in Big Bear lakes was spectacular...
In my opinion it was like two fireworks shows, One in the air and the other one reflecting off the lake...
It was a rare treat seeing fireworks in the national forest...

My family and I started attending the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest several years ago. This event is a Fall tradition with a building built to look like a tent with authentic German bands, food, deserts and of course many incredible imported beer selections like Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier and Hofbräu München. FIRST I have to compliment Kasandra, manager of the Oktoberfest. We had several interactions with her during the 2022 Oktoberfest after attending multiple times throughout September-October. She is kind, gracious and an incredible host!

My mother was an ethnic German and incredible chef. You can taste and see the attention to detail in the Bavarian recipes and their quality dishes at Oktoberfest. This isn't "German fair food" like I have had at other venues, but top quality, authentic Bavarian food. Outside there are other venders for a variety of other fast and ethnic foods. The bar tenders are also awesome and the venue allows bringing your own Steins to fill (and refill). Oktoberfest also has quality gifts such as Steins and German themed gifts in their gift shop.

Short of visiting Munich or an entire city Oktoberfest like Leavenworth, Washington, Cincinnati, Ohio or Helen, Georgia, Big Bear Lake offers a wonderful experience with great hospitality in an incredibly scenic city.

We took a walk along the lake with our 6 year old daughter. She loved playing in he snow next to the lake and the sunset against the half frozen lake was stunning.

We just wanted to sit by the water and relax and enjoy the view. Been before to just hang out and slow down. Beautiful day.

Been coming to the Big Bear Lake area since I was a young kid. My dad would bring us all up for a week of camping in the summer and we would hike, fish and take the boat cruise. I have continued the tradition with my own kids and now that they are older we come up still to camp and have added the Tour de Big Bear as an activity for us to do. It is week long bike festival with varying challenging and family rides to do. There are numerous cabins to rent and if you're into camping, check out Serrano Campground a US Forest service campground complete with showers. The winter has an active snow skiing scene and of course the lake has plenty of fishing, boating and skiing.

A little warmer than expected but our son-in-law rented a beautiful home and we had a wonderful time.

If you like kayaking and biking a really fun lake. Will bring my family for a vacation to the lake. Already have a large group going up next year. Awesome to have an affordable place to visit that gives you lake and mountain options in one.

1. Lake was large and completely frozen.
2. You can play with ice in nearby parks that are filled with ice.
3. looking for parking can be difficult especially in weekends.

Check the road conditions before you go, especially in the winter. Just internet search Big Bear road conditions. If the roads are clear, then go. It's only a if couple hours from LA, Orange Co., and San Diego. You can sleep in 'til 10 and still get there in time for lunch and the outdoor activity of your choice, be it 1/2 day snowboarding, hiking, pontoon boat rental (order pizza delivered to the boat dock), off-roading, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, just to name a few. Just a drive around the lake is exhilarating. Big trees, beautiful water, Bald Eagles. Big Bear is not Aspen, but they are working on it and it is looking more like Aspen (and less like the outskirts of San Bernardino) every day. Like San Bernardino, most Big Bear residents are on meth so get ready to use the turnouts--if you're only going 65 mph it looks like slo-mo to a crackhead.
On the other hand, if the roads are NOT clear, which usually only happens during a storm, stay home. It's like piloting a plane or a boat--you need to check the weather beforehand and be able to cancel your plans based on the forecast.
As far as winter sports go, instead of sledding (which is MUCH more dangerous than skiing or snowboarding--no brakes!), please be a responsible adult and get the beginner special at one of ski resorts. Parking is easy & free (and hard to come by in the winter). Some of the best deals to be had for any activity are for starter packages that include the equipment, a lift ticket, and a lesson. Obviously, they are hoping to get you hooked on the sport because then you'll be paying an arm and a leg just for the lift ticket. By then you will own your snowboard (or skis, if you're a dork).
If you just want to take advantage of the free parking, that's ok too. No one will know if you park, grab a table at the ski lodge for the family, and have a beer and a burger at the base of the ski slopes. You can own the table for hours, if you want. The skiers and snowboarders will be in a hurry to get back on the slopes.
But at the very least, please consider putting the kids in a group snowboard lesson while mom & dad keep the bench warm in the ski lodge. It's cheap, safe childcare. They will love it. Mom & dad can relax with a beer.
This isn't the frozen North, folks. Big Bear is Southern California--it is one of the sunniest places in the US.

This is a 4 season resort. Winter spring summer and fall, there is always something to do in Big Bear. Great hiking trails, and bike friendly. Walk the Village to the Lake, or take a canoe, a paddle around the lake. Hourly rentals

There is hardly any water.....
The beach is always crowded. Hard to find piknik table. Lots of kayaking and jets skis and boats.

This was my first trip here. The lake was down quite a bit according to the locals but that didn't interfere with the spectacular views of the mountains around it.

We were here to watch fireworks. The shoot them off right on the lake so you can see them from everywhere around it.

There were tons of 4th of July actives to do. We kayaked for 2 hours and had fun.

Definitely worth the trip!!

The town has a great feel to it with twinkling lights in the trees and fire places along the streets in town to get warm in the winter and enjoy in the summer and fall can walk the street safely and enjoy local the local lounges and Restaurants Have ice cream or just sit and people watch.. Winter is transformed into a storybook village with its old looking street lights and trees all decorated in mini lights.. twinkling all year long. Christmas tree at the end of Pine Knott is always decorated for Christmas . Then you have Mtn. Biking , Skiing , watersports, Cruising Tours of the Lake on the Big Bear Queen at Big Bear Marina.. Great fun and educational . Hiking the trails in spring and summer and the Big Oktoberfest in Sept to October.. do not miss the German Bands from Germany.. and good german food and of course Beer..log sawing, Stein carries and much more. Lots of places to stay just pick wisely.

Nice vacation, quiet and chance to have fun with the whole family. Has everything you could imagine in a small skiing town.

Great lake high in the San Bernardino Mountains with awesome weather and great people. You can boat JetSki go on a paid guided tour on a boat etc. etc. etc.

I live here. It is one of the best Destinations in Southern California. Any time of year you can get away from the crowds and enjoy the beauty and refreshment of the Mountains. Blue Skies and Pine scents floating through the air. Nice tourist areas and shopping are located centrally in downtown Big Bear Lake. There are secret spots and treasured views to be discovered for the adventurers. Big Bear and the surrounding area have a historic role in California history and still provide adventure to hikers. bikers, boaters, fishermen - anyone who ventures out.

I've been wanting to visit Big Bear for years, finally got up there this past weekend needing a break from LA. Having grown up in the PNW, this was an incredibly disappointing trip. The lake has experienced severe recession due to the drought and climate change. I was most excited to spend the hot summer days swimming, but the beaches we visited were unswimmable due to dead fish and the smell of rotting plant life that has been left exposed. It was disgusting.

We did enjoy hiking and visiting the shops and restaurants in town, but this lake is now, more like a pond.

What a fun day viewing all the Antique, classic and hot rod cars.
Beautiful weather, great food, desserts, and music. This is definitely a fun event to attend in a picturesque setting. Fun for the whole family. Located downtown Big Bear near the shops & restaurants.
Check ahead for dates.

Visited in August 2018 with my family. The drive up the mountain can be a bit curved and can cause motion sickness. There are places to stop off and take pictures or to just view the lovely scenery. Once in Big Bear, the town is very sweet and quaint to walk around in. Lots of little shops, places to eat, the scenery and people are so friendly. I would highly recommend a visit if you can swing it!

Well worth the drive up the mountain. I stayed in big bear mountain for 5 hours as a stop over. Enjoyed brunch at Grizzly and went kayaking in the lake.

A great getaway for Angelinos to be in the mountains and at the same time with a big body of water to enjoy. the lake itself is great for water activities in the summer, and the road around makes a nice biking/running route as well. highly recommended.

Cute downtown for shopping and walking around with plenty of skiing options (or snowboarding). Lot's of options for lodging, but as usual, you get what you pay for.

it's freezing cold on 2/9 19 entire week. it is snowing. but it is great experience. planing back to vacation in Big Bear Lake in summer time ^_^

Lovely single level cabin in the upper moon ridge region. Very roomy and comfortable. Stunning view from the outside area/decking area. A short drive from the town and lake, not walking distance. Two bedrooms and one bathroom. The heating is underfloor so the bedrooms did get very hot at night time.

Beautiful lake with hiking, boating and activities for all. We come here every year. This year though lake was very low and not much activity going on.

Had a group of 13 people in our group. Stayed at a personal home so will not be reviewing lodging. Good fishing spot off of Stanfield Cutoff Road on the East side of the Lake. We had an 8 year old catch a catfish and a Bass. Waverunning on the lake is very fun as the lake is pretty choppy during the day, but the water feels amazing. Also went on a hike on the Woodland Trail. Easy hike for all levels. Make sure to follow the guide posts and read about the unique area and landmarks. Birdwatching is a must in the area. So many amazing birds call this area home.

Big Bear Lake, CA. The lake is beautiful, the town is great. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. We ski at S now Summit in the winter, hike, horseback riding and lake fun in warm weather. Our drive from Burbank, CA to Big Bear took us approximately 1 hr 50 mins. This time we went out on the Time Bandit Pirate Ship. Had a great time. You learn all about the history of the lake, who lives,on the lake front, etc., even the son of Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, etc.), stepped out of their lake front cabin and did the voice that his father made famous. They call it "the cabin that Bugs Bunny built." You can rent water craft to play on the lake or fish if you choose. Great for a day trip, weekend get away ir full blown vacation. We love Big Bear Lake.

So much to do, so little time. Cliche, yes...but true. From skiing/snowboarding to biking and hiking...even zip lining. Make sure you have time to9 do it all!

Love walking along the north shore of the lake. There's a fabulous hiking/bike path with stunning views of the ski slopes.

I love Big Bear great place to visit for the weekend or the week. If you water skiing or snow skiing this resort has both depending not he seasons. If you just want to relax and chill there are lots of places to do that to.

We had a very enjoyable week at Big Bear at the end of April when BB was very quiet. We rented a delightful lakefront house by the water, which was an endless source of entertainment as we watched the white pelicans, ducks, waterfowl, a Great Blue Heron, birds, boaters, and fishermen (one in particular quickly caught his limit while others walked away empty handed). Although the lake is down (as much as 15' we were told), it's still a beautiful lake and the surrounding trees and the last bit of snow on the mountaintops and Spring blossoms made it very picturesque. We had an extremely relaxing time on the deck and in the house that had great lake views from five rooms. We also had some really excellent meals at great restaurants and enjoyed a nice drive all around the lake one afternoon. Enjoyable evenings were spent by the stone fireplace, reading. We found all service people everywhere at the lake to be friendly and helpful. There are a lot of places to hike and it's interesting to look at all the woodcarvings in front of homes and businesses and at the two businesses that sell them. Unfortunately, the Solar Observatory was closed. We didn't go to the wildlife rescue facility this time, but I can recommend it from a previous trip. The Village is full of fun shops, and we also like to drive around to look at the beautiful homes. We Southern Californians are soooo lucky to have the sea and the mountains at our doorstep.

We drove up on a Sunday morning and stayed at the Marina resort.
We had a great 3 days visiting the lake, locals and restaurants. The water was low in the lake but we kayaked and fished for 2 days. We had a great time.

The lake is nice for fishing and water sports [no swimming] which our kids don't like! bring everything you'll need for your day at the lake! The views are gorgeous

It was their 1st year with Mr & Mrs. Santa Clause and stage singers. All the stors are open and the crowd was light. See it on YouTube video # FbrC-kbi_A8

Recently visited Big Bear with my best friend from high school and my sister. We were getting out of the heat of Arizona. It was awesome. What a great little town. Although it is really dry and fire danger is pretty evident. The lake is very low on the south end. It's very sad for those people who have beautiful lake front homes that will probably never have water in front of them again. The north end is still great and we did see plenty of people doing fun water activities.

The downtown little shopping village is a great place to walk around and eat, hang out, or shop.

My wife rented us a neat cabin "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere" for a long weekend in BB. We had a great time walking to breakfast every morning, hiking the local trails, relaxing on the deck and dinners in the "village". There is so much to do and see and eat that we will have to make a few more trips this coming summer.

Big Bear Lake is pretty small but it is a nice place to spend some time. Went there and saw folks jet sking, boat riding, and even fishing. We enjoyed some peaceful time there. I even had a butterfly land on me and wouldn't leave.

First time up to Big Bear. We usually cool off from Palm Springs in Idlewild. This town was just okay. Upon entering a few shops the first thing we were told was "masks aren't necessary anymore" well that's cool, but we have an unvaccinated 10 year old!. Another shop owner was bragging she wasn't vaccinated, needless to say didn't spend a dime in her store. Other shops had signs that said "vote Trump and make liberals cry again" in my opinion if you want to make money coming out of a pandemic keep your political thoughts to yourself. Most of the restaurants are dog friendly as are shops. If you happen to be in the area stop in, but don't make the trip on purpose unless you're a Trump supporter who is unvaccinated.

We drove through a endless line of bumper to bumper traffic. The town has a decent tourist core to visit if you can find a place to park. We cant recommend this area because of heavy traffic. It took us 2 hours to get back to San Bernadino area.

This is our first time coming to Big Bear Lake in the summer with the kids. We picked a cabin so we can walk to the village and onto the lake's edge. Unfortunately, where we stayed just happened to be the area where the lake is receding. The boats and dock are sitting in mud. News outlets weren't exaggerating. The drought has really affected the lake. There is not much to do here. The village is really small and many are not masking or socially distancing. If you're wearing a mask be ready to be stared at and hear some snickering or mumbling under their breaths. Crave Maine Lobster is AHMAZING, but be ready to pay $26 & change for a lobster roll. Could not find a decent coffee shop that is open before 8am. Settled for Dank Donuts, but tossed it and the inedible donuts. We wanted dinner @Bone Side Down BBQ, but it closes at 5pm! There is a lot of hiking to do and the trails are not crowded. The playground at Ski Beach Park is SO small & boulder park is small. We skipped the slide rides as there were so many people in line packed like sardines. Overall, the kids were not thrilled. Winter in Big Bear is the way to go.

Big Bear Lake is a nice town with too many people chasing your dollars. It has some good restaurants and a nice climate to walk around in the fall. The visitors center is well kept and very helpful. The lake is part of the San Bernardino National Forest and in the North part one can walk along the shore (The Ranger station is here too). This is a beautiful lake with lots of pine trees and delicious nature aromas. I hope this shore is not spoiled with hotels and game arcades, etc.

One of the great places to visit on vacation. A huge lake and great community. The town has so many shops to check out, and there is always snow summit to visit and ski.

Big bear lake is beautiful and Idyllic town, however bathrooms can be very scarce. No one really offers Public restrooms so it is something that you should keep in mind. Also this was a last minute trip so I prepared to pay a lot for a hotel and lodging. But in general this is a place you want to book early because it does fill up very quickly especially in the winter time and especially around holidays. To give you an example of what the prices were ranging in December 2021 I paid $800 for a Motel six. That was for two nights well other hotels were averaging $3000 for two nights. Amazing little local shops are great including the fact that they have a lot of tire repair facilities around because my tire pressure was low coming up from Chula Vista where the temperature was much warmer.

Being from Scotland where lochs are common this was one of the most impressive locales I have seen in a while. Whether your'e fishing or just driving through its a must-see

Very scenic drive up to big bear lake. Lots of places to pull over and take photos. Wish I could have spent the week there overlooking the lake in one of the many beautiful cabins. Stopped by the rehab for wild animals and enjoyed that also. Many nice shops and restaurants. The zip lines looked fun!

it is nice town and a lot of restaurants to eat, however, there no attractive to see or play. they need create some fun for kids and adult. such as casino.

This place is very nice to see. You definitely would enjoy the view. Its beautiful during any season of the year. I do recommend going to the lake when you head to Big Bear.

This place is just a short drive from Pasadena, about an hour and a half. The place offers cool retreat during summer and an alternate for us to see the fireworks at the lake. There are tons of scenic place to visit in and around the lake. We rented a three bedroom vacation home which has fabulous mountain view form the balcony. The weather was nice and cool and the area was great for my hobby photography.
Highly recommended for family and tourist. Great honeymoon place too.

The view at Boulder Bay park is GORGEOUS. The lake is lovely and has rock formations coming out of it

Big Bear Lake offers a host of things to do if your looking to get away for a weekend. Horseback riding, water activities, tours or just enjoying the scenic views from your patio. It’s really a great little getaway.

Today it is snowing. It is like a winter wonderland here. The lake is beautiful! And though the water is lower, as in all of California, there is so much to do. We love to bicycle. The trails here are awesome. And there are great hiking trails. You can rent boats for fishing and/or cruising around. And there are also campgrounds within 'feet' from the lake.

In response to the person that wrote about locals being crazy drivers, tailgating, illegally passing extremely slow drivers on mountain roads. That doesn’t sound like locals at all.
Local drivers are for the most part, very patient with tourists as we know mountain driving can be a white knuckle experience if you are unfamiliar with the roads.
We do expect that slow drivers move to pull-outs whenever possible. But when not possible we understand the trepidation of driving on mountain roads.
Tourists are the livelihood of our little towns and we welcome them!

Hiking, biking, and water activities in the spring-fall, and skiing in the winter. This is a great destination year around. Lots of lodges for a mountain getaway feeling.

We try to visit every third year or so. WHY? Because it has limitless options for lodging. THE AREA IS CLEAN! IT LOOKS INVITING. Being a 4 season area you can sculpt a vacation here to your own expectations. For me: 3 days exploring the lake, hiking around Snow Summit; a coaster ride; and some good old touristy shopping. Your vacation may be skiing or downhill dirt biking. We enjoyed our few days in the cool mountain air and with more new friends to introduce to Big Bear we hope to see you soon again.

So much to do and see. Beautiful lake with many beaches. Several picnic areas, boat tours and boat rentalsalso many trails to hike. Great place to take the family. The Village is the newly renovated visitor area with beautiful flowers, and trees that make the area a great place to stroll. Lots of shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from. There is a visitor center with parking, and restrooms just behind the main street.

The lake is very low due to the drought going on. I would not recommend swimming in the water as it is dirty looking. It is sad to see a beautiful area with such a nasty lake.

What an amazing place to spend a summer day! The water feels great with the warmer temps. in the summer. Very clean lake, lots of safety patrol with very friendly patrolmen. The scenery is unbeatable! Great way to spend a summer day with your family!

We were here in the off-season, so not many people were visiting. We picnicked at the lake (picnic tables and grills just across from Serrano campground). You can walk along the lake or simply enjoy the view. Restrooms are open here during off-season. There's also a biking area there.

It was a little cooler at the lake, so you may need a jacket if it is cooler. Lots of hiking trails, and many are shorter and easy. There is a downtown area with restaurants and shopping in the area.

The lake isn't large, so it's an easy drive around the lake when the roads are open. Awesome views.

Overall very nice aera...... and the Big Bear is the Sister City of a village next to my home back in Austria.

Nice vibe and all over friendly people..... plenty of shopping options.... great restaurants and well organised for taking food out during Covid 19.

We spent three nights for a getaway vacation. The drive around the lake is beautiful with stops at locations to enjoy the view or take some pictures. We stayed at the town of Big Bear Lake, enjoyed the shopping, the nature center and the many restaurants. Good destinations for a visit.

Mesmerizing with the icy condition... with its placidity and snow covered portion of the lake very beautifil!

From a height of 8000 feet, finally descending to the level of the lake was an experience of a lifetime. Then to be surrounded by snow in sunny California, how awesome.could not believe I was still in California. Of course my nephew and tour guide explained that the waters had receded significantly.

The lake at Big Bear is quaint little place to visit. If you are looking for a peaceful place to spend a little time you need to take a walk around this little lake.

Wife and I have been here last year.
Loved it.so we just came back today with daughter.
Very relaxed here.lake very low water.but still beautiful.
Drove up from LA hwy 330 north lots of curves,just in case you get car sick.just take your time.beautiful scenery.
Town is just fantastic.little bears are attached to buildings etc.
Highly recommend

Beautiful and great for birding. I love walking around town. people are very friendly. Its a home away from home. easy drive from LA.

Big bear is a very nice place to visit with your kids in the winter time.

However, it is a very popular place, so bring lots of blankets, coffee, and cash. :)

Enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Big Bear Lake is one of the premier locations in Southern California. We take our family up at least twice each year. Big Bear is a family friendly atmosphere with lots of great things to do. Unlike other lakes on the mountain, Big Bear Lake is a public lake, which we find to be wonderful. How wonderful to have this fabulous place so close to the rest of Southern California.

If you are visiting the Palm Springs area & need a respite from the heat, this is a nice drive into the mountains. Can be a lot of traffic at peak times, but there are some cute shops and restaurants.

I have been in the fall and the spring, but will want to return in the winter and summer. Great little town for an overnight stay to do a little hiking, dining, and shopping. Only about two hours from San Diego and about 30 degrees cooler. The windy switchback roads up the mountain offer plenty of turnouts if you don't want to drive fast and you don't want to be tailgated by faster-driving locals.

I've visited Big Bear since I was a kid...watched it develop into the quaint town it is today. We left Ca 20 yrs ago and are here for a wedding. ..its grown quite a bit but the folks are still as friendly as ever and its just beautiful up here. If your wondering if you should make the trip. .do it. Stay at a place off the beaten track so u can hear nature not cars. Sit back...slow down...and enjoy!

I always have a great time on the lake every summer. Can't wait for this August, going to relax and cruise the lake.

If you're ever near this area and never experienced Snow before...this is a place you must visit. It was the first time for our relatives and they were mesmerized. It started snowing on us and it was a great experience. There's an area were the kids can slide down...they loved it. The only thing we didn't like this town is not bathroom friendly. They either don't have one or is broken or they just lying. So with kids that's not convenient...that's the only reason I can't give them a 5.

Such a beautiful place, nice skiing and friendly locals. Easy to get too. Worth a visit to the village for ice cream.

Boat trip was great, Mel Blancs son comes out on his porch to do the classic Looney Tunes voices that his dad famously did for years - other great historical facts are shown and told about Big Bear Lake along the way -

We visited Big Bear in mid February. As we live in LA and can't enjoy snow here..We decide to spend the long weekend there. It was worth of all our efforts.

The roads are pretty good and the snow is cleaned all the time. We had to chain our wheels as it was mentioned as a warning sign.

The lake was completely frozen which was a delight to watch.
We also enjoyed snow Tubing. It was really safe and well maintained.

We love it here. Cute, walkable village, lots of good restaurants and bars. People are friendly and the weather is great. Tons of year round activities indoors and out.

This is a great place to get awayhor some time outdoors. That's something we need to do more of now that we have COVID. Many hiking trails, fishing, boating, other fun outdoor things and it isn't even skiing season.

People who are familiar understand the title. In recent years the water has been way down. This year the levels are way up. Try the paved walkway from the state boat dock along the lake nice easy walk on a sunny day

The best way to see the lake is by taking one of the cruise boats, such as the Lady liberty. As others have mentioned, it is not a particularly Deeplake. And most of the lake front is covered by houses… Too many for my liking. Nevertheless, the surrounding scenery is impressive. There also bicycle paths around the lake. Well worth a visit.

The lake is always a beautiful stop. We parked in the park pass area and hiked a very short while to the beach. Many people were parked along the street for free. There were 2 cars where we parked. The lot also had nice clean bathrooms.

Dear readers,
We had just left today the Big Bear Lake.
It’s surrounded by mountains and many ducks are swimming around.
It’s a very quiet place, very relaxing and chilling.
We love this place.
Best wishes,
Petra

The lake is huge and surrounded by mountain peaks. It seems lake is natural and water is coming from mountains during rainng season. The lake biew is just enjoying for beautiful sun rise. During winter the lake even freezes for some time. One can stay in nearby hotel or resort and enjoy the nature.

Beautiful views from San Bernardino to Bear Lake. Nice small lake with snow around it in December. I did full circle around the lake and on the way back took route 138 by Silverwood Lake another nice, scenic drive.

I really enjoyed my time here. It’s so close to LA but feels like it’s a world away. It’s sort of southern Californians grm. A small town up high in the mountains. Like getting a piece of Colorado or the Rockies in our own back yard

Hiking views lake water sports slides zip lining axe throwing food skiing sledding. So much to do. There’s also a lot of local smaller towns you can checkout or stay in too

Nice lake. Seems like it may be more of a summer destination. We went for Thanksgiving and it was too early for the snow activities. The town seems like a lot of locals, not sure if they get many tourists. It seems like they could work on making it more inviting. We thought it might be a good area to buy a cabin to rent, not sure we would have enough rentals to make it worth it. Sounds like summer is crazy. We will have to visit again.

We have never timed it but I think it is only about a half hour or so drive around the Lake. Always nice and relaxing. Been on Lake tour and driving tour. Every time we are up there we usually drive around the whole Lake even if we are only up there for the day it will make you feel like you are on vacation.

The road is long and winding. If you get car sick, be forewarned. It's very peaceful. I'm sure it gets VERY crowded. We were there on a Friday and it was great

Big Bear Lake provides a beautiful scenic path to run, walk or hike. For runners, you can chose any distance and there are views of the lake and just enough rolling hills to challenge any level.

Beautiful scenery in the month of May. Sure it would be fantastic for sking too. Worth a visit. Our 3 year old enjoyed seeing such a large lake. Good hiking too.

The roads leading to Big Bear were well maintained and offer stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains in the area. The Oktoberfest in town was a treat offering indoors and outdoors entertainment. The people, the food and the beers were welcoming and comfortable.

June is a great time of the year to catch trout and bass. The fishing is best by boat, but we also talked to people fishing by the shore that did well. Take your family fishing at Big Bear Lake!

We were visiting California from NZ and had a spontaneous trip to Big Bear resort for a day skiing. Booked rental skis and snowboard through s Ski Haus since they also hired clothing. The equipment was all in excellent condition along with good quality clothing. The owners were very friendly and extremely helpful - making for a great day on the slopes

Beautiful area and summer weather, BUT if your looking for water sports think again. The water level appears to be down 20 feet. Nice to visit the town for a stroll or lunch. Very sad.

It is a great drive around the entire lake to see how the" natives". live. Loved the homes built on top of the rocks.

We have lived in San Diego for many years but had not been here. We camped in our RV. The town as expected is fairly touristy, but scattered in are some nice restaurants. The trail by the lake is gorgeous. Not a lot to do, but that was the idea.

We fled the overbearing heat in Tucson, Arizona to spend a week at Big Bear Lake in July. The temperature was cooler at BBL, but was a little above average during this time of year. The lake is beautiful and offers many activities. We engaged in kayaking, but it was a windy day, so we worked hard to get around the lake. We also enjoyed some trout fishing, but got off to a late start. The lake was very weedy, so it is difficult to fish from shore. I recommend fishing from a boat. All shores of the lake are accessible by car.

This year's rain and snow has raised the lake level to within 10 feet of the high mark. We stayed at the Lagonita Lodge which are all one bed room or more with kitchens. The Lodge has several pontoon boats for rent or they offer a daily 2 hour tour of the lake. There were fishers on the boat dock and apparently fishing is good this year because of the elevated water levels. While waiting for the lake cruise to start we saw one angler catch 3 fish in about a half hour.

One of my least favorite places I visited in southern California. I am sure it is amazing during ski season but April is not the month to visit. Road construction everywhere backed up traffic in the town. For a little town everything is spread out very far.

This was my first time at Big Bear Lake and I was surprised by how low the lake was. The area is very beautiful and there is a lot of things to do up here on the mountain. I can only imagine how much fun it is when its at capacity and when the weather is warmer like during the summer. It was too cold to do anything but look at the water and the spectacular views. There were people walking the trail alongside the lake who looked as if they were locals. They were very friendly and made sure to say hello. Most of the parking areas were closed off by a gate. We assumed it was either seasonal or due to the low level of the lake. The lake is 7 miles long and takes about 30 minutes to drive around. There is a lot of windy roads and residential areas too so be mindful of that if you decided to drive it.

We went to Big Bear for Labor Day weekend and were pleasantly surprised with how peaceful it was but still close to home. The lake has really suffered from the California drought but we were still able to enjoy some water activities. It definitely feels like a small town where the locals know each other and genuinely care. The food selection was par but for the most part we cooked in our cabin. If you can make a trip to the grocery store before settling in, I strongly recommend it!

Water level is up this year. Fun place to go rent a ski or not. Fu. Place for a day get a shake at Merlin's

We did a day trip here and I was so disappointed. The lake is down about 16 feet, and so there isn't much lake left. The town is cute with a lot to do and see. There many restaurants and shops. There was a lot of traffic, so if you want a quiet get away this is probably not the place.

Rich in history. Highly recommend a guided lake tour. We went on the Big Bear Queen. Really nice, beautiful scenery.

the family travels to big bear every summer and usually around the 4th of July. The fireworks on the 4th are amazing. But the lake is low due to years of drought and it has impacted the surrounding area. The fishing for the last two years on the lake has been poor. It is still a nice lake for a quick trip.

Difficult on every level for visitor or residents. Crowded every weekend (like every destination in California shared by too many millions) thanks to events planned year-round by Chamber of Commerce. Near impossible to find lodging or drive anywhere. Good luck finding any rentals if you decide to live here. Almost everything is ARB&B (which should be illegal), so there is never more than 10 - 20 rentals available (all of them pet-unfriendly) for the 3000 seeking rentals. Ready to buy? Good luck. Better bid more than the listed price, because 2 - 4 other parties are bidding on the same place. That's if you find something that's not some time-capsule with badly needed updating and repairs. You're competing with three counties full of millions of buyers, and desperate locals needing a place to live. Everything here flies off the shelf for whatever the asking price is... going up 100k / year. Like everything in California, it's standing room only, and you have to grab fast if you're going to get it. Does that sound rejuvenating and relaxing? Just come up on any snowboard winter weekend, or summer MTB weekend. And if you really like crowds, come on the fourth of July. The Antarctic is looking better and better every year as it's ice melts. But I'm sure they will figure out how to fill that up too, soon.

This mountain city has just about everything the flat-landers enjoy in the metropolis below, but has the mountain town charm. Mostly known for the two ski resorts Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, this year-round facility is primarily a weekend getaway for the Los Angeles basin residents. But midweek, the town can feel very small and isolated. It has a small village, a major business strip with restaurants and fast food, a loop highway encircling the lake, ski areas, snow tubing hills, fun zones, marinas and beaches for water sports.
The family attractions besides snow skiing and lake sports are the Big Bear Alpine Zoo at Moonridge, and Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. Both are very family friendly and enjoyable. The zoo is focused on mountain forest animals, and Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is a multi-activity area with the Alpine Slide Bobsleds, two water slides, a miniature golf course, go cart track, and an arcade. (And a snow tubing hill in winter.)
There is plenty of activities for couples as well in this region. There is a village concert venue, pubs, sports bars, fine dining, health spas, shopping, and if you so choose, isolation to enjoy the mountains.
In the summer time, on the lake, you can enjoy cruises, boat rentals, jet skiing, fishing and swimming. Snow Summit becomes a mountain bike terrain park. There is camping and hiking, and the Pacific Crest Trail travels through the region. The previously mentioned Alpine Zoo and Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain are in full operation as well. The entire Big Bear Lake area has many summer time activities and events. Check their bigbear.com website for all weekly and seasonal happenings.
In the winter, enjoy SoCal's best ski resort, Snow Summit. It is the more family oriented of the two ski resorts. (Bear Mountain has more aggressive and stunt terrain.) Both ski resorts can get jam-packed on weekends, and sell out of lift tickets and equipment rentals on holidays. There are two different snow tubing hills in the Big Bear Lake area during winter as well. Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain near Big Bear Village and Big Bear Snow Play, east of the lake in Big Bear City. Both snow tubing hills have a "magic carpet" lift to the top of the hill, eliminating a tiresome hike up.
Cozy cabin rentals are very popular when a dusting of snow hits the region, and there are plenty of cabins for rent in the area. The snow storms are usually on the light side, having more than 20 inches in one night is rare. This community is very good at clearing the roads of snow, so never park where you will block a snowplow. Tire chains are always recommended while traveling to Big Bear Lake. Be prepared to carry chains in your vehicle when visiting from late-October through mid-May.
The three roads leading into Big Bear Lake are highway 330 via Highland (the fastest, most traveled, and most winding), highway 38 via Redlands (slightly longer, much less winding, more cruising), and highway 18 via Lucerne & Apple Valleys (the "desert" way). I prefer highway 38 via Redlands. It is less crowded, and less winding than highway 330 via Highland (and Running Springs). Highway 38 is more scenic and less dangerous in my opinion. In the winter, there are sections of this road that are quite magical, like you entered a winter wonderland. A big drawback to this route is that there are only two passing lane sections and limited pull-outs. So, if you are stuck behind a semi truck, expect a longer drive than highway 330. If you're rich, there is a small regional airport just east of the lake.
Our most recent trip, August 2017, consisted of staying at a cabin in the Sugarloaf section of Big Bear, a walking tour of the village, grocery shopping, visiting the zoo, jet skiing, stargazing, and a hike up the Log Chute trail at Snow Summit resort.
Big Bear Lake is a great place to get away for a mountain experience, all year long.

This poor lake looks like it needs help. It's brown and dirty looking. There is a green mossy slime that hugs the rim of the beach that makes it look unappealing for swimming. There were lots of fish jumping though and it's still nice to look at. The drought has taken its toll on it for sure.

We wanted to get out of the heat but it was still a little warm but not nearly as hot as Vegas. The lake levels are historically low but that didn’t stop us from renting a kayak and hiking all day. Traffic was bad on Saturday but not nearly as bad on Sunday. A terrific place to go for the weekend. Plenty of rentals and places to stay. Nights were perfectly cool. Fun. Picturesque. Tranquil.

This is such a beautiful place to visit, we were blessed with glorious weather throughout our stay with clear blue skies and sunshine the lake was the centre point for this amazing place. Given that it was a special once in a lifetime road trip for us the chances are we won't get to return but it will stay in our memories forever. I've been recommending that more Brits make the journey !

Enjoy walking along the lake and observe the swans, ducks, and the fish jump. When the winds are perfect, there are lots of sailboats on the lake, adding to it's beauty. It's peaceful there and there are areas to BBQ or simply have a picnic.

Big bear was an awesome experience for my wife my 2 year old son and my self.. A lot to do.. a lot of good places to eat. Skiing tubing, shopping. Just the scenic drive was amazing by itself, then the snow made it even better.. I was really impressed.. first time going and I didn't realize what I had been missing out on

Found Big Bear Lake to be barely worth the trip up from Los Angeles.

On paper, it seems like an amazing location. Up in those distant mountains, that, when the smog relents, offer promises of wild nature and scenic grandeur situated around a pristine mountain lake.

The reality is far different. Though the drive up the mountains is indeed breathtaking, particularly if you enter via Rim of the World Scenic Byway, the lake just kind of sits flatly among ho-hum hillsides. And the village offers little in the way of Alpine charm. It's got a kind of "everywhere" aura to it.

On the plus side, there are some great bargains to be had in renting a private home for a few days at a time. Posh "cabins" that are the equivalent to what are called "cottages" in the Hamptons. Furnishings and appliances that scream Hollywood money with room-after-room of no-holds-barred comfort. And it's a good thing, because once you leave, a lot of the pixie dust remains on the furniture.

So much about southern California is hit-or-miss, where the myth and the reality are worlds apart. This, sorrily, is one more example.

While B.B. is known as a local Cali ski area we enjoyed our recent summer weekend with friends in a cabin near Sugarloaf mountain a lot! We Renten a Pontoon boat for a few hours cruising the lake, went hiking, barbecued and enjoyed the beauty of nature and the relaxed feel (it was busy but still chilled) of this little town of Big Bear quite a bit! When you love in a big city like L. A. thiamine is a great little getaway that’s easy and fun. Highly recommended for the nature lover and boater!

If you live in Los Angeles, there is only a few getaway and one of them is Big Bear Lake. Just a couple of hours away is a nice Mountain Retreat! Cabins can be affordable or expensive depending on the time you go. The road up could be windy so drive with care and caution. It is a beautiful drive during the springtime because of the blooming flowers and fresh air. There's a lot of activities to do such as hiking, eating and family attractions. Great for a weekend getaway!

Traveled in the winter. Enjoyed the snow, trees, hikes, shopping, and restaurants. Fun getaway. Beautiful scenery. Worth the trip in all seasons.

A beautiful lake with picnic and hiking spots. Depending on the time of year their are many water activities . This is a great place for couples and also families. Its an absolutely beautiful location.

What a quaint town to walk and visit shops and cafes....then
take the boat ride on the lake. The Skipper provides a great
tour and knows all the facts of the lake and surrounding area.
We went as a group on the bus.

My family went out on the lake one day and it was a gorgeous day. We were told by the boat rental place you can't ski, tube, or even swim off the boat. To ski or tube one has to pay a driver $50 an hour. So my family just cruised around a bit and anchored to swim anyway but the water was freezing so that didn't last long. Great and beautiful lake but couldn't do much.

Do not go there to use the lake in any way. The drought has caused the lake to be very low and it is quite dirty and nasty. The surrounding areas and mountains are beautiful. Take a hike or just enjoy the Villiage Square shopping area. There is plenty to do besides going in the lake.

Drove up for a visit from La Quinta. It might have been a little too soon in the season as it was pretty quiet on the lake. A good part of it was also dried up, but not sure if that is permanent or seasonal. We will give it another try during the summer months.

We loved this lake, water shoes needed for sure advised at the visitor center as well. We found a nice location had lunch and the kids were able to get in the water also there were bathrooms available and plenty of parking.

We have visited this mountain retreat area a dozen times and each time it has a different beauty. We were trying to remember what it felt like skiing and Big Bear Lake ski areas are good for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The lake was gorgeous and the town as quaint as ever.

I was looking forward to an amazing visit to this Mountain town and lake.

The ‘lake’ is down significantly. Many waterside properties are way back from the waters edge. The lakes is suffering the effects of California’s drought. Tourism must be down, since many of the restaurants and stores are closed.

Overall a depressing visit

Big Bear Lakefront Lodge had great staff and convenient location to everything! Rooms have fridge, microwave, etc!!! Beautiful views!!!

Love the service and Linda the front desk was very nice and one of the staff forgot his name gave us great tips were to get snow tire chain and attraction place to go thanks a lot for your help. Great rooms

The weather was in the low 70s, it was sunny with a chilly breeze that felt refreshing while sun bathing. We enjoyed the weather and had a great time. I suggest taking something to float on or a raft to enjoy the water. It would also be great for kids that can't handle the cold water or simply for entertainment.

Went out with John Cantrell Guide Service. Had a Great Time, John and Cliff are both very knowledgeable about the lake and history. Caught and released several nice trout! Made our trip an over the top experience!

If you are looking for a nice place to relax and just watch the world go by or even do some water fun, this is the place to go. Sadly lat time we went though a lot of shops have closed and we went back in 2011 but I hope that more have opened since then. The trails are great for hiking, of course the lake is huge and fun for water sports, and the hotels around are nice too. We stayed in one that had a spa in it the last time, themed as the Crystal Caves. It was fun just relaxing and walking around!

You can hang out at the spa, get lost in the forest or work out all day in the trails, on the roads or in the lake. What more could you ask for.

Big Bear was one the worst if not THE worst winter vacation spot for families. First of the entire city is a giant No Parking Toe zone. So you can't pull over anywhere to go sledding or even have a snowball fight. The so called tubing is a giant waste of money. It's literally $40 a person to go down a tiny hill which is not even worth $20 nvm $40. People in the city just seem like they hate tourists and outsiders even though they are bot smart enough to understand that without us that city will go bankrupt. Lastly the roads are a diaster with pot holes everywhere and traffic everywhere. Long story short don't go to Big Bear! Take a longer drive and go somewhere actually decent like Mamoth or Lake Taho.

Breathtaking views. Went before ski season so I was not busy during this time. Great for unwinding.

Many hiking paua and view points around the lake.

We did get some fog in the mornings during our stay.

I caught some Blue Gill fish here in the 1980's they were so small I had to throw them back in the Big Bear lake.The scenery is beautiful maybe Ferguson can't paint us a masterpiece one day.The Cabins are beautiful it's worth the visit or vacation.-Anthony

You're the color
You're the movement and the spin
Never
Could it stay with me the whole
Day long
Fail with consequence
Lose with eloquence and smile
I'm not in this movie
I'm not in this song
Never
Leave me paralyzed, love
Leave me hypnotized, love

Nice on the water, lots of rental options. The beaches aren't plentiful, most shore line is swampy and the shallow water full of grasses.

It is sad to see how low the lake is. I really hope we get a lot of rain and snow because if not big bear is in big trouble. On the good years the lake is beautiful to see and play on.

So sad to see the water level this low. Hope this winter brings a lot of rain and snow. The lake is beautiful and I love to visit, however, the vegetation around the lake is very dry looking from the lack of rain.

My family and I decided to visit Big Bear Lake for a day trip on Thanksgiving. 5 - 6 inches of snow was expected and I thought it would be neat to see the first snow of the season. Snow fell all morning and by midday there was foot of snow with more expected that night. The first snow was pristine. I had never seen woods and trees with so much snow. It was more than a winter wonderland, it was so beautiful. We decided to make it an overnight trip and stayed in a local cabin. Waking up to unadulterated 2.5 feet of snow was magical. If we didn't have plans for the next day, I would have loved to stay longer.

Pete area itself has a lot to do places to visit, we spent four days there and it was great. The sad part is the lake is really low. Nothing can be done about that except more snow and rain.

Loved the get away to some snow. Had a wonder time hanging out in he cabins out in Big Bear. Finished an awesome hike 7.5 miles
Up to Bertha's peak. Cute town and shops.

We were disappointed. We expected scenic mountain, lake views and lots of good hiking. We knew the lake level was down, but still, the lake, for the most part, just wasn't impressive (except for Boulder Bay Park).

There's a village shopping area with lots of bear related gifts.
Honestly, what made our trip to Big Bear memorable was our stay at Hillside Lodge!

nice view. lots of activities. relaxing atmosphere.good place for kids and adults. good for fishing.

I wanted to fish here as I hadn't been in a few years. There is just about nowhere good to fish from shore. Unless you have a boat then I would suggest not wasting your time. Most areas are now fenced off or closed. The park service has not taken care of the Picnic areas around lake which is just sad. Go some were else to catch fish.

We were at Big Bear for the wedding of our son...and enjoyed the village and driving around the lake.
Even though the water was low, I could see the potential and it’s beauty.
The village was fun to walk around, eat and shop.
A good 4 days...

We like to come here because it’s not too far from LA. We like to rent a boat at marina and enjoy walking at the village

Good hiking trails, Bertha Peak is a real challenge. Great walk down from top off ski mtn. Lots of restaurants in the area.

Took my 4 year old up to bearycozycabin in big bear. Once again. Love this place and realized I hadn't written a trip advisor review. Took Bruce up here to get away from the 100 plus weather in the LA basin. I always stay here. I pack light because there is a washer and dryer and the kitchen has everything! The yard is completely fenced in and the owner has decorated the place with tons of bears. Bruce likes all of the toys and movies. I recommend seeing the zoo down the street. Go around 2 because that's when they feed the animals. Checked out the museum this time around and Bruce just loved it. They have a little place to pan for gold. Highly recommend this place for weekend family getaways as well as this cabin. Bearycozycabin bugbear.com. The owners are fabulous often they either let me check in early or allow me to check out late.

Good place to stay with family. It locates at very high altitute so need to concern about breath if you are not healthy condition.

Big Bear Lake is one of the nicest lakes you could ever be on. The views are incredible. The fishing ranges from slow, average, and of course you can get into hot fishing action at the right time of the year. We've had the pleasure of enjoying this lake through every possible weather condition, during every season. It offers something different each time we are there. I have been on the lake when it is at it's best, to when it decides to get ugly. I think the best times of year are spring and fall.

We visited for a couple of days. Overall we had nice time. Plenty of restaurants, shopping, the zoo, ski resorts and other summer and winter activities. We were saddened to see the low level of water in the lake (following years of drought). The Discovery Center was nice, and we also visited Arrowhead Lake which is not far.

During our recent trip to Big Bear we decided that it would be nice to just drive around the entire lake to get familiar with the layout for future visits. I am so glad we did as it gave us a completely different understanding and perspective. The route we took involved simple navigation on highways 18, 30, and 330. Starting from the big bear lake center (the main tourist area) we travelled in an easterly direction, and the lake gave us some fantastic views. As you reach the North Western side of the lake the topography changes dramatically and is very rural, woodland, and has more great vistas. That would be a good place for a picnic, and hiking, etc.

I hope you found this review helpful.

Beautiful, really a accessible place. Everyone was friendly on each store we went in. Reasonably priced shops and restaurants

We live in a mega tropolis of Los Angeles, California. Over 20 million people resides a small bit of land next to the Pacific Ocean. I drove a 2 hour commute one way to downtown Los Angeles coming only 25 miles away!! Life is hectic; therefore, we head up the drive to much needed nature!! The clean air and natural flows from the ice melts brings new life into your lungs! California is a great state! In just 2-3 hours time you could be surfing or skiing the slopes!

If you ever need a break from the rush of so cal city life take a drive into the mountains and fall on love with the clear open sky over big bear lake. Kayaking, stand up paddle board, hiking , biking. This place is known for its winter sports but don't overlook the fun to be had in summer.

I went to Big Bear Lake last year for Christmas with my wife’s family and friends. Total of 11 guests. Big Bear Lake is awesome. They have a Ski Resort, Sliding resort, hiking trails and a beautiful Lake. In Downtown there lots of Restaurants Starbucks souvenir shops and Bars. Also, if you are planning to stay at one of the Villas or Cabins there is a Vons for grocery shopping. Overall great experience!

My wife had visited previously with colleagues and wanted myself and young daughter to experience the lake during our LA trip.
Thankfully we managed to fit it into our tight travel plans.

The journey took approx 2.5hours, we left early planning to take a late breakfast on our arrival. We had been watching the forecast and purchased some warm fleeces especially as our wardrobe was only suited to beach temperatures.

Once we turned off the main roads and started the climb up into the mountains the scenery was stunning.
What made it even more scenic was the fact that the first snow had arrived enhancing the fall colours. Our young daughter loved the fact that she got to throw a few snowballs when we stopped of at view points on our drive.

The lake itself was as smooth as a millpond reflecting the blues skies providing lots of photo ops. it was stunning.
After breakfast we drove all the way round the lake before heading back to LA.
We had hoped to go cycling but it was just too cold for us Brits, even with blue sunny skies.

We were so pleased that we made the effort to do this trip, it finished our L.A. visit perfectly!

A superb environment summer and winter!
This lake offers many Things to do and views, in a preserved region!

Very nice place to enjoy this lake and city,so many restorant and food plaza are here.water is clean .I like this place

We live close, only 102 miles to Big Bear. Little did I know that there is so much beauty as well as things to do at Big Bear Lake. I hadn't been here for over 30 years and it's changed very much for the better. I can't wait to come back!

Just a short 1:45 min drive from LA you can enjoy all the mountain village has to offer from fishing, hiking, mountain biking and skiing in winter, it's the best!

So sad to see the water level so low. Many homes are not really lakefront anymore. Docks leading to dry earth. Hope it snows or rains soon

Find Juniper Point on the north shore of Big Bear, and walk it. You won't be disappointed. It is beautiful, and the pup liked it.

The big Bear lake and surronding area are a great place to vacation . an even better place to live . With hundreds of miles of hiking trails through the mountains .Bike loop around the lake, great hotels ,resturants ,Bars , shops and a great artist community what is there not to love.
Sadly if you are there for the lake it is vanishing fast. It is down 17ft in depth so that means there are hundreds of acre's of dry lakebed where the lake used to be. Hundreds of houses with their pier in the mud . Large boat docks in the mud marinas pushed out hundreds of feet 300 400 500 feet in some cases. Million dollar homes for SALE because the lake has dried up.
If you meet thee real people of Big Bear they would love to have their lake back but they say this is just part of living on a mountain lake and this is not the worst they have seen. Old timers told me about the 50's and 80's when you could walk across the middle of the lake from side to side.
So if the lake is your only reason for going there sorry you might have to wait a few weeks or a few years. But if you like all the other things Big Bear has to offer then pack your bags you wont be disappointed.
Oh by the way the freakin weather is awesome.

This is a great place to visit with family or for a couples weekend . A year round resort area. Summer fun on the lake or winter on the slopes. . A nice little down town area with unique Stites and a verity of places to eat . A few hour drive from LA or San Diego makes for an easy weekend trip .

I can spend whole day just watching lake. Try to stay near lake facing hotel. It's so beautiful and peaceful. Water is so clean , during sunset and sunrise it's heaven on earth.we enjoyed our stay here👍🏻

Wow, we really enjoyed visiting this little town. We visited twice. Once with a group and once as a couple. We liked the Art galleries, restaurants and activities. There are great group activities for example, obstacle courses, team building physical courses, etc. The drive is quite windy but worth it. This town gives you the feeling that your in a little European-American village.

Very scary road through the mountains to get to Big Bear but it's well worth it, the lake is beautiful but due to the recent drought the lake level is very low, nearby Baldwin lake is now completely dry!

The village of Big Bear is small but very welcoming to visitors, plenty of gift and craft shops and lots of places to eat to suit all tastes and budgets.

My husband and I are spending few days at the time each year at the Big Bear Lake.
We are VERY saddened to see that the water (at certain areas) of the Lake is almost NON existent.....

Being SoCal residents we visit Big Bear pretty much every year and never get bored of it! In the past years we has visited in every season, and are mesmerized by the nature n beauty every time.

This year we spent 5days/4nights at a rented cabin near the lake as well as big bear village. We saw our first snow fall the first evening we arrived; magical experience!

It snowed 2-3 ft, so we had plenty of snow around the cabin to keep us busy esp my 6yr old by sledding, building a snowman, snow angel etc.

Other than that we went snow tubing, walking around at the village.

Needless to say there are many snow related sports activities for sports enthusiasts.

All in all we had a very relaxing trip, and with all the amenities in close proximity we had a comfortable time.

Big bear is a great location for a day trip only also.

Great place to visit with a beautiful lake and nice village with shops and lots to do winter or summer

This review is only for the dog beach. It was nice and easy to access, not too many people, and fun to go to the Boathouse for a drink after.

Wonderful time, clean bathrooms and showers. Well kept campsites and hardworking Camp Hosts. We camp there often and this was an exceptional time over the 4th.

This is a great get away any time of the year, The area residence seemed to be happy that you are there and want to make sure you have a good time

Big Bear Lake is one of the only Alpine Lakes in Southern California that cater to the San Bernadino area. Nice Village with shops and restaurants. Two ski resorts located in town and the lake offers all things like Sup, water skiing and jet skis....really fun place to go to beat the IE heat!

This is a pretty lake and the drive to get there (from any direction) is also scenic. When we visited in May, the lake level was noticeably low. We were mainly there for scenic driving and hiking. The day was cool with rain/snow threatening, so there were no crowds. The south shore of the lake is quite developed with residences, lodging, restaurants, etc. so we headed to the recreation areas on the north shore (Rt. 38, N Shore Dr.). Grout Bay, Meadow's Edge and Juniper Point picnic areas were closed. We wanted to walk along the paved Alpine Pedal Path so with those access points closed, we opted to park at the trail head for the Woodland Trail, at the intersection of Woodland Road and N. Shore Dr. From there we could walk south across N. Shore Dr. and access the paved Alpine Pedal Path. We enjoyed a lovely walk along the lake shore and through the pine forest, then had lunch at Nottingham's Tavern and watched the snow flurries. I suspect this area gets crowded in summer when the valleys are hot. Note that you need a $5 National Forest Adventure Pass to use the recreation areas. See the National Forest website for info, but I think they are available at Big Bear Discovery Center.

The lake seems to be drying out like most areas in CA. We went to a small beach area to access the water and it was pretty murky and dirty. My suggestion would be to wear water shoes. I did wade a little after taking my shoes off and stepped on a fishing hook and one of the kids found another hook along the shore. Unfortunately when you rent a boat to go out onto the lake, you are not allowed to swim from most boats. The kids had a great time swimming and the weather was nice enough to enjoy a bike ride around the lake. But swimming is questionable. Would probably look for another spot moving forward to vacation with the family.

Who would have believed you could find such a beautiful elegant spa in Big Bear? The Altitudes experience begins on the phone with great customer service and continues with a very professional staff providing the massage and facial services.

I had a 90 min massage from Miko. He listened to me as I explained my concerns. He has a very unique style, doesn't feel like a routine, as he clearly blends all that he knows. He did deep tissue work, I've come to realize it doesn't have to hurt; it wasn't sore or painful, yet I could feel my muscles lengthen and soften. I especially like how he does very specific work, it was probably the best and most focused massage I’ve experienced. He ended with some great stretches that felt incredible.

My partner had a 60 min massage and mini-facial from Kristina and found her to be extremely knowledgeable and very skillful. She especially like the way her skin felt after her facial and the personal attention she recieved to all of her concerns. The hot stones just made the massage so unique!

To me, and my partner, it's a must go place every time we’re in Big Bear.
Highly recommended!

Unfortunately, the lake was drastically smaller than depicted on the advertisements. Because about 40% of it has evaporated it limits the access and activities on the lake. We were saddened to find that our "5 minute walk" to the lake was closer to 20 due to how much it has shrunk. Would visit again, but only in winter.

Went hiking with family and went on a boat tour of the lake. Also, went shopping at several gift shops in town.

What could be more beneficial in these times than to visit Big Bear Lake and City. The old and the new combined to cover all your fantasies. Modern Big Bear Village with stuff for the entire family. Restaurants equal to anything down the hill and funky old places to get a home made ice cream cone that will melt in your hands ( enuf to lick off, one of the best things to do). There is a multitude of things going on at all times, you will not be disappointed, Disneyland and Knots Berry farm all in one place, Then the lake in summer, winter sports to delight all ages. Shopping, visitors center, museum with old buildings you can walk through and a working blacksmith shop. Fishing, lake and boating activities, celebrations galore, horseback riding, the NEW ZOO, churches for all and then there are the friendliest folks who live and work there. Strike up a conversation, you are at home.

We come here at least once a year for a week of r&r. But it's really sad to see how low the lake is this year. We have been told it's down 17 feet. Love walking around the village. Fall is in the air cool crisp mornings with some fog over the lake.

We decided to go here all the way from Arizona because I have heard how beautiful it was. It is nice but over-crowding and the diminishing lake levels make it for just average. I would have to say that maybe during snowboarding season it might be more majestic but not during the summer.

We especially enjoyed the drive around the north side of the lake and the opportunity to walk for a mile or more on a nicely paved bike/walking path. Beautiful scenery!

We there to relax and that is what I did.I spent most of my time outside in the mid 60's and sunny weather. I read in the park, hiked a few trails, had some cold beers at the boathouse, and wandered around the village. It was a great time with people but not too crowded. I was able to do all I wanted to do with no lines or a lot of time waiting. I think it would be different in ski and boating season.