Skiing & Snowboarding
Great skiers of all levels. Take the local shortcut from our cabin. Head west on Sherwood, left on division and another left on Foxfarm.
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870 locals recommend
Bear Mountain Ski Resort
43101 Goldmine DrGreat skiers of all levels. Take the local shortcut from our cabin. Head west on Sherwood, left on division and another left on Foxfarm.
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Great skiers of all levels. Take the local shortcut from our cabin. Head west on Sherwood, left on division and another left on Foxfarm.
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48 locals recommend
Snow Summit Ski Resort
880 Summit BoulevardGreat skiers of all levels. Take the local shortcut from our cabin. Head west on Sherwood, left on division and another left on Foxfarm.
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Family Activities
All season fun. In the winter they have inner tubing with a lift. Summer has go-karts and a ripe course. Walk two blocks west from our cabin to get here. It’s just behind the motel 6.
489 locals recommend
Big Bear Snow Play
42825 Big Bear BlvdAll season fun. In the winter they have inner tubing with a lift. Summer has go-karts and a ripe course. Walk two blocks west from our cabin to get here. It’s just behind the motel 6.
Great place for family fun. Mini Golf, Seated zipline, water slide and the Alpine Slide. 1/4 mile long bobsled-like experience. Ride the chair lift to the top of the hill and slide in your sled all the way down. Concession stand and plenty of parking.
652 locals recommend
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
800 Wildrose LnGreat place for family fun. Mini Golf, Seated zipline, water slide and the Alpine Slide. 1/4 mile long bobsled-like experience. Ride the chair lift to the top of the hill and slide in your sled all the way down. Concession stand and plenty of parking.
Home to the only captive family of grizzly bears in California, this great little zoo is focused on conservation and plays a huge part in local animal rescue. Staff members a friendly and know their animals on a personal level. They’re sure to tell you some stories if you’ve got time to listen.
723 locals recommend
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
42801 Club View DrHome to the only captive family of grizzly bears in California, this great little zoo is focused on conservation and plays a huge part in local animal rescue. Staff members a friendly and know their animals on a personal level. They’re sure to tell you some stories if you’ve got time to listen.
Relatively new park in beautiful Boulder Bay is great for photos year-round. There’s a small beach, benches and fishing pier. When there’s snow on the ground, the grassy field provides ample space for rolling snowmen or a snowball fight.
234 locals recommend
Boulder Bay Park
39080 Big Bear BlvdRelatively new park in beautiful Boulder Bay is great for photos year-round. There’s a small beach, benches and fishing pier. When there’s snow on the ground, the grassy field provides ample space for rolling snowmen or a snowball fight.
A great picnic spot with fishing and swimming. Parking in the lot will require an Adventure Pass or National Park pass. You can get one at the Big Bear Discovery Center Across the street in warmer months.
23 locals recommend
Juniper Point Picnic Area
41365 N Shore DrA great picnic spot with fishing and swimming. Parking in the lot will require an Adventure Pass or National Park pass. You can get one at the Big Bear Discovery Center Across the street in warmer months.
Grizzly Ridge Tube Park
880 Summit BlvdGreat place for tubing, managed by Bear Mountain Resort.
Fishing
Great local bait shop. Jerry Bosco mans the counter himself and is more than happy to pass on local fishing knowledge. They even rent poles. If you’ve never fished a day in your life, you could walk out of Bosco’s with everything you need to pull a nice big rainbow trout out of the lake!
Bosco's Bait & Tackle
400 Pine Knot AveGreat local bait shop. Jerry Bosco mans the counter himself and is more than happy to pass on local fishing knowledge. They even rent poles. If you’ve never fished a day in your life, you could walk out of Bosco’s with everything you need to pull a nice big rainbow trout out of the lake!
John Cantrell can help you turn your fishing into catching. His hard-topped boats provide a great place to sit while your pull a few trout out of the lake.
7 locals recommend
Cantrell Fishing Guide Service
400 Pine Knot AveJohn Cantrell can help you turn your fishing into catching. His hard-topped boats provide a great place to sit while your pull a few trout out of the lake.
If it’s hot during the day, you’ll get catfish in the evening at Stanfield Cuttoff. Tie a drop shot rig with three hooks, set your bobber for five feet of water and your good to go. The cats in Big Bear love worms, chicken liver or any stinky meaty bait you can find. They’re even rumored to go for Pillsbury dough, but you didn’t hear it from me :)
Stanfield Cutoff
Stanfield CutoffIf it’s hot during the day, you’ll get catfish in the evening at Stanfield Cuttoff. Tie a drop shot rig with three hooks, set your bobber for five feet of water and your good to go. The cats in Big Bear love worms, chicken liver or any stinky meaty bait you can find. They’re even rumored to go for Pillsbury dough, but you didn’t hear it from me :)
Hiking
Once a giant quartz monolith, the Eye of God is held sacred by the Serrano people. It was destroyed by gold miners, as the story goes, either to search for gold or in an attempt to drive the native people from the area. Reportedly less than half its original size, the Eye of God is still a gigantic quartz rock. The site is still held sacred by Native Americans, so please be respectful during your visit. No collecting and pack out your trash. The opposite side of the road is Crystal Mountain. There you can collect :) Nice for a day hike. Access is an unimproved fire road. If you don't have 4 wheel drive, you can park at the bottom and hike up. Park at the bottom of Vale Dr. in Baldwin lake and hike or 4x4 up NF-2N02. After about a mile, you will be able to see the Eye of God on your right across the valley. Contiue hiking until the road comes to a crest about another 1/2 mile and there is a path going to the rock itself.
23 locals recommend
Eye Of God
Quartz LaneOnce a giant quartz monolith, the Eye of God is held sacred by the Serrano people. It was destroyed by gold miners, as the story goes, either to search for gold or in an attempt to drive the native people from the area. Reportedly less than half its original size, the Eye of God is still a gigantic quartz rock. The site is still held sacred by Native Americans, so please be respectful during your visit. No collecting and pack out your trash. The opposite side of the road is Crystal Mountain. There you can collect :) Nice for a day hike. Access is an unimproved fire road. If you don't have 4 wheel drive, you can park at the bottom and hike up. Park at the bottom of Vale Dr. in Baldwin lake and hike or 4x4 up NF-2N02. After about a mile, you will be able to see the Eye of God on your right across the valley. Contiue hiking until the road comes to a crest about another 1/2 mile and there is a path going to the rock itself.
A more challenging hike that offers some great views of the lake and mountains.
474 locals recommend
Castle Rock Trail 1W03
Big Bear BoulevardA more challenging hike that offers some great views of the lake and mountains.
Food scene
Get your tourist on. Grab an ice cream at North Pole fudge and check out the shops as you stroll down Pine Knot Ave. plenty of free parking and some great restaurants.
141 locals recommend
Big Bear Village
40824 Big Bear BlvdGet your tourist on. Grab an ice cream at North Pole fudge and check out the shops as you stroll down Pine Knot Ave. plenty of free parking and some great restaurants.
BBQ & Brew after a day hiking or on the lake or skiing? Yes, please. And here’s the place to do it. Get a great meal and walk it off with some shopping at the Village or stop in before going to see a live show at The Cave. You won’t leave hungry.
62 locals recommend
The Bone Yard Bar & Grill
560 Pine Knot AveBBQ & Brew after a day hiking or on the lake or skiing? Yes, please. And here’s the place to do it. Get a great meal and walk it off with some shopping at the Village or stop in before going to see a live show at The Cave. You won’t leave hungry.
Authentic Himalayan and Indian flavors are a great comfort food year round. Friendly staff and lots of seating right in the heart of the Village.
252 locals recommend
Himalayan Restaurant
672 Pine Knot AveAuthentic Himalayan and Indian flavors are a great comfort food year round. Friendly staff and lots of seating right in the heart of the Village.
Friendly Service and tastey Thai food. It’s a great location in the middle of the village when you need to refuel.
50 locals recommend
Royal Thai Café
40766 Village DrFriendly Service and tastey Thai food. It’s a great location in the middle of the village when you need to refuel.
Great local company. No trip to The Village is complete for us without a stop here. There’s usually a line, but it goes fast.
118 locals recommend
North Pole Fudge and Ice Cream Co
618 Pine Knot AveGreat local company. No trip to The Village is complete for us without a stop here. There’s usually a line, but it goes fast.
Upscale family restaurant. A bit small, but good service and tastey food.
507 locals recommend
Peppercorn Grille
553 Pine Knot AveUpscale family restaurant. A bit small, but good service and tastey food.
Tropicali.
This Hawaiian-themed restaurant couldn’t be more Big Bear local. Sound strange? Ask the owners. They work the front desk and will greet you with an enthusiastic Aloha. Poke bowls and barbacoa are a great alternative to a carb loaded pizza or fast food. Delicious and healthy and local, the trifecta of goodness :)
231 locals recommend
Big Bear Local
40616 Village DrTropicali.
This Hawaiian-themed restaurant couldn’t be more Big Bear local. Sound strange? Ask the owners. They work the front desk and will greet you with an enthusiastic Aloha. Poke bowls and barbacoa are a great alternative to a carb loaded pizza or fast food. Delicious and healthy and local, the trifecta of goodness :)
Sightseeing
Free Big Bear Stickers! Also a great place to start your journey. You can purchase lift tickets and get brochures for everything Big Bear so you don't miss a thing. They have a small gift shop as well.
46 locals recommend
Big Bear Visitor Center
40824 Big Bear BlvdFree Big Bear Stickers! Also a great place to start your journey. You can purchase lift tickets and get brochures for everything Big Bear so you don't miss a thing. They have a small gift shop as well.
Tour Big Bear by 4 wheel drive. You drive their jeeps to all remote areas. Explore the Holcomb Valley goldrush sites.
112 locals recommend
Big Bear Jeep Experience
42011 Big Bear BlvdTour Big Bear by 4 wheel drive. You drive their jeeps to all remote areas. Explore the Holcomb Valley goldrush sites.
Shopping & Gear Rental
Great prices on winter and summer gear and clothing as well as equipment rental for all seasons. E-bikes in the summer and skis in the winter. They also have area maps. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
56 locals recommend
Goldsmith's Sports
42071 Big Bear BlvdGreat prices on winter and summer gear and clothing as well as equipment rental for all seasons. E-bikes in the summer and skis in the winter. They also have area maps. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.