Big Bear Lake has long been one of the most popular places to escape to for Los Angeles residents who are looking to take a break from the more urban side of things. Situated approximately 100 miles northeast of the big city, this delightful year-round destination rests in the lofty San Bernardino mountains and is known for its beautiful scenery and its splendid weather. Big Bear Lake gets nearly 300 days of sunshine on an average yearly basis. So agreeable is the weather, that CalTech operates a solar observatory there. It isn’t all about the scenery and the weather, however. Big Bear Lake features a charming village that is home to a supermarket and other conveniences. This is also a destination that offers abundant recreational opportunities.

Outdoor Recreation

Southern California is home to its fair share of recreation lakes. Big Bear Lake is the largest of them all. This body of water that shares the village’s name is approximately seven miles long and measures about one mile wide at its widest point. Understandably, boating and fishing are among the recreational activities that Big Bear Lake visitors like to indulge in. Mountain biking, horseback riding, and golfing are also popular warm weather pursuits, and the area in general is a true hiker’s delight. Surrounding Big Bear Lake and its corresponding village is in the San Bernardino National Forest, and it offers numerous hiking trails for trekkers to select from. For short hikes, the Woodland Trail is among the most ideal tracks, while the famous Pacific Crest Trail caters to those who are interested in enjoying a more extensive hiking experience. As for popular Big Bear Lake winter activities, skiing and snowboarding reign supreme.

California Map

Skiing

Big Bear Lake rests at an elevation of more than 7,000 feet above sea level and is within very close proximity of two ski resorts. The names of these sister resorts are the Big Bear Ski Resort and the Snow Summit Ski Area. You can access both with a single lift ticket, thus opening up a diverse skiing or snowboarding experience. At the Big Bear Ski Resort, you will find the highest lift-served peak in all of Southern California, and when there is a hefty amount of natural snowfall, tree runs become available for skiers and snowboarders to take advantage of. Among other things, the resort is also known for its Superpipe. Over at Snow Summit, visitors pretty much always have plenty of the white stuff to indulge in whether it snows or not. The resort operates a large snowmaking system. Unlike the Big Bear Ski Resort, Snow Summit is open for night skiing.

Big Bear Lake Hotels & Lodging

Travelers who select Big Bear Lake as their California vacation destination have plenty of lodging options to consider. The area is home to resorts, lodges, hotels, motels, charming bed and breakfasts, and a number of inviting vacation rental properties. The privately-owned vacation rental properties come largely in the form of condos, cabins, and homes. Cabins, as well as cottages and condos, are also offered by some of the area resorts. Should camping be the lodging option of choice, there are options there as well. Some of the area campsites can accommodate the RV crowd, and there are plenty of tent sites. Depending on the campground or campsite in question, there might be various facilities to take advantage of. Campers can also find sites that are more remote and basic. Some of the Big Bear Lake area campsites are reservation only.