North America : United States of America : California : Southern California : San Bernardino County : Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Understand
Big Bear Lake is located in the middle of the San Bernardino National Forest. Parking within city limits does not require a permit. Parking in the forest areas surrounding the city requires the purchase of an Adventure Pass. Adventure Passes can be purchased at the Big Bear Discovery Center (see below) or any sporting goods store within the city.
Get in
By car
Highway 330 leads to the city from San Bernardino and enters the west end of town. Highway 38 leads to the city from Redlands and enters the east end of town.
By air
The nearest large airports are LA/Ontario International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport.
Big Bear City Airport [1] is a general aviation airport on the east end of the lake. Tiedown rentals are available. Car rentals are also available.
Get around
See
- Big Bear Discovery Center, 40971 North Shore Dr., ☎ +1 909 866-3437(fax: +1 909 866-1781), [2]. Daily 8:30AM-4:30PM. The Discovery Center is museum and visitors center that provides information about the recreation opportunities in the forest surrounding the Lake. Adventure Passes are sold here.
Do
In winter time ski and snowboard at Snow Summit and enjoy beautiful views of the town. The snow is never very good though.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Cienaga Creek Ranch, Rainbow Lane, ☎ (888) 336 - 2891, [3].
- Best Western Big Bear Lake Chateau, 42200 Moonridge Road, ☎ +1 909 866-6666(toll free: +1 800 232-7466, fax: +1 909 866-8988), [4].
- Motel 6 Big Bear, 42899 Big Bear Boulevard, ☎ +1 909 585-6666(fax: +1 909 585-6685), [5].
- Pine Knot Guest Ranch, 908 Pine Knot Avenue P.O. Box 3446, ☎ 1-800-866-3446, [6].
- Apples Bed and Breakfast, 42430 Moonridge Road P.O. Box 7172 Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, ☎ (909) 866-0903, [7].
- Northwoods Resort and Conference Center, 40650 Village Dr(Located at the edge of the Village), ☎ 1-800-866-3121, [8].
Stay Safe
Wildfires sometimes occur during the summer, when it is dry.
Get out
- Holcomb Valley, North of Big Bear Lake(from Hwy 38, take Poligue Canyon Rd. to Holcomb Valley Rd.). Holcomb Valley was a boomtown during the Southern California goldrush and was very nearly the county seat of San Bernardino County. A driving tour brochure can be found at the Big Bear Discovery Center. Note: This tour is on well-graded dirt roads that should accomodate most passenger cars. Be cautious when conditions are wet as the roads may become muddy.
This page was last edited at 16:03, on 16 March 2009 by Colin Jensen. Based on work by Eric Polk, Jeff Logan and Hotel Maker Bot and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.