Page 90 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

BIG BEAR LAKE
Escape to this pristine mountain enclave for year-round outdoor adventure,
a famous Oktoberfest site and a stunning alpine lake
B Y L E N O R E G R E I N E R
PADDLE, SKI,
HIKE, RIDE
VISIT BIG BEAR LAKE
BigBear.com
Southern Californians and visitors in the
know head to Big Bear Lake, seeking out
winter alpine action and summer water
sports with lots of golf, horseback riding and
hiking in between—definitely worth several
enjoyable visits. Within the San Bernardino
National Forest, Big Bear Lake lies only 100
miles northeast of Los Angeles and 150 miles
northeast of San Diego, easily reached via
three different roads.
PIRATE SHIP CRUISE & TOUR, above; Big Bear
Off-road Experience, below.
a paddlewheel boat or a pirate ship or simply
spend a lazy day on the lakeshore. At this
mountain biking and cycling mecca, rent a
bike to take on Summit Bike Park trails or to
cruise the paved, three and a half mile
Alpine Pedal Path along the lake’s shoreline.
Year-round Adventure
Any time of year, take an off-road jeep,
Segway or zipline tour. Or view stunning
mountain vistas on horseback or aboard a
helicopter. Don’t miss The Village at Big
Bear Lake for great shopping, dining, wine-
tasting, and beer flights at local breweries.
During Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest weekends,
from September 10 through November 5,
revelers celebrate good times with
authentic German music, food and brews
in an old-world ambiance.
A Premier Winter Wonderland
Every winter skiers and snowboarders hit
the ski runs of Snow Summit and Bear
Mountain and snowshoers make snowy
treks through the forests. Children and
families love the toboggan run at the Alpine
Slide at Magic Mountain and three snow
tubing areas and a snow tube park.
Spring and Summertime
in the Mountains
By spring, miles of hiking trails bloom with
wildflowers, perfect for spotting bald
eagles, chipmunks and coyote. Or take the
Gold Fever Trail self-driving tour in a 4-
wheel drive vehicle through Holcomb
Valley past mines abandoned after the
1860s gold rush.
Watersports abound on Big Bear Lake’s six
marinas with boating, kayaking, paddle
boarding and jet skiing, as well as fishing
charters. Explore the seven-mile-long reser-
voir lake during scenic boat tours on either
Care For Big Bear
for Sustainable Tourism
To preserve Big Bear Lake’s splendor, the
award-winning “Care For Big Bear” cam-
paign focuses on sustainable tourism.
Preserve our natural playground, look for
the Care For Big Bear logo and pitch your
trash into the receptacles. Use public trans-
portation to get around on the Free Big Bear
Trolley. While hiking, respect the trails by
leaving no trace and use the porta-potties
found around the Valley. Or volunteer on
shoreline clean-ups or debris collection in
snow play areas.
88 2022-23 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
BIG BEAR LAKE