Outdoors

5 min read

20 Things To Do In Big Bear (Lakes, Hiking & More!)

Explore 20 top activities in Big Bear! From serene lakeside retreats, thrilling hikes, to cozy movie nights and unique zoo visits. Ideal for every traveler.

Tobi Miles
October 15, 2022
20 Things To Do In Big Bear (Lakes, Hiking & More!)

In Big Bear Lake, you can enjoy seasonal adventure any time of year. Skiers and snowboarders travel to the Valley in the winter to ski and ride at two fantastic resorts. At three nearby locations, friends and family enjoy snow tubing, and those looking for the ultimate Zen experience take to the trails for snowshoeing experiences.

Grizzly bears were the sole residents here when the Serrano tribe of native people originally settled here, which is an interesting fact about how it got its name.

The former community was able to expand thanks to the new bus line, and it didn't take long for the lake to become SoCal's first mountainous leisure area.

1. Altitudes Massage & Spa

Map It: 42184 Moonridge Rd #4, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-747-9696

Website

Hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 4pm

Price: $100 - $400 

Visit the amazing Altitudes Massage & Spa for a rejuvenating couples' massage with your partner. Couples can have calming massages and revitalizing spa treatments in the same room at this renowned spa in Big Bear Lake. Get a soothing head massage to relieve all your stress.

At this romantic activity in Big Bear Lake, take pleasure in calming foot reflexology, energizing hot stone massage, and scented aromatherapy. \

To make it a relaxing experience with romance in the air, use champagne or hot tea. You and your significant other will adore the delectable assortment of chocolates and the mouthwatering fresh strawberries wrapped in chocolate.

2. Watch a Movie at Village Theaters

Map It: 602 Pine Knot Ave, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-866-5115

Website

Hours: Varies seasonally

Entrance: $10 per person

When on vacation in Big Bear Lake, Village Theaters North is there to fulfill your desire to watch a fun movie with a loved one. The theater is a well-liked destination where many visitors gather to watch a variety of leisurely performances. Purchase a ticket in advance for your preferred performance, take a seat comfortably, and enjoy a terrific film.

3. Visit the Big Bear Alpine Zoo

jgkix / YouTube

Map It: 43285 Goldmine Dr, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-584-1299

Website

Hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

Entrance: $12 per person

In Big Bear Lake, California, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a zoo. One of just two Alpine zoos in the country. It has a permanent collection of animals in its zoo and specializes in the rehabilitation and release of indigenous Alpine species.

4. Rent a Kayak at Pleasure Point Marina

Map It: 603 Landlock Landing, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Phone: 909-866-2455

Website

Hours: Daily: 8 am - 5 pm

Entrance: ~$110 per hour

We provide kayaks, paddle boards, pedal boats, and a sizable fleet of pontoon and fishing boats for hire. We provide a variety of options for your enjoyment, whether you want to laze on the water, go fishing, or explore the lake in a kayak.

5. Hike Cougar Crest Trail

Traveling Mooses

Map It: 40650 North Shore Drive 0.6 miles west of Big Bear Discovery Center; GPS 34.263455, -116.911284, Big Bear Lake, CA 92314

Website

Hours: 24/7

Entrance: Free

This 9.0-km out-and-back trail is located close to Big Bear Lake in California. It takes an average of 2 hours, 32 minutes to accomplish this course, which is typically regarded as moderately difficult.

Since hiking is highly popular in this region, you can run into other hikers while doing your exploration. The months of March through November are the optimum for hiking this trek.

6. Big Bear Queen Lake Tour

Map It: Pine Knot Marina, 439 Pine Knot Ave, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-744-4948

Website

Hours: Daily: 8 am - 7 pm

Price: $30 per person

Chris Bellows, who was reared in the Big Bear Valley and is an active outdoorsman who enjoys sailing, skiing, and mountain biking. He competed for Hobie's catamaran in California in the early 1980s as crew.

His first love has always been the water, and now, in 1989, he took over as owner and captain of the BIG BEAR QUEEN from his father, who had held those positions for many years earlier.

7. Enjoy an Evening at The Cave

Joe Rincon / YouTube

Map It: 40789 Village Dr, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, US

Phone: (909) 878-0204

Website

Hours: Wednesday: 5 pm - 9 pm, Thursday: 8 am - 9 pm, Friday & Saturday: 8 am - 1 pm, Sunday: 8 am - 9 pm

Entrance: Free

A totally unique performance and comedy venue, The Cave is located in the center of Big Bear. It is unusual for such a small venue to have the lighting, sound, laser light shows, gourmet snacks, artisan beer, comfy seats, space to dance, and of course, outstanding acts.

The Cave is a facility that will bring your favorite bands closer to you than you ever imagined possible because of its ideal combination of setting, amenities, and incredible live entertainment.

8. Big Bear Discovery Center

Big Bear Discovery Center / Facebook

Map It: 40971 North Shore Drive/Hwy 38, Fawnskin, CA 92333

Phone: (909) 382-2790

Website

Hours: Thurs-Mon, from 9 am-4 pm

Entrance: $5 per person

This educational facility, which is situated on the northern shore of Big Bear Lake, offers interactive displays and learning opportunities about the local fauna and natural surroundings.

9. Yosemite Axe

Tahoe Daily Tribune

Map It: 41530 Big Bear Blvd Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Phone: (909) 647-3069

Website

Hours: Daily: 12 pm - 8 pm

Price: $30 per person

In just one of our hour-long sessions, you'll be hitting those bullseyes with ease! We're launching a league so that folks may play in it every week because people enjoy it so much!

Yosemite Axe Throwing offers league play, drop-ins, and party reservations. Bring closed-toed shoes and a great attitude; we'll take care of the rest. No experience necessary.

10. The Bowling Barn

Map It: 40625 Big Bear Blvd Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Phone: (909) 878-2695

Website

Hours: Daily: 10 am - 10:30 pm

Entrance: 

The Bowling Barn is situated in Big Bear Lake, a picturesque alpine town in California. We are only a short drive from Big Bear Lake's lake, community, ski areas, and other attractions.

On EVERY trip you take to Big Bear, you should stop by our establishment. Everyone in your group will have fun with us. Modern bowling scoring technology is available at our 16-lane bowling alley.

You won't need to maintain score because our completely automated system will handle that for you. In addition to Laser Maze, our arcade features the newest games.

11. Get a Massage at Mountain Mobile Massage

Map It: 42718 Moonridge Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: (909) 800-8103

Website

Hours: Daily: 9 am - 8 pm

Price: Dependent on massage

For the comfort, relaxation, and wellness of their clients, staff at Mountain Mobile Massage & Spa work hard to provide the greatest therapists and treatment spaces.

At their locations, located at 42718 Moonridge Rd in Big Bear Lake, California, they offer a diverse range of conventional and therapeutic techniques.

Their clients adore our site for its beauty both inside and out, and the abundance of windows reduces the need for bothersome fluorescent lighting. Ther several treatment rooms are ideal for relaxing, reviving, and restoring for couples, individuals, and groups.

12. Hike Castle Rock Trail 

BackRoadsWest1 / YouTube

Map It: Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-382-2790

Website

Hours: 24/7

Entrance: Free

This 2.7-mile out-and-back trail may be found close to Big Bear Lake in California. It takes an average of 1 hour, 38 minutes to accomplish this route, which is typically regarded as moderately difficult.

Since hiking is highly popular in this region, you can run into other hikers while doing your exploration. In some places, dogs are allowed off-leash.

13. Explore Big Bear Lake

Map It: Big Bear Lake, CA

Website | Hours: 24/7  

Entrance: Free

Big Bear Lake is a four-season alpine lake getaway in Southern California. Big Bear Lake, the crown gem of the San Bernardino National Forest, is situated in the center of Southern California and is just a short drive from Phoenix and Las Vegas. It is renowned for its superb fishing, snowboarding and skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more.

14. Boulder Bay Park

Map It: 39080 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-866-5831

Website

Hours: Daily: 7:30 am - 9 pm

Entrance: Free

Big Bear is renowned for offering a wide range of outdoor attractions and activities. Among these, Boulder Bay Park stands out all year round as a great location for both tourists and residents to take in the natural beauty of the outdoors.

This more recent park, which was built in 2010 and is only two miles east of Big Bear Dam, has grown significantly in popularity as a destination for picnics and other outdoor activities. Boulder Bay Park is so close to our office that periodically during the summer, we at Big Bear Vacations even bring our lunches here.

15. Stanfield Marsh & Wildlife Preserve

Big Bear

Map It: Big Bear Lake, CA 92314, USA

Hours: 24/7

Entrance: Free

This 1.6-mile out-and-back track may be found close to Big Bear City, California. It usually takes 28 minutes to finish and is regarded as being simple.

Although this trail is well-liked for birdwatching, hiking, and running, you can still find some peace and quiet during the slower times of the day. Dogs are permitted, but they must be leashed.

16. Mountain Room Escapes

Map It: 1121 W Big Bear Blvd Big Bear, CA 92314

Phone: (877) 584-6427

Website

Hours: Daily: 8 am - 12 am

Price: $25 per person

Family-friendly room escape excursions are available at Mountain Room Escapes. You will enter one of our mountain-themed rooms with locks, riddles, and challenges with a team of up to eight people.

Find the solution to the problems in an hour to free yourself! Room escape games are excellent for date nights, nights out with friends, and corporate team-building exercises.

17. Explore Village Sweet Shoppe

Map It: 40736 Village Dr, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States

Phone: 909-366-0657

Website

Hours: Daily: 10 am - 6 pm

Entrance: Free

When visiting the village, be sure to stop at this store! They sell a variety of sweets, including jelly beans, gelato, and saltwater taffy. All of the chocolate options are located towards the store's back.

Your recollections are triggered by this store. Do you long for the sweets you used to enjoy as a child? Would you like something sweet? Visit this location to indulge in a variety of delicacies!

Tobi Miles
Article updated:
March 28, 2024
A nomadic wordsmith savoring the world's flavors and penning stories that turn every journey into an epic.
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