Big Bear Lake California

The weather was glorious in SoCal, so we headed out in the Jeep to spend the day at Big Bear Lake California.

A winding road through mountains with cloudless deep blue sky on our way to Big Bear Lake California

Exploring the San Bernardino Mountains in our Jeep

San Bernardino Mountains

On our way to Big Bear Lake California are mountains and a pair of bright yellow sunflowers are in the center of the picture.

A pair of Sunflowers brighten the mountainous landscape

It was late February when we returned to Redlands for couple of weeks. That gave us time to explore more of the area including the San Bernardino Mountains.

Multiple mountains with peaks and folds on the way to Big Bear Lake California

The folds and peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains

My cousins have lived in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains for eons. But I had no idea just how special the area was. Until now. I could easily picture us enjoying life in Southern California for years to come. And by that I mean, I could see us returning each year for an extended stay.

A snow capped mountain visible through the pine trees near Big Bear Lake California

Snow capped mountains through the pines.

On our first trip to Redlands in early January, there was too great a risk of snow for us to even think about at trip to Big Bear Lake California. We read the warnings on their website that the weather can change in the blink of an eye. In January the temperatures were much cooler and snow is always a threat in that neck of the woods. Therefore, you MUST have chains in you vehicle.

The Big Bear Lake Bunny Trail

The day we went it was technically still winter being February. However the high for the day was low 70s so we figured there was not much risk. And, though the ski slopes had plenty of snow, the roads were completely clear. The day was relaxed and glorious.

Snow dusted mountains

Big Bear Lake California is a small city that us jam packed with activity. This little town sits on the banks of fish-filled Big Bear Lake. This picturesque hamlet looked exactly like the picture in my mind of a ski resort town. And it is best known for Bear Mountain ski resort, with its terrain parks, Bunny Trails, and family-friendly Snow Summit ski resort. The streets o Big Bear Lake Village are lined with boutiques, gift shops and restaurants in the commercial area. And surrounding the city, the rugged San Bernardino National Forest has mountain trails for ambitious hikers.

Tree covered mountains in the foreground and snow covered mountain in the distance at Big Bear Lake California

A closer look at that far off snowy mountain top

Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s four-season mountain lake escape. Big Bear Lake is the jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest and known for excellent fishing, snowboarding and skiing, hiking, mountain biking and so much more!

History of Big Bear Lake California

A huge 3-D sign with a big bear in a sled at

Sledding fun at Big Bear Lake California

Big Bear Lake was inhabited by the indigenous Serrano people for over 2,000 years before it was explored by Benjamin Wilson and his party. Once populated by only the natives and the grizzly bears, namesake of this area, the population of the Big Bear Valley grew rapidly during the southern California gold rush from 1861 to 1912. Grizzly bears were not found in the region after 1908. Today, there are black bears in the region since their introduction in 1933, and they are sometimes sighted in residential areas.

World’s second bus line

A trip to Big Bear Lake from San Bernardino took two days on horse-drawn carriages. Kirk Phillips was a local who took a trip to New York City and saw the world’s first bus line. This inspired him to

create the world’s second bus line from San Bernardino to Big Bear Valley using White trucks with several rows of seats. This made it possible for the villages to grow and for Big Bear Lake to become the first mountain recreation area in southern California.

Hot Springs

Many people traveled to enjoy recreation on the lake, however, another major draw was the natural hot spring. Emile Jesserun bought 40 acres of land that included the hot spring and built the first major resort in Big Bear, the Pan Hot Springs Hotel, in 1921. This resort was followed with others that strove to be the best by creating a country club atmosphere, complete with the amenities required to lure the Hollywood celebrities of the time including Cecil B. DeMille, Shirley Temple, and Ginger Rogers. By 1924, Big Bear was populated with 44 resorts and a constant stream of vacationers. The Pan Hot Springs Hotel, like many of the other resorts and hotels in Big Bear, was extensively damaged by fire in 1933.

Popular film industry location

A deep blue lake surrounded by sand and mountains at Big Bear Lake California

The gorgeous lake that is the namesake of the town of Big Bear Lake California

For Hollywood’s film industry, the area has also been a popular place for shooting on location since the silent era. In late November 1915, Universal Studios filmed there for its three-reel production of John o’ the Mountains starring Sydney Ayres and Louella Maxam. The 1920 version of Last of the Mohicans was filmed there as well, as were some scenes for the 1936 film Daniel Boone, Gone with the Wind, 20th Century Fox’s 1960 film North to Alaska, Disney’s Old Yeller, the 1969 musical film Paint Your Wagon, the 1983 movie War Games, and the 1985 “dark comedy” Better Off Dead. Many television series have filmed sequences there too, including opening sequences in 1969 for the NBC children’s program H.R. Pufnstuf.

First resort at Big Bear Lake

A snow covered slope with skiers and trees at Big Bear Lake California

More skiers at Big Bear!

Winter activities are also popular in Big Bear. The first ski jump in Big Bear was erected in 1929 and quickly claimed a world ski jump record. More jumps were built in Big Bear Lake and the Viking Ski Club of Los Angeles began to use them for competition and events. The move to a winter resort town was solidified in 1952 when Tommy Tyndall opened a resort in Big Bear Lake, now known as Snow Summit. In some winters the area gets little snow, but snow machines keep the resorts in business.

Big Bear Solar Observatory

In the summer of 1968, Caltech began construction of Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Due to extensive rain and snow, the lake rose several feet and BBSO was surrounded by water at the time construction was completed using makeshift barges in May 1970. BBSO, now operated by the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is still a major Big Bear Lake landmark connected to the north shore by a dirt and rock causeway.

Oktoberfest

A very deep blue lake surrounded by rocks and tree covered mountains at Big Bear Lake California

The very deep blue water of Big Bear Lake.

Since 1970, Big Bear Lake has held its annual Oktoberfest. The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest also sports the highest beer garden, by elevation, in the United States. Big Bear Lake was incorporated as a city on November 28, 1980.

Training spot for boxers

Sand and rocks with an unusual tree growing from the sand in the center at Big Bear Lake California

I loved how this tree was growing out of the sand. A Joshua Tree?

During the 1990s, the city became famous as a training spot for boxing champions. Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, Fernando Vargas, Gennady Golovkin, and Shane Mosley are among the famous boxers who have trained at Big Bear.

The lake and its ducks

Ducks resting on the shore of Big Bear Lake

A male duck sitting on the lake shore at Big Bear Lake California

This gorgeous duck let me get so close!

A male duck with irridescent green feathers on his neck stretching his head as he floats on Big Bear Lake California

Not leaving, just stretching!

The lake for which the town is named is stunning. The water was crystal clear. As the depth of the lake increased the water became a deeper and deeper blue. There were so many gorgeous ducks taking a snooze along the shore that we shot a million photos. Have no fear. I’m only sharing a couple. But trust me. It was quite a magnificent site.