Alpine Zoo Wild Lights: A Magical Winter Experience Without the Hefty Price Tag Alpine Zoo's Wild Lights is a perfect, family-friendly way to kick off the winter season--especially for young families looking for something festive without overspending. We visited with our two toddlers and debated between the regular daytime zoo admission ($58 for two adults, 2 children) or the nighttime Wild Lights event ($40 total). Since kids under five are free, the nighttime option won out--and it ended up being the best choice by far. The entire zoo transforms into a winter wonderland: glowing light displays, festive décor, and crisp mountain air that instantly puts you in the holiday spirit. Our toddlers were mesmerized and still got to see most of the animals roaming around, so it truly felt like getting the full zoo experience at a lower price. Wild Lights runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through January 4, and you can comfortably explore it in about an hour. We strolled through the illuminated paths, took photos under the lights, let the kids burn off energy at the small playground, and ended the night sipping hot chocolate while listening to live Christmas music performed by a young singer. Simple, charming, and genuinely magical. If you're visiting during winter, bundle up--temperatures hover around 30 degrees--but don't let that deter you. This is an enchanting, affordable outing that checks every box: holiday magic, animal sightings, kid-friendly activities, and real value for your money. Highly recommend for families looking to make cozy winter memories without breaking the bank. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Great winter memories - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Visited Big Bear Alpine Zoo with my little nephews. It's open daily from 10a-4pm. Admission is reasonable. Children (2 & under) free. Children (3-12) $12. Adults $17. Most of the animals are nocturnal, so many of them were sleeping or not very active during the day. It made it really hard to enjoy or see much happening. I feel like you see more local wildlife rather than anything exciting or unique. They have a snack shop located right across from the kids' playground, with the restrooms and gift shop conveniently nearby. I respect that they focus on rehabilitation and rescue. It's clean, easy to walk through, and probably a good educational stop for kids. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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We visited the Big Bear Zoo around 11 AM, and overall it was an okay experience, but there are definitely areas that could be improved. The zoo is on the smaller side, and most of the animals were either sleeping or not very active. Many of the birds were hiding, and even the bear was asleep. I understand animals rest, but it would be great if the zoo could find ways to keep them a bit more active or provide some form of enrichment so guests can see more natural behavior. We also noticed a few gates and enclosures that looked worn down and could use some updates. The line to get in was pretty long, and the parking area is very small, which made arrival a bit difficult.both the blood ladies at the ticket box were rude . On the positive side, the gift shop was really nice, clean, and had cute souvenirs. For the price--$17 per ticket--we didn't feel like we got our full money's worth, mainly because many animals were locked up or not visible, but we still enjoyed parts of the visit. With a few improvements, this zoo could offer a much better experience. For now, we give it a 4 out of 5. read more

I know it's a small zoo so I wasn't expecting too much but most of the animals were sleeping when my friends and I walked through. I was also disappointed that some areas of the zoo were closed due to construction and the nacturnal room was closed. Other then that the zoo was very clean with lots of walking room. There are bathrooms right at the entrance along with the gift shop. They also had a little play ground for the kids which is a nice addition. read more

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A little late here my friends, but I couldn't not post this review. We visited on a cold, rainy New Year's Eve and despite the cold, it was fantastic. We basically had the zoo to ourselves. Their holiday lights made the visit extra magical. Many of the animals were within their warm shelters, but the ones we did see were beautiful. The best part of visiting this zoo was knowing our contribution went towards rescuing and rehabilitating animals. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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What a fun place to see lights during their Wild Lights event! We came here on a Friday evening and there weren't that many people. We bought tickets ahead of time and walked right in. Most of the animals are not visible during the evening, but we did get to see some! Plus, our main focus was enjoying the lights, which they did a great job with. Plenty of photo ops as we strolled around the zoo, and there was a guy singing live music as well. I can imagine it getting pretty popular closer to the holidays! Moonridge Coffee was also there in a little popup shop, and we enjoyed a couple of cups of hot chocolate as the kids played on the playground for a bit. Very relaxing. There's also a gift shop that has some cool swag. Plenty of parking in the lot, with a very relaxing atmosphere. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

a must do in big bear! I was not expecting so many animals and was pleasantly surprised by how many there was and for a great price too. I had such a fun time seeing all the animals and zoo koopers in certain areas talking about the animals was nice to learn about. read more

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We came to the zoo for family day yesterday. It was the perfect weather and a fun little outing. There's a playground in the middle which was fun for the kids. They had a good time looking at all the animals too. This was fun and I can see us going back. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Teddy Bear - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

I was hoping to enjoy this zoo, but unfortunately, it was kind of a waste of our time and money. The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because the staff were very friendly. It simply wasn't worth the price of admission, and I wouldn't return. Having visited zoos in major cities, this one doesn't compare. I understand it focuses on local wildlife, but it wasn't very interesting to our family. The scenery was very beautiful, offering a stunning view of the mountains in the distance. read more

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Love this zoo. It's well put together, with interesting exhibits, easy parking, friendly staff. It's really beautiful and unique and I would recommend a visit when your up visiting. read more

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One of the smaller zoos that I've visited. Not a bad attraction when visiting the area but I wouldn't actively seek this option. Unfortunately I visited when there was a power outage so all buildings except for the starting restrooms were available. There wasn't power to purchase tickets in person. Online tickets were $17 for adults, not including tax. There was a daily show available although it wasn't actively listed or advertised. When we visited, there was a staff member feeding skunks. We went through the entire zoo within 30 minutes. The birds were the most active and they were feasting on breakfast in the morning. The other mammals were mostly napping and chilling in the shade. There was a playground for children at the farthest end. There wasn't any food or drink options so I would come prepared with snacks and water for families. Very small compared to other zoos that I've been and it was underwhelming for the price. read more

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Had the best time at the Alpine zoo. It is the perfect size, has a playground for the kids, and great programs about the animals. We enjoyed seeing the animals that are local to Big Bear, especially the bears. Definitely recommend stopping here during your visit to the city. read more

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The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is so much more than a traditional zoo. It's a rehabilitation and rescue with a dedicated staff that cares deeply about the animals they help. I started coming to the Alpine Zoo several years ago and did not realize this is also a facility that rescues and rehabilitates animals when they can. I'm not sure of another place where you get to see such majestic animals (bears, eagles, leopards, and wolves) up close and personal, just inches away. Jessica, Christy, and the team are doing truly great work, and their dedication and love for the animals shows. Highly recommend visiting and supporting this great place. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a gem in Big Bear and a great attraction to check out with family and friends. This spot is a rehabilitation zoo where they rescue injured and/or orphaned animals to care for them until they can be released back into their native habitats. To get here, there is a big parking lot right next to the zoo with free parking. For admission, it is $16 per adult. The zoo is smaller to medium sized with a gift shop as well. They have a plethora of animals to see ranging from different bears, mountain lions, snow leopards, foxes, wolves, coyotes, deers, birds, and more! Keep in mind that each exhibit will only have about 1-2 animals at a time and that they may often by hiding or resting. All in all, it was definitely a great experience to stop by, see some wildlife, and learn more about them! read more

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A must visit for families with small children. It's small enough to enjoy and not feel overwhelmed. You could squeeze a quick visit here between other activities. We happened to come at noon after spending a whole morning playing in snow valley. It's very small, and comparable to a small walk at a park but better because if you get to see things. There's even a small playground inside. At the time, the playground was covered in snow but that didn't stop kids from playing. Worth the visit. read more

This is a nice small zoo to bring the family. Our kids enjoyed seeing the animals. There was a lot of parking and it wasn't crowded with a ton of people. The staff was nice and informative as well. I highly recommend coming here especially if you have kids! read more

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Wow. What an amazing place. We stopped by a few days ago while staying in big bear and had the best time ever. It's great when you go to a zoo that cares so much about their animals and you can truly see it. We came on a nice winter day and saw all of the animals! We even got a lovely howling show from the wolves when the ambulances drove by.. so cool! The workers were all lovely and so knowledgeable, I didn't catch the name of the man working Monday but he was so nice! We fell in love with this beautiful animal sanctuary and I highly recommend paying a visit if you're in big bear:) read more

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Highly recommend for toddlers! We visited on a Saturday after it had snowed 2 days prior. We purchased our tickets online and arrived at opening. Large parking lot behind the zoo. Although it's a small zoo, I would bring a stroller if you have littles! There are a variety of wildlife to see including several bears, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, birds, and smaller animals. There is a great play area too! Restrooms are located at the entrance. Super cute little gift shop as you exit. We spent 40 minutes and took our time with our 2 year old and 5 year old. Staff were very friendly! Highly recommend for a "cheaper" family friendly outing in Big Bear! read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Kids play area! And a snack shack located next to it! - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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A beautiful and very clean zoo. The animals were so fun to see. Everything was well maintained and very nice staff. If you are in the area you need to go! My favorite were the wolves. read more

We took our son for the first time and he loved it! We got to see so many animals up close! Bears, wolves, coyotes, Eagles, and more. So great that you can scan a code at each animal to read their story and learn about why they were saved. It is kept very clean and they have restrooms at the entrance and at the end of the zoo. At the end there is also an amazing playground and tables to hangout at. Our son had fun playing there after seeing all the animals. It was $16 per adult and free for children under 2. It's a great spot to go to in big bear if you have children! read more

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Although it's not as big as some other zoos, we love this zoo! You can get through it pretty quickly but you could also spend time looking at each of the animals. I think it's a great place for kids when you're in Big Bear :) read more

I decided to visit the zoo and it took me about 75 minutes to do the entire tour (including stopping in the gift shop). The entrance fee was $16 for an adult. I went at 10:30am on a Tuesday and was able to see about half the animals. Some of the animals were hidden in their dens (probably trying to stay cool). It was really neat to see the bears and wolves. Of course visiting places like this - with animals in cages - pulls at my heart strings. However, an employee that was talking about the bears, explained the animals on display are all permanent residents at the zoo due to injuries where they can no longer protect themselves (I.e. bald Eagle that can't fly), or they were illegal pets and dependent on humans to feed them (deer, coyote, wolves) . They have a separate section that is off limits to the public and staff that is for rehabilitation so they can be returned to the wild. All in all this is a nice way to spend 1-2 hours. read more

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This zoo is a fun place to see the animals. Each animal you go to watch has a through description to teach you about each one. The animals were very active when we were there. I also saw the zookeepers calling the wolf to feed him, I believe his name was "Loki" and he responded in a quick and happy looking manner towards the zookeepers. We already had quite a good understanding of the zoo because we have been going for years, and that was when the zoo was at the old site before this current location. One of the zookeepers Chris stop by and she taught us more about things we did not know and we appreciated that. Also there was another lady near the grizzly bears talking about the history and how they got here. We will definitely be coming back next year. read more

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While staying in Big Bear, we decided to get out and do something a little different. I've been to the different location a few years back and I remember it was small but cool so we decided hey this is the new one. Let's give it a shot. The parking lot is off to the side of the zoo and it's not too far of a walk to the front but just be prepared. There is no parking right next to it now I understand this is a local zoo and I'm sure it's a lot smaller than ones we've been to, but I'll tell you now you will blow through this place in 30 minutes easily and that's about it. No lie 90% of the animals here were sleeping or nowhere to be found which is why I was disappointed in the place .. it was like we were walking around looking inside the enclosures trying to find the animal instead of actually seeing what was supposed to be in there. Like I said, I'm really not trying to hate on this place and I know it's not their fault that the animals aren't awake, but I think they could do a little bit better on what they have to offer. That's just my opinion. read more

Cute little zoo! Done in about 30 minutes but very well done. Very active critters and a little playground. Huge difference from their old one. Nice walk but don't expect too much-perfect to do when you are just looking for a jaunt! Cute gift shop too! No food or vendors but if you can't live wo food for 30 min I'm sure the gift shop had some snacks! read more

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Solid zoo for up here! Something fun to do for a few hours. My kids loved it. Careful about going midday thought lots of animals nap time. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Good times. Fun and nice to see the wild animals . I like to come her again . Staff is nice as well

As many times as o have been to Big Bear over the last 25+ years, this is the first time we have been to the zoo!! We went with our daughter and grandchildren on New Years Eve, 2024. This little zoo is wonderful!! It is a rehab zoo, the only permanent residents were not able to be released. There is an amazing assortment of animals, grizzle bear, bald eagle, gray wolf, coyotes, snow leopards, and on and on!! Staff is very informative and helpful. We had a great day!! read more

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I've been to Big Bear Lake a few times now but never managed to make it over to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, luckily that changed on my last visit in July of 2023 (I know I'm late on this, but I'm trying to catch up on reviews). We arrived at the zoo when it was opening and there was a decent amount of people waiting to get in. The staff at the entrance was friendly enough and that's really the only time I interacted with any employees. The zoo itself is pretty small and took maybe 45 minutes to lap twice (we wanted to make sure the bears weren't doing anything cute before we left). Don't expect any rare exotic animals to be here, but they had a pretty good selection or Bears, Bald Eagles, Coyotes, Snakes, Mountain Lions, and a good array of animals found in the Big Bear region. Overall, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo isn't a tourist destination, a massive zoo full of exotic animals, or something to necessarily travel too, but it's certainly a small and charming zoo full of animals going through rehabilitation and being adorable, silly, cute little guys (Yes, this was written by a grown adult). Do yourself a favour and check this place out if you are in Big Bear, you won't regret it. read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - For some reason this bad photo of a bear is the only picture I took. - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a unique zoo experience. The staff was very kind and made my first trip to the Big Bear zoo a joy to attend. Some pros are that the enclosures allowed us to see many of the animals clearly and upclose. The location was also great and the zoo was very easy to navigate. The zoo is also very affordable and had a reasonable price. As mentioned before the staff is very kind. It was also not crowded at all Although the zoo was very fun to look through, it is on the smaller side, with a fewer number of animals compared to larger zoos. Overall, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a great choice for families or those looking for a unique experience however, visitors seeking a large zoo with a wide variety of animals may want to consider other options. read more

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The Big Bear Alpine Zoo in the Moonridge area of Big Bear is such a special place that does amazing work. The bathrooms are clean, the tickets are reasonably priced, and the parking is free in a lot up the street. The zoo itself allows guests to easily stroll around and see lots of different animals local to the region that you wouldn't find at more "standard zoos" (eg black bears, bald eagles, mountain lions, an assortment of foxes and wolves, and all kinds of other beautiful creatures). There's a really nice little gift shop with a great assortment of items, that honestly feels more fairly priced than similar gift shops at other zoos and whatnot. While this place isn't huge or flashy, it's a nice spot to visit. You can also feel good about supporting the zoo since they do so much wonderful work in terms of rescuing and rehabilitation for local animals. read more

I would definitely recommend taking advantage of their Twilight Tours when they have them. Look it up online to see if they have one coming up. Our friend heard it on the radio so we were able to take advantage of it or we would have not known. You are able to see the animals up close as they come out for their trainers. Very personal, small groups and it's very neat to hear the background and stories of each of the animals. You can tell the animals are very well cared for and loved. We've gone to the zoo every summer since 2019, but the Twilight Tour was a sweet treat. If you can't make it to a Twilight Tour - I'd still recommend visiting. ***side note to the planners of the twilight tour- I'd love to see 2 and under be free. I understand it's a fundraiser but they are not getting the same thing out of it as older patrons, especially some like my 6 month old that was asleep the whole time.. I love to advocate for you and think you will gain more allies for animals if you were flexible on this. If you plan to keep it in place because it's a special event I'd encourage you think on how you message this or speak it to your patrons. read more

Whenever were in Big Bear we always have to stop off at the Big Bear Zoo...we LOVE it there. so cool to see the animals. This time a worker was talking about the grizzly bears and it was so interesting. Sad to hear about the mama bear :( so cool to watch one of the grizzly bears swimming :) read more

I want to start this with, I am an anti-zoo person. But when I saw the reasons why these animals were there (eagle missing wing, 3 strike bears), I was more comfortable with this place. The cages were clean, the animals were fed (several raptor birds had "lunch" in their cages). I attended the coyotoe presentation with a keeper. She was wonderful at explaining the zoo and the animals there. It was so informative! I would highly recommend this to everyone. Kid friendly. You can bring service animals but there are restrictions on where they walk due to a canine illness which is transferred to the wild animals. Cute gift shop. Such friendly staff. Loved it! read more

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We love coming here with our kids almost every time we make it up the mountain. Very well done little zoo. They have restrooms and a kids playground inside with a small picnic table area. We love ALL the animals of course, but our favorites are the bears, wolves, snow leopards, mountain lions and eagles! We love that visiting helps support feeding the animals and keeping the zoo running. We love you Big Bear Zoo!! Thanks for fun memories! read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Grizzly Bear - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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A lot of cool animals to see however many of them are living in such small enclosures with little to no stimulation. Was heartbreaking to see the black bear pacing back and forth with zoochosis. :( read more

Wonderful zoo! We started going here when the zoo was located down the street. It's so nice to see the amazing upgrades! Me and my fiance come every year for our anniversary! We love the animals and the layout is amazing. We talked to Chris more about the animals, and the zoo in general which was kind she took time out of her day to teach us more. I love that the zoo is based off of donations and to make animals better. 10000% recommend! read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Very interesting place, specially if one has kids. Clean and friendly staff. Animals seem happy and people who work there seemingly love animals. Would recommend and go again. read more

Wildlife Park (Not Exactly a Zoo)! Well, I went in expecting a zoo, but I guess "local wildlife hangout" is more accurate. Let's just say it's not quite the Philadelphia or San Diego zoo. It's more like a casual get-together of animals who were too chill to show up. There were two bears--a grizzly and a brown bear--who were the headliners of this animal party. Coyotes and wolves were on the guest list, but apparently, they got cold paws and decided to skip the spotlight. Or maybe they were just busy plotting my demise from the shadows. Who knows? I also spotted a raven and a crow, which, let's be honest, I could see in my backyard. The rest of the animals, like bobcats and foxes, were clearly playing a stellar game of hide-and-seek. Spoiler alert: they won. I guess my admission fee went to feeding the invisible animals, so at least they're well-fed. But for an overall experience? Meh. Save your money and hit up a real zoo if you're looking for an actual wild time! read more

Big Bear Alpine Zoo - Great American bald eagle. - Zoos Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Showed up 40 mins before closing time and they were already "closed" no one was at the window or anything. Maybe they should update their hours on Google so they don't make people waste a trip. read more