Bears play a pivotal role in my life: they are one of my spirit animals, my name means "Little…read moreBear" in Latin which is also a pet name moniker, I have a tattoo with a bear and another of the Ursa Minor constellation, my deceased father was obsessed with bears, etc. When I was a teenager before evening living in the state of California (which obviously has its own bear connection); I was obsessed with MTV just like every other hot-blooded teenage girl. One year, MTV production went to Big Bear for a winter skiing getaway. I was instantly drawn to Big Bear per the name and somehow felt my soul tugged (the same as to the entire state which is why I moved here nearly two decades ago). I vowed to someday visit Big Bear. I am also one of the proud members of the 'Eagle Fam' who is faithfully devoted to the world-famous bald eagle couple Jackie & Shadow watching their nest cam every day. My adult vow, added to the teen one regarding visiting, was to see Jackie and Shadow's nest in real life sans camera. Well, the day has come and Little Bear has finally visited Big Bear! If those of us living in Los Angeles aren't spoiled enough; we have the amazing San Bernadino Mountain range village of Big Bear just a two-hour drive away where we can escape the hustle-bustle of stressful LA and enjoy the alpine splendor that is Big Bear. Big Bear is known for its skiing season but is also a summer retreat with cabin life, hiking, boating, fishing, zip lines, shopping, etc; 7000+ feet above sea level surrounded by pine trees and mountains that kiss the sky. Even the drive to Big Bear is glorious on the winding road up the mountain that famously reveals Big Bear and its centerpiece model the lake in the distance glittering blue surrounded by mountains. Big Bear is breath-taking even before you formally arrive. As an Angelino, the energy and vibe of Big Bear can't be ignored. Not only is the air clean and devoid of smog, but it is peaceful, slow-paced and calming: a genuine retreat that feels worlds away from the LA proper. At the center of it all is the main showpiece: Big Bear Lake, itself. The lake is 7 miles in circumference but manages to appear sweepingly larger and is surrounded by cabins, boat docks, shopping, skiing, hiking trails, Big Bear Village (the central mountain tourist-y district) and the commercialized village center with everything from Vons, Starbucks, Dollar Tree, Marshalls and Grocery Bargain Outlet to nearby Big Bear Courthouse, post office and library. The lake is the prom queen of Big Bear. If you're thinking that it is probably just any old lake; you are sorely mistaken as it is a thing of beauty. As a Jackie and Shadow fan club member; I went to the Captain John's Marina/Dana Point Park shoreline Fawnskin section of Big Bear Lake which is the official, legal viewing point of the bald eagle nest (the land directly surrounding the nest and their famous roost trees is federally protected especially during nesting season and is a criminal act to trespass). Bring binoculars because looking up from the ground is further optically then from the nest cam in reverse. While I was there, Jackie was on the nest with the two babies but I was hoping to catch Shadow, the King of Big Bear either fishing or flying-in. I had waited and just when I literally verbally stated, "Shadow show yourself!"; I kid you not that he flew right over from the other side of the lake and soared above in circles only approximately 60 feet above for a minute in duration. I cried and this was one of the most magical moments of my life and a true spiritual encounter with the celebrity Shad Daddy. Big Bear is also magical in that even in the skiing off-season of April when I visited; a snowstorm hit and the pine trees and lake turned into a Christmas Card. Even I, this Los Angeles sun girl who loves heat and hates the cold; had snowflakes in my eyes and felt like a child surrounded by magic dust has I haven't truly been in snowfall in 17 years. A very dire and controversial topic effecting Big Bear at the time of this review is the fight against land developers who purchased the 'Moon Camp' parcel of land very close to the nest and want to bulldoze over 2k trees, create 50 boat slips and luxury housing even though there is NO housing shortage in Big Bear. The developers have agreed to sell Moon Camp to the Friends of Big Bear nonprofit/San Bernadino Trust for the hefty sum of $10 mil by July 31st to save Moon Camp and forever protect Jackie and Shadow's home area. The cause has gone worldwide viral and at the time of this review is up to $3 mil in donations (failure is not an option and financing will be the next step is $10 mil isn't reached). Big Bear Lake and the entire mountainous retreat city now hold a piece of my heart and I am chomping at the bit to return. This peaceful and heavenly mountaintop lake and city is the must-see of all Angelinos whether for skiing, boating or visiting the King and Queen, Jackie and Shadow.

Year round fun and beauty - not just the winter! Big Bear offers so many different activities that…read moreis sure to please. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, someone who enjoys shopping, eating, or enjoying a slower pace vacation with your family pet, Big Bear offers it. Some activities our family makes sure to enjoy for our Big Bear visits have been: Holloway's Marina to rent a dog friendly pontoon boat to enjoy lunch on the lake (they also offer Pirate Ship Charters), popping over to The Village to stroll with our dog and do a little shopping and eat some good foods (there's also many good food places outside of The Village - like the Grizzly Manor Cafe and Blanca and Pierres!), visiting the Big Bear Discovery Center, strolling along the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk, and horseback riding at Baldwin Lake Stables. In July, Big Bear puts on their "Fireworks Spectacular" which explodes over Big Bear Lake every July 4th and is FREE to spectators. A helpful tip: always check for road closures and road conditions before visiting/leaving and on the day of your travels. CalTrans has not been reliable, but Big Bear's website (Big Bear Mountain Resort dot com) has been. Just click on the "Road Conditions" tab and it'll take you to a page listing real time road updates and conditions. Enjoy beautiful Big Bear!

This review is long over due however, very necessary for me to write about Big Bear Lake Visitors…read moreCenter. Big Bear at large is close to my heart because its easy for me to get to from LA County proper. I ski at Big Bear (Or Snow Valley or Snow Summit) when the snow permits. It's an easy drive for me to and from LA. But lately, over the past 3 years, I've been so in love with Shadow and Jackie, the Bald Eagle celebrity natives. OK- here is my story: My travel buddy and I drive from LA and made a couple stops along the way (One was in Ontario for a party we attended) and the second was Snow Summit to check out the ski conditions. However, my main purpose was to visit and get a real live view of Shadow and Jackie, the bald eagles. The Big Bear Lake Visitors Center was the place to gather your information. They gave us the best times to look for Jackie and Shadow but more important, they have their volunteer rangers who set up long range telescopes over at Fawn's to view the magnificent birds. There is a board at the entrance which lists all activities around the area; for hikers, bikers, eagle viewers alike. Merch for sale Informative with respect to the native animals, birds and the li,e Ample parking Clean restrooms

We just popped in to see what was inside as we were visitors in big bear and were pleasantly…read morepleased with what we found! That was neat. They had a display on the eagle nest, as that is such a popular thing with people, that included a live feed. The folks behind the information desk were very friendly and helpful. We really enjoy the photo area, you can have your picture taken and put over three different backgrounds, with choice of emailing or having the picture printed out right there for you to take with you. Kind of nice to have a physical picture for a change as everyone seems to just provide digital these days. Great place for information for any visitor to big Bear!

Spent 2 nights/ 3 days here on a weekend (Friday-Sunday) in early July with a party of 4. We were…read moresurprised to be able to book a site online less than a week before. When our party arrived at the campsite, the host gave us the option of choosing a different campsite as they said our original site (#11) wasn't great. We camped at spot #74 and it was very spacious with plenty of shade in the afternoon (the mornings were quite hot). There were two dumpster sites a short walk away, and a parking space large enough for our 2 cars (crossover/ hatchback). The potable water pump was also closely accessible across the road. There are no flush toilets at Heart Bar, only vault toilets. However, staff kept the toilet area pretty clean and stocked with toilet paper. Each site has a firepit, picnic table, and bear box. The hosts sell firewood as well. This campground is also dog friendly, and our dogs had a great time. Compared to other campgrounds I've been to, Heart Bar is a lot bigger and feels more secluded and peaceful as there is plenty of space between campsites. I loved it here! Already thinking about when I can make my next trip back.

No wifi no nothing except Lions, Tigers, and bears! (actually I saw none) Many bathrooms to choose…read morefrom and no lights. No showers either, you must bring your own solar shower bag or buckets. The camp grounds have a lot of room in between parties so you do not feel so close to each other. The only drawback I found first is the entrance sign is really small and in no time you can miss it. I want to say I missed it the first time because I was hoping to see a bigger sign. Otherwise the campgrounds volunteers were very kind and helpful. Lots of pine trees with so much to explore. I fell in love with this camp site and I highly recommend to take your own trash back home. I found many of the dumpsters the next day full. I do not think it is to much to ask. It was a perfect weekend with a full-moon and it does get a bit chilly at night with thin air. It was really refreshing to get out of the city and relax under so many trees. Our experience was our neighbors were peaceful and kind. if you forget firewood they do sell some on site. extra small car parking fee per night $7.

Bluff Lake is one of Big Bear's most beautiful hidden gems. It's the perfect spot for families with…read moresmall children to get in tune with nature. The forest rangers are incredibly friendly, helpful, and kind, especially George. He's a truly dedicated ranger who's always out walking the park, chatting with visitors, and making sure everyone follows the rules to protect both people and the ecosystem. George definitely deserves a raise! Overall, Bluff Lake gets an A+ for camping. Highly recommended!

The view of this lake was somehow the nicest view I saw during my entire trip to Big Bear Lake,…read moreeven compared to all of the nice views of that lake and the mountains. It's about a 30-minute drive (according to Google Maps) to get there from town, but we decided to hike up Castle Rock Trail instead, which only took about an hour. Once you get hold of a map, it's not difficult to find the way. From the top of Castle Rock Trail, just head right on the dirt road and take the first left. Not much to say other than it is a beautiful place, serene, and worth the hike. Oh and we did see a deer in the road!

This place is just beautiful. I have to go once a week to enjoy the sound of and see the rushing…read morewater. It is very peaceful with amazing vistas. Priceless. Opens at 8am. Make sure to check the description of the trails online and bring what you need for what you intend to do. They have clean restrooms in the parking area and picnic benches too. The profound peace in this place is addicting.

Whitewater Preserve - 5 stars…read more Gorgeous, peaceful, and not overrun with influencers taking selfies on rocks. The trails are clean, the water's crystal clear, and the canyon views hit every time. No, you can't fish here--the trout were booted for wrecking the ecosystem. Deal with it. Now it's just nature the way it's supposed to be. Easy parking, spotless bathrooms, and the sound of water flowing all around you. Bring water, respect the land, clock out and enjoy the beauty of what we often overlook in life.

The San Gorgonio wilderness is 58,969 acres of incredible wilderness. There are numerous trails…read moreand is a great place to go for a day hike or a weekend backpacking trip. My husband planned a wonderful trip for Labor day and even though this is one of the most popular trails and on a 3 day weekend, it wasn't crowded. We saw a good number of groups but there was very little passing along the trails. This particular trailhead is located only about 1.5 hours from West LA and really easy to get to. Just past the town of Mentone, continue along highway 38 about 20 minutes past the ranger station and arrive at Jenks Lake where the trailhead begins just past the paved parking lot. To summit Mt. Gorgonio, which is the highest peak in southern California at 11,502 ft is the ultimate goal and starting from this particular trailhead it will be a trip of about 24 miles. It can be done in one very long day or campsites are available for a more leisurely trip. Permits are required but are free. To park you need an adventure pass to display on your car. To get a permit you need to send in for one using the website listed above. Parking passes can be purchased in advance at REI. The trail head at Jenks Lake starts you off at 6,900 ft. After 2.5 miles is Poop Out hill where the trail will split to Dry Lake or Dollar Lake. We took the route towards Dry Lake. It is about 7.5 miles from the trail head until Dry Lake at 9,000 ft. Dry Lake is where some campsites are offered, it is also the place to stop and refill your water. As with all backpacking, you have to carry in everything you need including water. You can refill here using your preferred sanitation method. There are two campsites at Dry Lake and the next site is Trail Flats about 1.3 miles past Dry Lake, which is where we camped. From Trail Flats, you can begin the summit at Sky High Trail and will be another 4 miles to the top. This is incredible scenery and remember to bring plenty of water as your last water source was Dry Creek. Also bring a hat because at this elevation, you probably don't want the sun beaming down on you. There are a good number of switchbacks but I didn't find it to be that strenuous but at that point, I had put down my 25lb pack at the camp site. It will take about 2.5 hours and affords incredible views including the wreckage of plane. The main perk of taking this trail is that the ascents are gradual. The scenery is just amazing and the trails are well maintained. It's incredible to see entire hillsides and trees just flattened due to previous avalanches. The trees are just beautiful and even uprooted are interesting and intricate. Overall I really enjoyed this trip as it can be taken as leisurely as you'd like or as quickly (and much more strenuously) as you'd like. The air is thin but it feels wonderful to get away from the smog of LA. The view a the top includes Mt. Baldy, the San Bernardinos, Mt San Jacinto, and various other things I probably can't identify. The hike goes through mostly tall shaded trees but changes to rocky meadows and falling trees, and some small streams to cross. It's anything but boring! Be careful of altitude sickness, it can hit at any moment, be prepared for possible rain, and enjoy this beautiful wilderness. Check out this great blog for more detail: http://www.modernhiker.com/2009/09/22/hiking-san-gorgonio-mountain-via-south-fork-trail/

The trail reopened in 2017. It's a nice area for the most part, but the fire that came through…read morereally destroyed a lot of the environment. The first part of the hike really looks like a warzone, or some scary setting for a Lord of the Rings film. Luckily there are small trees sprouting from the ashes, as well as bushes closer to the ground that are thriving. The second half of the trail looks more normal, right around Dollar Lake, then soon after that the trees eventually thin out as they're starved of oxygen at higher altitudes. Unfortunately this place will take a while to fully recover, but it will be fun seeing it come back to life. My dad really loved the meadows and ferns and lush greener that used to be here, but I didn't get a chance to see it, and now it's gone. If you want a longer hike and gentler incline to the top of San Gorgonio, this is the one for you. If you want scenery not devastated by a fire, and a little shorter with a more rapid incline, I'd recommend starting at the Vivian Creek trailhead instead.

TLDR: site 29 is the best in my opinion. there's cool wildlife if you look for it. flush toilets…read moreand running water. potable water free and many faucets around campground. hiking trails within walking distance. black rock campground was a great in-between for glamping and regular camping. I think the most defining features of this campsite are the flush toilets and running water in the bathrooms. however there are no showers. there is potable water faucets scattered about the campground. there are many sites to choose from but after walking around the campground, the best ones are furthest from the entrance (like where we stayed at site 29) highly recommending site 29!!!! very secluded and not crowded next to your neigboring sites. close to the bathroom with no smell. the campground has a nature center open 8am-4pm on the weekends and has a Ranger present as well as other staff. there are hiking trails about 0.75 miles from the campground at High View Trailhead (walkable or can drive there since there's a parking lot at trailhead)

+ Decentely remote venue to go camping with folks. + Nice…read morethat there's a visitor center in the center of the campground for our convenience. . The camp sites are close together, so you can see and hear your neighbors. Not so secluded. If you want more privacy, maybe you'll prefer a different campground. Deserts, man. So dry and often warm.

My #1 all time best favorite area in all these here hills. Pro tip#1: park at the secret area off…read more2N86 next to the log cabin (movie prop) and rock fireplace cabin foundation n. Shore bluff lake parking area. Look for sign that reads "locked gate ahead" and you'll know you're in the right area. The trail along the North Shore of Bluff Lake continue West to the champion. Lodgepole pine and meadow. This is one of the great walks of the world. You're welcome. Sure, I've been exploring, pioneering, prospecting, and checking out the best spots in Big Bear for over 25 years so yeah it's good.

This was the most beautiful hike I have ever done. The wildflowers and rock formations were…read morespectacular! The trail was safe, relatively flat and interesting. Our kids enjoyed bouldering, nature journaling and observing the wildlife. There were plenty of places to stop and explore. The first part of the trail hugs a small creak that winds around boulders and underneath fallen trees. The second part of the hike leads you to a pine tree that is over 400 years old. It was very impressive. Behind the giant tree is the most gorgeous meadow I have ever seen. It was like something out if a movie!!! I highly recommend this hike. The slow and bumpy drive is totally worth it. FYI- the directions that yelp offers are inaccurate. You are better off googling them yourself.