Boulder Bay Park is one of Big Bear Lake's most picturesque (and busy) spots, offering stunning…read moreviews of the lake, towering boulders, and plenty of open space for you and your dog to enjoy. Located on the western side of Big Bear Lake, this park is a popular destination for both locals and visitors, particularly those looking to enjoy a peaceful and leisurely walk with their pets, a picnic, or just some quiet time by the water. There is a free parking lot adjacent to the park, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. If the lot is full, there is additional street parking available nearby. The park is open year-round, but the best times to visit are during the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is mild, and the lake is at its most beautiful.

This is a PACKED and very busy Park that attracts people coming into Big Bear Lake or leaving Big…read moreBear. We came in at night, so we hit this park leaving Big Bear Lake. Many people taking pictures or selfies, some people fishing off the small pier, while others were walking their dogs. It was very clean, there is restrooms available (yes there was a line) and plenty of parking, although you may need to wait for a spot. It is a cool park to check out, I've seen pictures of people kayaking, however there are signs that say to stay on the path and not cross over the railing. A nice picnic place perhaps or family photos with the bear. The boulders in the area/park make it a cool photographic area.

This is definitely one of the prettiest parks in Big Bear Lake. It offers 16.25 acres of a ball…read morefield, picnic tables, big shady trees, a beautiful grassy lawn and sports courts. I have been to this park many times and we have created our own bocce ball court on the grass and played some fun games. In the summer time, there is access to the lake and they offer a swim beach so one can take a dip in the fresh water of the lake. Plenty of parking, grills for bbq, clean restrooms, and a play ground. I like to come down in the evening and catch a nice sunset and I have heard the views from this park for July 4th are some of the best views in town. Dogs are welcome here too. Overall, I will return here again and again.

This is a great park if you're looking for a playground for your kids. The playground is big with…read morelots to do. There are also restrooms, a parking lot, basketball courts, baseball fields, and tennis courts. There is picnic table seating under cover and a large grassy area.

Nice view Easy parking…read more Quiet Lots of space for a grassy picnic Good playground for the kids

Beautiful. Clean. Gorgeous view of lake and surrounding mountains. Sufficient amenities such as…read morebenches and trash cans. Adjacent dog park and kayak rentals. Very nice family water and rec area.

Where does one go when they're looking for directions to find shadow and Jackie?…read more #flylikeaneagle Here is my story I have been watching the bald eagles in the big Bear San Bernardino territory. I have been watching them for a few years now. Little did I know the big bear discovery center provides information on every type of animal in the area, every type of bird in the area, every type of everything in the area, is found at this discovery center My first visit there and definitely not my last, I plan to learn more about the majestic bald eagles that fly around the big bear San Bernardino mountains Also, in the vicinity are many hiking trails so, are you hikers take note to this review About an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles proper you can get to the big bear vicinity. Do your due diligence and find out all the other experiences you can receive from this area. Make your pic and get additional knowledgeable information from the big Bear discovery center. Go there, be there, or, be square

I have been coming here for years, but this was the first time we tried the guided hike. The walk…read moreis not long or hard, but it was fun and very informative. The visitor center has snacks and drinks for sale, clean restrooms, and a few small activities for kids. This is a great spot to hike, take a break during a bike ride, or just stop by and enjoy the area.

Alpine Zoo Wild Lights: A Magical Winter Experience Without the Hefty Price Tag…read more 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.

Visited Big Bear Alpine Zoo with my little nephews. It's open daily from 10a-4pm…read more 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.

A great little wooded area with picnic tables. Bathrooms and trash cans. You can also access a…read moretrailhead to some pretty nice hikes. Moderate level

The Aspen Glen Picnic Area is a day use area only that is open year round. It's a quaint area for a…read moreleisurely picnic or a great starting point to accessible trail heads. Some picnic tables, a community fire ring, and some barbecues are provided for use. I wouldn't rely on the restrooms. Also, be prepared as there's no potable water on-site. There is a small parking lot that fits about 15 small vehicles. Parked vehicles must display a valid recreation pass. You can purchase a pass from the Mountaintop Ranger District & Discovery Center along with other vendors (see the USDA Forest Service website for a map of vendors located under the "Passes and Permits" tab).

There are a few picnic tables under some large trees, the bike path runs through, the shoreline is…read morewalkable and you can sit and picnic. Very nice spot to relax!

This is a great spot to see the lake and relax. There are trails to walk as well. There is limited…read moreparking but plenty when I came on a weekday.

Park looks cool and kudos for having a 9/11 memorial however... it's not open to the public. There…read moreare private property signs and the gate is locked. It says that it's available for rent. I understand that I may not fully understand the financial issues at play however... how often can this possibly be rented? It sounds like it's just sitting there, unavailable to visiting children and families (and locals) which seems like a huge waste. Maybe just have it open with a donation box and then close it when it does actually get rented for parties? Because the people who'd visit it daily are not the people that would rent it - most people don't rent parks on the reg. Seems unfair and inefficient.

This is a quite interesting park that we stumble upon. It's a fairly small park for little children…read moreon the north side of the big Bear lake. Even though it's a fairly small park with maybe just one simple slide ,a small playhouse and a small fire engine for kids. It has it's very unique touch. We came across this park because we were told the north side of the lake is a more scenic drive heading back down to Los Angeles, and with the snow and traffic , we decided to take a detour and made few stops whenever we thought something looks interesting or scenic. So what caught our eyes were the display of two longhorn cattles pulling a wagon at the corner of this park. Being a tourist in town, we wanted to take some pictures. And then we realized there is a cute little park behind it with all kinds of decor. A gigantic big wheels for pictures, some characters along the park and in the middle a touch of a memorial for the 911. I don't know if a lot of people in this town was related to the incident of the 911 event, but it was a nice touch to the park and for the people to pay a visit and to remember. There are also a few excerises machine for you to work out. But more then anything, the tall trees inside the park and the snow made it a place to remember for us and the kids that we are traveling with. Its a nice park to stop by, sit under the tree or just take pictures around if you are in the area

I enjoy this trail! It's a flat walk along the lake with beautiful views, especially when the…read moreweather is nice! There is a parking lot here but it can get full, so many cars are usually park along the street. What I like about this place in particular is that all ages can do it & you can walk as far or little as you'd like. Great little treasure in Big Bear!

The Stanfield Preserve Boardwalk is an easy-to-navigate trail located on the east end of Big Bear…read moreLake. This boardwalk stretches across a protected wetland area, providing a unique opportunity to experience the region's diverse flora and fauna up close. The boardwalk is relatively flat and well-maintained, making it accessible to visitors of all ages and fitness levels and it's dog friendly. Just be aware of bikers. The boardwalk is open from dawn to dusk and offers ample time to explore at your own pace. Parking is available nearby, and there are several access points to the boardwalk. We parked for free in a lot at the west end of the boardwalk.

Visited Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain and did the coaster such a blast! It goes surprisingly fast,…read morebut you're in full control of the brakes, which makes it exciting and fun. The views going up and down are absolutely beautiful, so you really get to enjoy the scenery while riding. They also have several other activities to do, which is great if you're spending the day there. Just note there isn't a bundle for all rides it's pay-as-you-go for each activity. Overall, a super fun experience and definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

This was our second stop after arriving in Big Bear and honestly, it was a blast. We arrived around…read more10:30am and waited about 15 minutes to turn into the parking lot. Parking was free when we got there (Monday) First stop is the kiosk (not tickets!) where you sign a waiver. They'll give you a little zip tie to show you're cleared for rides. After that, you buy tickets per ride and line up for whatever you want to do. You will not be able to do anything without the zip tie. Total wait time for us with kiosk and for the ride was about 2 hours, but it flew by. Parents waited in line for the coaster while kids played in the snow or hopped into shorter ride lines, smart setup. If you get the blonde coaster attendant, consider yourself lucky. She's stern but fair and keeps things from getting chaotic. Big Bear celebrity status, honestly. As you can see on the other reviews haha part of the experience. Heads up: the food area was messy and the restroom was out of toilet paper (crowds + kids = chaos). Come prepared and lower expectations there. That said, the wait was 100% worth it. My daughter loved it and we'll definitely be back. Another family recommended the night snow tubing, saying it's less crowded. Coaster rides are about $20, and bring quarters for lockers or leave your stuff in the car. Also, the tubing hill here is way more fun than the others in town. Fun, busy, chaotic, but totally worth it.