The Ranch Park is one of my favorites in the Big Bear City area. For anyone visiting Big Bear who would like to visit a park but not deal with tourist-heavy areas, The Ranch Park is such a wonderful spot.
Located in the back of a residential area, the park features relaxing energy with some beautiful nature / mountain views. If you're looking for a place to see the famous Big Bear Wild Burros (donkeys), they are often roaming around this neighborhood, especially if you take Lakewood Drive to the back of the neighborhood. Sometimes they can be seen wandering around The Ranch Park, especially when it's early in the morning or late in the evening and not super crowded.
There's a really nice fenced in dog park (The Ranch Bark Park), but also lots of other features including a playground, climbing rock, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a ADA-friendly walking path.
Parking has never once been an issue in all the years that I've been visiting this park. There's a large free lot in the center of the park, as well as an additional lot across the street, and other places in the neighborhood where you could park on the street if you needed to. No structured bathrooms, but lots of porta potties that are regularly checked and usually pretty clean. read more