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.

It's a nice park to go swimming, have a picnic, stroll around, go fishing, and just lounge enjoying…read morethe gorgeous lake view. We made a quick spot to check it out since it seems very popular every time we pass by. Best to visit in the morning before it gets crowded by afternoon. Parking is free, but can get busy later in the day. As we walked around, there was a weird unbearable smell so we didn't stay long. We mainly went to see what the hype was all about and took some pictures with a beautiful background.

Very chill experience, not much to complain about. Free parking in the adjacent lot, just walk down…read moreto the dock and the kayaks are already in the water and waiting for you to disembark. They explain the rules of the lake, you check in on a sheet of paper, and then they quickly get you situated in a kayak and send you off. Very efficient, no time wasted. They're very patient when it comes to getting you in and out of your kayak if you have a dog. I'm not sure if all kayak places have this, but it was nice that they had pads specifically for dogs to sit/lay on so that they're comfortable. Will definitely always come back here for kayaking in Big Bear.

Ranger station and rental at the dock do not communicate. Rented a paddleboard and brought our own…read morepaddleboard. The stoned kid at the rental didnt tell us it would be cheaper to rent because once you check in your paddleboard at the ranger station its a $30 permit fee. When i asked for accountability in communicating that with each other the guy with black hat and beard told me i should do my research beforehand. Super unprofessional and didnt even give us a receipt!

We rent from here every time we make our snowboarding trip to Big Bear. Easy to use website to…read morereserve from home. Quick and easy pick up process. And all their workers are so friendly, always making small talk with you and helping you get to know your board and equipments. This year we need to extend our rental an extra day and that was painless as well. When you come back to return, just drop off outside and show them your paperwork, it's a very quick process. Just a tip, there are 2 locations pretty close to each other so remember which one you rented from. :)

My boyfriend and I rented a kayak from this place on July 26 around 3pm. We didn't have a…read morereservation but they were able to squeeze us in, but if I were coming back on the weekends or a busier time I think I would try to make a reservation because they seemed busy. We got a tandem kayak and it was so convenient to just be able to walk over to Boulder Bay Park and start kayaking. The woman who helped us rent them at the front desk also kindly reminded us to bring sunscreen and water, and even refilled my water bottle for me. Thanks a ton for a great time! It was my first time kayaking and it was a very pleasant beginner-friendly experience.

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!

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.

Out of the many times driving up to Big Bear throughout the years, I finally visited the Big Bear…read moreValley Museum. Admission is a $5 donation per adult, and there is plenty of parking. You can get yourself an old fashion Sarsperella or Root Beer in a glass bottle in the shop across from where you donate. It's pretty much a self-guided tour with volunteers sharing the history of each buildling/attraction you go to. Definitely worth the visit.

Visiting Big Bear for a few days so we wanted to find things to keep the kiddos busy and make it…read moreenjoyable. It was only $5 for adults and kids 14 and under are free. All the staff were very friendly and shared about the history but made it interesting for the kids and adults. They had a gold rush activity the kids enjoyed. Restrooms were clean and on site. Parking was free. They interacted with the kiddos at the blacksmith center and they all were given a little sword as a souvenir.

Definitely worth the $5 entry fee! It's a small walk-through, but there's so much to see. They have…read morean awesome collection of Disney and movie memorabilia, along with all kinds of unique collectibles. They also have items for sale, and there are plenty of fun photo opportunities throughout. If you're in the area and love Disney or movie history, it's a fun little stop that's well worth checking out : ) The worker was so sweet she even gave our puppy toodles a little dog treat

This place was so much fun for my family. My 4 year old loved playing dress up and seeing props…read morefrom a lot of his favorite Disney and Jurassic park movies! It is very affordable and a lot to look at. The lady at the front desk was so friendly and the owner spoke with us for quite some time and she is a fascinating lady. I will definitely be back and go with extended family too :)

Awesome scenic trail overlooking Big Bear Lake. About an hour loop at an easy difficulty, this was…read morethe perfect way to start our Saturday morning. Views were stunning and was super low traffic for a holiday weekend. Definitely recommend.

Woodland interpretive trail is a beautiful scenic hike right next to the Big Bear Lake. It's free…read moreadmission which is a big plus. I would say it's an immediate level of hiking difficulty as there are several hills going up and down. The trail takes about an hour to loop around. There are breathtaking viewpoints to admire and take pictures. We went during the winter when there was some snow. I recommend you wear good hiking or snow boots with good grip as it can get slippery and muddy. There is a parking lot at the entrance but you have to pay for a parking pass at the kiosk. We ended up parking on the street before the entrance which was free. Definitely recommend this for all visitors looking for great views and to connect with nature.