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.

Small park in Fawnskin with plenty of shade from the towering pines. We came here to visit Jackie…read moreMemorial, Big Bear's most beloved bald eagle who unites people from all races from all over the world. Rest in Peace Jackie

Such a cute little park in the heart of Fawnskin and what an honor and privilege it was that we got…read moreto visit the beautiful Jackie memorial that was growing by leaps and bounds over the hour or so we spent there. Jackie has earned the love and respect of millions across the world and it was unbelievably heartbreaking to lose her. Her memory will live on forever and this park will help to keep her memory alive.

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).

This Aspen Glen Picnic area is a beautiful spot surrounded by tall pine trees that provide plenty…read moreof shade. It's a peaceful place to relax, with several picnic tables scattered throughout the grove. I've visited a few times in both fall and winter, and fall is definitely my favorite, the weather is much more comfortable for me. The parking lot is quite small, so it's best to arrive early, especially during busy months. Parking is $5, and conditions can vary depending on the season. When there's snow, the lot can be challenging to access, small sedans can easily get stuck, so having a larger vehicle or 4WD is highly recommended. There is one standard two stall restroom, but it's not very well maintained. There's no running water, so bringing your own toiletries and hand sanitizer is a good idea. The area is open from 8am to sundown .

Beautiful park with beautiful views. This is also where they have the Farmers market. If you see…read moresome guys selling cherries, BUY them.

Pretty small park. They have the walkie talkie things, 3 slides abd some bars. That's pretty much…read moreit. Further down there are restrooms. There's several benches to sit at and some facing the lake. We got to see several birds, hornets and even a little gopher!

The picnic area was closed on the weekend of May 19 because of nesting Eagles, I have no idea when…read moreit will reopen. However, I saw the picnic area from the road and it looked quite nice. Even though the site is next to the lake, it is quite a ways away since currently the lake is very low. So there are better options closer to the water, such as the day use are right across from Serrano Campground called Meadows Edge Picnic Area.

This was a gorgeous spot to stop and do a mini hike. Great photo opps and a beautiful place to have…read morea picnic and just relax. I posted a few photos because it is just too beautiful for words. You do have to have an Adventure Pass to park there ($5 at any 7-11). But it is absolutely worth the stop.

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.

First, on a Sunday afternoon at the end of October, no parking by noon. My second reason for…read moreremoving a star is that the "female" restroom was out of order, the "male" restroom didn't have a trash can (which I understand, partly, being in the forest). But why have a girls and boys restroom, why not just two bathrooms. And the last reason I kept a star, only one trash reciprocal in the entire parking lot. I believe we should continue to encourage Visitors to "pack it in, pack it out" plus some. How do we do that if we expect then to put it in their car and take it with them? Trailhead has a very descriptive sign, provides lots of good information. Trail is 6.4 miles, 1,174 altitude gain (out/back), dogs allowed on lead, near Fawnskin. This trail offers AMAZING views of Big Bear Lake, bikes also share the trail. (Dog bags provided at trailhead, pls pick up after yourself, and your doggie;) There's so much to explore, get up, and get out there.

A nice escape, I think it's probably less-trafficked because it's on the North Shore (away from the…read moremain crowds) and a bit away from the Discovery Center. At the top is a rock outcropping where you can get a good view of the lake, albeit partially obstructed. I saw a cinnamon-furred black bear near the top the last time I hiked (June 27, 2017 around 6:15pm), so be on the lookout, keep your distance, and make your presence know (I stomped my feet, and he took notice and slowly went about his business in a different direction than where I was). July 13, 2017: did an evening hike and saw 2 deer, along with a pair of yellow eyes and green eyes (more deer?) at night, and three scorpions along the trail. You will need an Adventure Pass to park in the lot, but alternatively you can park along the road (a good spot is by the Eagle habitat warning sign).

Loved meeting Captain John, Ben, Dave & Romeo! Captain John had the best stories about the eagles…read moreand made sure my experience at Captain John's Fawn Harbor & Marina was memorable. Liked his kayaks and will back to kayak next time I am in Big Bear. The vibe is mellow & happy just like my Californian spirit :) Thank you Captain John for my wonderful time at your Marina!!

Our paperwork listed one boat, but the guy knowingly gave us a completely different vessel. The one…read morehe gave us was a piece of crap. Cracked upholstery with chunks missing, really old life jackets under the seats, missing speedometer (we estimated it's maximum speed to be about 10 mph), motor making clunking noises every once in a while. An uncovered hole in the boat had a bunch of trash inside it. We wanted to fish but the boat had no white flag so we couldn't. We had a "nice" two hours on the lake because we refused to let the problems ruin our day. When we returned the boat we mentioned our issues. He couldn't have cared less. Barely looked up from his phone. If you rent from them, speak up for yourself before they stick you with this vessel! I have some great photos of all of this stuff but can't figure out how to post them here.

This is a beautiful trail, but a little tougher than expected! There seem to be quite a few…read moredifferent trails/routes you can take, but I'd plan for about 2-3 miles minimum (in the altitude it feels longer lol). They recently added a parking lot, which made it so much more convenient for parking and to find the start of the trail! I'm so glad they did this. I'd still say the earlier arrival, the better, so you can get a parking spot. For the trail itself, it's a good workout - there are both uphills & downhills. Once you get to the top, there are beautiful views of the lake.

We took this hike with our pups and it was awesome! It was definitely a work out with lots of steep…read moreand uphill hiking. We made it to the big rock at the very end, unfortunately with our pups we were unable to climb all the day to the tippy top. Overall an awesome hike, saw lots of trees, rocks, and little streams along the way! Trail is dog friendly, and has a lot of spots to stop for great views of the lake

The hike is so so so gorgeous! The Big Bear magazine labeled it as easy & I guess relatively…read morespeaking it is, but when it's 95-100 F it's not the easiest thing in the WORLD. Kids can do it though, so, fine, it's easy. Gorgeous wildflowers along the way. Many scenic moments to take photographs or stand & enjoy the scenery. Stunning trees & flowers. When we got to the actual lake (super ready in our bathing suits), it smelled like manure. Unsure why. So we didn't end up swimming, but we turned around & got to see more of the hike instead of missing out on the end of the hike by going back the same exact way (since we walked across the beach area). Definitely recommend, especially if you're pushing a stroller or have children! We saw many families and people getting exercise.

I have walked and ridden this bike path hundreds of times. Fun fact: if you walk from Big Bear…read moreShores resort to Stanfield and back you will have logged approximately 800 steps! Whether you stroll this path or ride it, you will witness nature at its pinnacle. From the gorgeous lake, towering pines, colorful wildflowers and snowcapped mountains, the Good Lord did not skimp when it comes to eye candy. Just this morning I caught a glimpse of three coyotes frolicking in the lake. I saw ducks, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and a variety of birds all enjoying the beautiful lake they call home. These peaceful surroundings beckon me every time I visit Big Bear. Be sure to visit this glorious path!