Bathrooms locked , Trash Cans over full ! Porta potties bad…read more!!! County of San Bernardino needs to do better!

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.

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

Least enjoyable experience. Very strict on every aspect of being here and talked to each other…read moreabout the people present the entire time. At one point a lifeguard went up to a group and was eagle watching them waiting for them to do something wrong. Such a shame because this area of the lake is beautiful.

The Big Bear Discovery Center is a place of just that…read more.. Discovery!! A place where Nature is the Star, but Nurture is equally as important. A place where the Great Outdoors is embraced and being one with Nature is encouraged by all. Welcome to the Big Bear Discovery Center! While visiting our friends at their cabin in Beautiful Big Bear, we decided to take the kids to the Discovery Center to see what it was all about. Upon walking into the building, we were immediately immersed into the wildlife that makes up this areas landscape. From the avian wildlife, to the reptiles, to the large mammals that call Big Bear Home, the Discovery Center gave a great snapshot of what nature lives in these mountains. In addition, the various types of rock, plants and trees were also on display which showcased the unique landscape of the region. On the back part of the building, there was a decent sized gift shop where your young explorers can browse all of the nature related toys, books and gear to be a Jr. Ranger. But the fun didn't stop there... Out front, they had a table for kids to do a hands on activity. The day we went, kids could make their own bird feeder using a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. After making our homemade bird feeders, we took a short walk to the other side of the building where they had an outdoor area called Nature Discovery Zone where kids could play, dig, build things. There are other activities on site, but this is all we did on our visit. If you find yourself in the Big Bear area and have young kids, definitely a good place to come check out. They do have some snacks and drinks inside the gift shop, but I didn't see any actual hot food to eat. There are picnic benches and places you can sit and relax if you want to pack a lunch and eat in the outdoor area. Now... Who's ready to Discover the behind the scenes of Big Bear!

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

What an amazing experience at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo! The entire zoo is small but it was…read moreincredibly clean and well maintained, making it such a pleasant place to visit. It was obvious that the animals are very well cared for and loved, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The gift shop was also fantastic well stocked with a great selection of unique souvenirs and gifts. I left with a smile on my face and can't wait to visit again. I highly recommend the Big Bear Alpine Zoo to anyone visiting the area!

Lucky for us we came to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo on the vest day of the year...ice cream day!!! For…read more$5 we got 5 scoops of creamy delicious ice cream and got to saunter around the amazing zoo whilst gobbling it up. The zoo is a special little gem in the heart of Big Bear Lake that boasts conservation and wildlife protection while giving visitors the ability to enjoy these amazing animals up close (or as close as is safe). They have multiple species of bears that are incredible animals, eagles, owls, wolves, foxes, a snow leopard, and several other fauna from all over. It's the perfect sized zoo to get a few steps in and they also have a play area for the kids. Everything is clearly mapped out and it's clean and inviting. The price is admission is more than reasonable and I love that it goes towards protecting these wonderful creatures. Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a great place to experience wildlife, crisp cool Big Bear weather, and if you're lucky some ice cream on one special day a year. Check it out!

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 .

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.