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!

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.

My two year old never wants to leave. She's taking horse back riding lessons and she's learning so…read moremuch. Grateful for this place

beautiful people, doing a beautiful work, saving beautiful animals, we loved it, thank you!read more

A very well run animal sanctuary with a suprising assortment of animals to see. Various small…read moremonkeys, birds, snakes and reptiles. A couple of tigers, civit cat, a cuatamundi (sp?), a cougar, even a bear. Your kids will love it. Knowledgeable staff is there to answer your questions.

I finally had the chance to visit this place after discovering it a while back, and it was an even…read morebigger experience than I expected. It's definitely out in the desert, but that makes sense, they need plenty of space to safely house and care for so many different animals. All of the animals looked healthy, well cared for, and comfortable in their habitats. The admission price was very reasonable, and the Extreme Feed experience was absolutely worth it (just keep in mind it's for ages 18+). I know it can feel a little sad seeing animals in enclosures, but learning more about their backgrounds helped put things into perspective. Many of them can't survive in the wild, and this sanctuary gives them a safe, protected place to live with a staff that clearly cares about their well‑being. Overall, it was a meaningful and memorable visit, and I'm glad places like this exist to give these animals a second chance.

Had a great time on the 2-hour tour today. Jo and Evan were both really pleasant people and…read moregraciously put up with all of our many questions about the ranch and the animals. The animals were all really great to interact with, especially during the lunch where we got to spend time up close with the goats and baby cows. The unexpected star of the lunch was their dog "Blu."She was such a sweetheart. We had such a good experience that we started talking about when we could go back almost as soon as we were driving away.

If you need your central nervous system completely reset, visit BCC! Between the mini cows, the…read morePygmy goats, the camels, angora bunnies, and all manner of beasties, including kitties and a corgi, you will depart a new person. There is lodging, as well as a wellness spa with a medical grade hyperbaric chamber and a mediation Himalayan salt room. The owners, Johan & Jeff, have poured their hearts and souls into the property and the property is a reflection of their dedication. It is worth the drive, train ride or flight. I have been 4 times now and have booked a mobile birthday party with them for seniors. Book the day! You won't regret it. You're worth it!

We enjoyed Rah-Rah Ranch's animals at their petting zoo SO MUCH at the Pilgrim Place festival in…read moreClaremont in 2025. The animals were immaculately clean and so so sweet and, like, absurdly cute. We loved the baby pig, the silky fainting goat, and the chocolate brown alpaca, but we really lost our minds over the freshly-trimmed English Angora rabbits. Honestly, this was the cutest, cleanest, sweetest petting zoo we've ever encountered. The staff working the event were chill and answered all my questions, would absolutely consider working with them for my own events. Happy to know they're local-ish and awesome!

I wish I could give more than 5 stars!! We hired Rahrah Ranch for a milestone birthday party. The…read morebirthday girl loved it, as did alll the guests. We had a baby yak, a miniature cow, a sheep, 2 goats, bunnies and chickens. The were all clean, well behaved and interacted with all of us. If you want a truly memorable experience for your next event I highly recommend Rahrah Ranch!

the new Zoo looks amazing. we are so excited to visit there. The animals and all of the scenery…read moreis going to be fabulous. See you next time Zoo!

I love this zoo. Small, but they truly care about the animals. The gift shop is a normal gift…read moreshop, but they don't overcharge and you can adopt an animal (not to take home, just support). The proceeds go to animal upkeep.

Looking forward to riding in 2 weeks . I will update my review afterwards!…read more I had owned 3,horses but that was 3 decades ago! I'm much older now and looking forward to a calm scenic ride. Also: 1. For those complaining about not being able to use their phone on a rental trail ride, it's common sense, if you accidentally drop your phone, it holds up the trail line while the trail guide has to retrieve it for you ( not allowed to get on and off a rental horse)!, it may get broken (and who's fault is that?), stopping to click several photos slows down the timed ride for everyone, and when it falls it may spook the horse. 2. So you want to trot, lope or Gallup? Not on these mountain trails with a horse you aren't familiar , with totally inexperienced riders as well as seasoned riders, and children. Just because YOU think you are an experienced RIDER doesn't matter. These are not your horses. This is a business and safety for all comes first along with protecting the horse's safety. A lame horse cannot be ridden and that is costing vet bills as well as a loss of $65. - I'm a very experienced, seasoned rider.and previous horse owner. I'm looking forward to not needing to show off and just enjoying the experience. If it's important for you to move out fast on a horse, or to use your phone on a ride - time to invest in your own horse, or ride in Mexico! - Karen Rowley

Sadly, this was not a positive experience for my family…read more We participated in the one-hour trail ride and, upon returning to the stables, our guide specifically warned riders about the new horses located on the right side of the dismount area. My 12-year-old daughter is an experienced rider and followed the staff's instructions exactly. She waited until she was prompted to enter the designated dismount area, as directed by the staff. Unfortunately, following those instructions placed her directly adjacent to the horses that had been identified as a concern. As she entered the dismount area, one of the horses reached through the fence and bit her on the right thigh. The bite was severe enough that an attendant had to intervene to get the horse to release her. I immediately took my daughter to the restroom to assess the injury and document it with photographs. The bite occurred through her long pants. While I understand that horses are animals and that unpredictable situations can occur, I was disappointed by both the circumstances that led to the incident and the way it was handled afterward. My daughter followed the instructions she was given, yet the responsibility for the incident was ultimately placed on her. Given the prior warning about the horses, it is difficult to understand why riders were still being directed into such close proximity to them. Equally concerning was the lack of follow-up from management. The owner did not speak with us at the time of the incident, did not proactively reach out afterward, and only returned our call after multiple attempts and a more urgent message. Rather than expressing concern or discussing a reasonable resolution, the conversation was argumentative and dismissive. Accidents can happen, and a sincere apology along with an effort to address the situation would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Between the safety concerns and the poor customer service that followed, I cannot recommend this business to others.