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Big Bear
Lake is located just under 2 hours east of
downtown Los Angeles and the lake and its nearby surroundings
are without a doubt among some of the most picturesque natural
beauty easily accessible from the Los Angeles basin and its
communities. At nearly 7000 feet, the elevation outnumbers the
population here. If your looking for LA "glitter" this is not
the place to go. Rather it *is* the place to go to get away from
people (especially in the shoulder seasons - Spring and Fall)
and smog - yes as you drive up you may see blankets of that
brown and orange stuff covering the lower lands.
Take the 210 Freeway East just past the city of San Bernardino
where you will connect with Highway 330 which meets
Highway 18 which then runs right into Big Bear Lake. The road up the
mountains is windy (not as bad as Highway 2 up to Mt Wilson) and there
are plenty of pullouts as well as even several passing lanes as you make
your way up or down the "mountain". The road peaks out at just over 7100 |
feet. The road climbs fast!
Before you reach the lake you will pass by the Snow Valley Ski area next
to the side of the road:
www.snow-valley.com
This man made lake is not large and you can drive around it in about 45
minutes. There are two distinct sides of the lake - the south side along
Highway 18 is much more developed and is where you will find your
vacation rentals, restaurants and other businesses. The north side is
along Highway 38 and is much less developed - no gas, few homes and more
"natural". There are many areas along Highway 38 where you can pull off
the road and walk down to the lake.
Hiking:
Hiking is a big reason why you come to Big Bear Lake. There are
many trails in the area - ranging from easy to longer and very
strenuous - taking one up to the Pacific Crest Trail and to
elevations of 8000 feet or more. Note that if you are going to
be parking at trailheads you will need to have either a day or
yearly adventure pass hanging from your rear view mirror. These
are $5/day or $30 for the year - you can buy them at various
resorts/lodges in Big Bear or the Big Bear Discovery Center.
One hike we recommend is located on southern part of the lake
off of Highway 18 - about 1 mile in from the dam. It is the
Castle Rock Trail hike which starts right next to the population
and elevation sign of Big Bear. Parking is on the south side of
the highway and is somewhat limited and fills up fast during the
summer. Be very careful crossing over to the trail side of the
road as this part of the highway is very narrow and curvy.
The hike is a steep one but doable that is about 2.5 miles round
trip. It climbs 500 feet to the top of the ridge and affords on
excellent views of Big Bear Lake in the distance and the
surrounding forests. The trail ultimately reaches several
rounded granite boulder patches and ends at the largest and
tallest of these - granite boulders and cliffs. One should feel
comfortable "bouldering" before climbing to the top of these
rocks - but when you do, the views are stunning.
Be sure to pick up the pamphlet titled, "Hiking Trails
Around Big Bear" that you can find at many of the resorts, lodges and or
the Big Bear Discovery Center. |
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Lodging:
Oak Knoll Lodge is a family owned historic resort located in the forest
above Big Bear Lake at 949 Tulip Lane. This is the type of place that
families come year after year. The lodge first opened in 1920 and has
been owned by the Lawrence family since 1927. Roy and Elizabeth Lawrence
purchased it in that year and today their son and his family operate the
lodge. Stays are in private cabins (each one unique) - all have
kitchens. A pool is located in the middle of all the cabins. The lodge
is located near the forest and hiking trails - while not on the lake
(need to drive to the lake) this lodge affords one all the privacy and
relaxation one could need. The rates are reasonable to - especially
during the off season. Visit:
www.big-bear-lake.com
For more information about Big Bear, the visitor's bureau maintains the
following website:
www.bigbear.com
Photography:
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Dave's Pick