Things to do in Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake sits in the San Bernardino Mountains, a mountain lake resort that is a different kind of trip from the low-desert stops in this region such as Joshua Tree or Death Valley.

The drive up from Los Angeles is roughly two to three hours on winding mountain roads, and that climb can stretch well beyond three hours on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and holiday weekends, when traffic backs up on the approach roads.

Elevation puts the village at around 2,060 metres (about 6,750 feet), which means noticeably cooler air than the Los Angeles basin year-round and snow possible in winter, sometimes closing mountain passes for a time. Activities split sharply by season: lake-based in summer, snow-based in winter. Lodging fills quickly on weekends, so book ahead.