Your Ultimate Weekend in Big Bear: Top Things To Do in Big Bear Lake California
I was blown away...
Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of Big Bear, Omeo Suites invites you to experience a mountain getaway like no other. Surrounded by towering pines and majestic peaks, this hidden gem promises a harmonious blend of comfort, adventure, and rejuvenation. Join us as we delve into the world of Omeo Suites in Big Bear, where every moment is an invitation to reconnect with nature and yourself.
Dennis and I live up and were craving a fall trip. For those unfamiliar with the Bay Area, we don’t really get seasons. I’m a basic fall crazy– I wanted to see fall foliage! We decided on a last-minute Big Bear road trip this October and I was blown away by Big Bear for a few reasons.
First – even though this is considered the Lake Tahoe of Los Angeles, it attracts far fewer visitors in the fall season than Tahoe. We never had to fight for parking spots at trailheads or wait in lines at the store. Note: it does get busy if you visit Big Bear in the summer or winter but not nearly as insane as Tahoe can get, which is great if you hate crowds!
Second – it’s much much smaller than Lake Tahoe. It doesn’t take very long to drive around to all the top Big Bear activities which makes exploring easy and relaxing. We had a mental map of the place in one day. Third – the air smells freaking amazing here! Seriously, I can’t get over it.
Hike Castle Rock Trail
There are a good handful of hiking trails in Big Bear but Castle Rock Trail is by far the most popular. I had a BLAST hiking this trail! It’s easy to moderate (I saw some pregnant ladies hiking it) and makes a fantastic morning activity to do on your first full day. It’s dog-friendly so bring your pup, too!
Park at the lot on the lakeside of Big Bear Blvd, which is about 50 feet from the trailhead it has a big sign so you’ll see it. You’ll have to cross the highway which can be dangerous so take care of cars whipping around the corner. This lot can fill up super quickly on weekends so I recommend getting there before 9am to make sure you get a safe parking spot.
The trail is simply stunning in the morning light. It’s a lot of UP the whole way with lots of stairs and scrambling around boulders, but the views at the top are STUNNING (you can see the lake!) Keep hiking until you see the “Castle Rock” sign. You can rock climb all the way to the top, or stop halfway up Castle Rock (which is what we did since I can’t rock climb)! It took us about 90 minutes, but according to All Trails, it takes the average visitor 2-3 hours.
Alpine Slide At Magic Mountain
YOU GUYS I was so excited to go on this mountain slide but alas – they limited open hours during the fall and they weren’t open when we visited. *sobs* But if you are in Big Bear Lake during the summer, winter or on a weekend, this is a must-do activity. (Just check their hours, first.)
The Alpine Slide at Magic Mountian is a giant outdoor coaster – sort of like a bobsled (think Cool Runnings). It’s safe for all ages and they have a great ticket deal where you can buy a pass for 5 rides for $30. There’s also the Minecraft Coaster, which is the only mountain coaster in California.
Stanfield Marsh Wildlife Boardwalk
If hiking isn’t your thing, or you are traveling with small kids or non-able-bodied folks, try the Stanfield Marsh Wildlife Boardwalk instead! It’s a long boardwalk overlooking a marsh with tons of birds and has some lake views, too. It’s all flat and if you go in the morning you’ll probably have it all to yourself.
After the boardwalk, pop over to the Alpine Pedal Path Trail On The North Shore (Just keep your car parked where it is and walk over.) You’ll end up at the lake and you can keep walking even further along the path (it’s 5 miles long) or turn around and head back to your car. If you bought a bike or rented one from a shop in town for the weekend, this is the best bike path to ride on, btw!
