Big Bear Lake is full of recreational opportunities such as fishing, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, tours and winter sports.
Boating:
Boating is permitted on Big Bear Lake. The lake is regulated (http://bbmwd.com/Rules_and_Regulations.html ) by the Big Bear Municipal Water District (http://bbmwd.com/Home.html ) All types of boating activity is allowed including: water skiing, sailing, fishing, personal watercraft, float tubes, kayaking, canoeing and sail boarding. The maximum boat length is 26′, and all vessels must be inspected and have a boat permit (http://bbmwd.com/Launching_files/FEES_2010_1.pdf ) for Big Bear Lake before being launched. Privately owned boats can be launched or you can rent one from a local marina. The District has two public launch ramps (http://bbmwd.com/Launching.html ) on the North shore of the Lake where there is no cost for launching. Additionally, all hand launched vessels must be inspected prior to entry into the Lake. For current lake levels, click here (http://bbmwd.com/Lake_Info.html )
Fishing:
Big Bear Lake is a premiere rainbow trout fishery and also boasts a good population of largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and carp. The Lake is stocked regularly throughout the year by the California Department of Fish and Game. The Fishing Association of Big Bear Lake and the October Troutfest also stock trout in conjunction with their annual fishing tournaments. Additionally, the District cage raises approximately 1000 trophy trout to be planted each spring in order to augment the fish numbers. Please click here (http://bbmwd.com/Big_Mikes_Reel_Fishin.html ) for current fishing conditions.
Skiing:
Big Bear is home to two of Southern California’s premier ski resorts, Snow Summit (http://www.snowsummit.com/ski/ ) and Bear Mountain Resort (http://www.bearmountain.com/snowboard/ ) Together they offer 75 trails, 20 lifts, four high speed chairs, and seven snowboard parks for all levels of skill with the added bonus of majestic mountain views. Lift tickets are interchangeable. Many world class snow boarders live in Big Bear because they know Big Bear offers some of the most innovative terrain parks anywhere. You can find current ski reports for Bear Mountain and Snow Summit at http://www.snowsummit.com/ski/snow report/current snow report/ .
Hiking:
The forests surrounding Big Bear Lake offer trails for hikers and walkers at all skill levels. For the adventurous, high peaks offer 360 degree panoramas. Snow Summit’s breathtaking Sky Chair can easily take you to the top so you can hike down while enjoying spectacular scenic vistas that include superb views of Big Bear Lake and deep forests. Entry into the National Forest is free, but parking requires an Adventure Pass from the U.S. Forest Service.
Activities/Events/Recreation:
Big Bear Event Schedule
