HIKING

Hiking in Big Bear Lake is one of the best activities you can do; it’s good for your body and your mind. Big Bear is an area with many hiking trails, it’s in a valley surrounded by mountains and the backcountry is a hiker’s paradise. The hikes range from easy to moderate with just one or two being difficult. The best way to get in touch with nature is on foot; you can stop and admire the hidden meadows, the beautiful wildflowers, the clear cool streams with Bracken Ferns and the forest itself with the amazing Lodgepole Pines, Western Junipers, Incense-Cedars, Ponderosa Pines and Jeffrey Pines.

Pack a lunch and find a beautiful, shady spot to have a picnic. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, a hat, a light jacket (tie it around your waist), a fanny pack with snack bars, water and a small flashlight and matches just in case you wander off the trail and get lost. The Big Bear area is a pretty safe place to hike because basically if you go downhill you will generally head towards the lake, you may not come out where you started but you will be able to find your way home. The safest bet for you and the fauna is to stay on the trails. The early mornings and mid-afternoon are the prettiest times for a hike – you will be amazed at what you see.