Big Bear Lake, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Big Bear Lake, California
Yuhaviat
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Looking east at Big Bear Valley from Butler Peak lookout tower in the San Bernardino National Forest
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Location of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California
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 Big Bear Lake, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | California | |
| County | San Bernardino | |
| Incorporated | November 28, 1980 | |
| Named for | Big Bear Lake | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council/Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.42 sq mi (16.64 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.24 sq mi (16.16 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.47 km2) 2.88% | |
| Elevation | 6,752 ft (2,058 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,046 | |
| • Density | 808.52/sq mi (312.17/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
92315
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| Area code(s) | 909 | |
| FIPS code | 06-06434 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652673 | |
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the San Bernardino Mountains. The city sits along the south shore of Big Bear Lake. It is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest.
Big Bear Lake is about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of the city of San Bernardino. It is just west of the town of Big Bear City. In 2020, about 5,046 people lived there. However, many more people visit Big Bear Lake. It is a popular resort all year round. On busy weekends, over 100,000 people can be in the area.
Contents
Discovering Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake was home to the Serrano people for over 2,000 years. Later, Benjamin Davis Wilson and his group explored the area. The valley was once filled with native people and grizzly bears. The area got its name from these bears.
Gold Rush and Growth
The number of people in Big Bear Valley grew quickly. This happened during the Southern California gold rush from 1861 to 1912. Grizzly bears were no longer found here after 1908. Black bears were brought to the area in 1933. You might sometimes see them in neighborhoods.
Traveling to Big Bear Lake used to take two days. People rode in horse-drawn coaches from San Bernardino. A local named Kirk Phillips saw the first bus line in New York City. This gave him an idea. He created the second bus line in the world. It ran from San Bernardino to Big Bear Valley. This made it easier for people to visit. Big Bear Lake became the first mountain vacation spot in Southern California.
Early Resorts and Hollywood Stars
Many people came to enjoy the lake. A natural hot spring was also a big attraction. Emile Jesserun bought 40 acres (16 ha) of land with the hot spring. He built the first big resort in Big Bear in 1921. It was called the Pan Hot Springs Hotel.
Other resorts followed, trying to be the best. They offered fancy amenities to attract Hollywood stars. Famous people like Cecil B. DeMille, Shirley Temple, and Ginger Rogers visited. By 1924, Big Bear had 44 resorts. Many resorts, including the Pan Hot Springs Hotel, were damaged by fire in 1933.
Big Bear and the Movies
The Big Bear Lake area has been a popular place for filming movies. This has been true since the time of silent films. In 1915, Universal Studios filmed John o' the Mountains here. The 1920 movie Last of the Mohicans was also filmed in Big Bear.
Other famous movies filmed here include Daniel Boone (1936) and Gone with the Wind. Disney's Old Yeller and Paint Your Wagon (1969) also used Big Bear. Later films like War Games (1983) and Better Off Dead (1985) were shot here. Many TV shows have filmed scenes here too. This includes the opening for the children's show H.R. Pufnstuf in 1969.
Winter Fun and Science
Winter activities are also very popular in Big Bear. The first ski jump was built in 1929. It quickly set a world ski jump record. More jumps were built, and ski clubs used them for competitions. Big Bear became a winter resort town in 1952. That's when Tommy Tyndall opened a resort now called Snow Summit. Even if there's not much snow, snow machines keep the resorts open.
In 1968, Caltech started building the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO). It is on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Heavy rain and snow made the lake rise. So, when it was finished in 1970, BBSO was surrounded by water. Workers used makeshift barges to finish building it. Today, BBSO is still a major landmark. It is connected to the north shore by a dirt and rock path.
Recent History
Since 1970, Big Bear Lake has held an annual Oktoberfest. It has the highest beer garden by elevation in the United States. Big Bear Lake officially became a city on November 28, 1980.
In the 1990s, the city became known as a training spot for boxing champions. Famous boxers like Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, and Gennady Golovkin have trained here.
Geography of Big Bear Lake
The city of Big Bear Lake covers about 6.5 square miles (16.6 km2). Most of this is land, with a small part being water. It is located 25 miles (40 km) northeast of San Bernardino. It is right next to Big Bear City.
Big Bear Lake is high up in the mountains. Its official elevation is 6,752 feet (2,058 meters) above sea level.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment advises caution for fish caught in Big Bear Lake. This is because of higher levels of mercury and PCBs.
Big Bear Lake Weather
Big Bear Lake has warm summers and snowy winters. July is usually the warmest month. The average temperature is about 65.1°F (18.4°C). February is the coolest month, with an average of 34.7°F (1.5°C). It can get very cold, with freezing temperatures happening about 176 days a year. The highest temperature ever recorded was 98°F (37°C) in June 1994. The lowest was -15°F (-26°C) in November 1964.
Because it is so high up, Big Bear Lake gets more rain and snow than other parts of Southern California. It averages about 19.98 inches (507 mm) of rain each year. Mountain thunderstorms can bring heavy rain, even in summer.
Big Bear Lake gets a lot of snow in winter. The average snowfall at lake level is about 58.6 inches (149 cm) per season. Higher up on the ridges, it can get over 100 inches (250 cm) of snow. Snow has fallen in every month except July and August. Big Bear Lake is the highest and coldest city in Southern California.
| Climate data for Big Bear Lake, California, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
98 (37) |
94 (34) |
93 (34) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
74 (23) |
70 (21) |
98 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 60.1 (15.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
65.1 (18.4) |
72.2 (22.3) |
78.4 (25.8) |
85.8 (29.9) |
88.7 (31.5) |
86.5 (30.3) |
82.1 (27.8) |
75.5 (24.2) |
68.3 (20.2) |
61.8 (16.6) |
89.8 (32.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.1 (7.8) |
45.7 (7.6) |
51.2 (10.7) |
57.3 (14.1) |
65.8 (18.8) |
75.1 (23.9) |
80.3 (26.8) |
79.3 (26.3) |
74.0 (23.3) |
64.4 (18.0) |
53.5 (11.9) |
46.2 (7.9) |
61.6 (16.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.3 (1.3) |
34.2 (1.2) |
38.7 (3.7) |
43.9 (6.6) |
51.1 (10.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
65.2 (18.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
58.7 (14.8) |
49.3 (9.6) |
40.2 (4.6) |
34.3 (1.3) |
47.8 (8.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
35.6 (2.0) |
42.5 (5.8) |
49.2 (9.6) |
48.1 (8.9) |
42.5 (5.8) |
33.4 (0.8) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
33.1 (0.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 8.8 (−12.9) |
9.8 (−12.3) |
14.1 (−9.9) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
33.4 (0.8) |
40.8 (4.9) |
40.0 (4.4) |
32.5 (0.3) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
10.1 (−12.2) |
4.9 (−15.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−16 (−27) |
−12 (−24) |
−7 (−22) |
15 (−9) |
22 (−6) |
28 (−2) |
28 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−15 (−26) |
−14 (−26) |
−25 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.51 (115) |
4.39 (112) |
2.37 (60) |
0.78 (20) |
0.42 (11) |
0.15 (3.8) |
0.69 (18) |
0.82 (21) |
0.40 (10) |
0.79 (20) |
1.35 (34) |
3.31 (84) |
19.98 (508.8) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.4 (42) |
16.3 (41) |
12.7 (32) |
3.0 (7.6) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.2 (3.0) |
3.9 (9.9) |
11.0 (28) |
65.1 (165) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.6 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 5.5 | 43.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 16.0 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Big Bear Lake
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 5,351 | — | |
| 2000 | 5,438 | 1.6% | |
| 2010 | 5,019 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,046 | 0.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,007 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Big Bear Lake had 5,019 people. Most residents (83.8%) were White. About 21.4% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
There were 2,187 households in the city. About 25.7% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.28 people. The average family had 2.83 people.
About 19.8% of residents were under 18 years old. About 20.4% were 65 or older. The average age in Big Bear Lake was 46.1 years.
In 2010, the average household income was $32,869. About 16.9% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Fun Things to Do in Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is the largest fun lake in Southern California. It is about 7 miles (11 km) long. At its widest, it is about 1 mile (1.6 km) across.
Summer Activities
Fishing is a main summer activity in Big Bear. It is still one of the most popular things to do. You can catch trout, bass, and catfish here.
Hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding are also very popular. The San Bernardino National Forest has many trails. These trails have different difficulty levels.
Winter Sports
In winter, Big Bear Lake becomes a great place for skiing and snowboarding. There are two ski resorts: Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. The first Winter X Games were held in Big Bear Lake in 1997.
Other Attractions
The town also hosted the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival from 2000 to 2014. The Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is an amusement park in the city.
Big Bear Lake is also known for its resident bald eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow. There is a YouTube channel that shows a live video of their nest. Viewers can watch them build their nest and feed their young. This channel is run by Friends of Big Bear Valley. In 2024, Jackie laid three eggs.
Community Resources
Library Services
The Big Bear Lake Branch of the San Bernardino County Library serves the community. This library is 8,500 square feet (790 m2). It is on Garstin Drive, near the south shore of Big Bear Lake. The library offers books, videos, CDs, DVDs, and audio books. It also has e-books, computers, and internet access for everyone.
The library was updated in 2009. It added more public computers and a new self-checkout desk. The library also holds story times for younger children. They have programs for teens and sell donated books. Special events are held there too.
Getting Around
Big Bear City Airport is a small airport that serves Big Bear Lake. It is in the Big Bear City area.
Mountain Transit provides free local bus service. This service runs several routes in the Big Bear Valley. Mountain Transit also offers bus service from downtown San Bernardino to Big Bear Lake.
You can reach the Big Bear Valley by four California state highways:
- SR 18 from Highland and Lucerne Valley
- SR 330 from San Bernardino
- SR 38 from Redlands
Big Bear Grizzly Newspaper
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Gold Mountain California News Media Inc. |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Big Bear Lake, California |
| ISSN | 1073-6867 |
| OCLC number | 28739053 |
The Big Bear Grizzly is a local weekly newspaper. It serves Big Bear Lake and nearby towns. Gold Mountain California News Media Inc. owns the newspaper. The main edition comes out every Wednesday. A free edition, called the Grizzly Weekender, is delivered on Saturdays. The newspaper also makes a weekly shopping guide.
This paper reports on local council meetings and festivals. It covers fundraisers and fun activities on Big Bear Lake. It also shares news about other events in the area.
Education in Big Bear Lake
The schools in Big Bear Lake are part of the Bear Valley Unified School District.
Famous People from Big Bear Lake
- Ryan Hall (born 1983): A long-distance runner. He won the marathon at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. He holds the U.S. record in the half marathon.
- Taran Killam (born 1982): An actor and comedian. He is known for his work on shows like Saturday Night Live.
- Ed Masuga (born 1978): A singer and songwriter.
- Jay Obernolte: The current representative for California's 23rd Congressional District.
- Heather O'Rourke: An actress famous for the movie Poltergeist. She lived in Big Bear Lake in the mid-1980s.
- Max Rafferty: A former California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was a school administrator at Big Bear Lake High School in the late 1940s.
- Jordan Romero: A climber who climbed the Seven Summits by age 15.
Sister City
Abtenau, Austria
