Bluff Lake (San Bernardino County, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluff Lake |
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 Bluff Lake
Location in California
Bluff Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°13′13″N 116°58′08″W / 34.2203°N 116.9688°W |
| Type | Lake |
| Surface elevation | 7,600 feet (2,300 m) |
Bluff Lake is a beautiful lake found in the Big Bear Valley. This valley is part of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, California. You can find Bluff Lake southwest of the larger Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City. It's a special place known for its nature and history.
Contents
What is Bluff Lake Like?
Bluff Lake sits very high up in the mountains. Its surface is about 7,600 feet (2,300 m) above sea level. Imagine being that high!
Bluff Lake Reserve: A Special Nature Spot
Bluff Lake is part of the Bluff Lake Reserve. This reserve is a protected area. It has a beautiful pine forest and a 20 acres (8.1 ha) lake with a meadow. You can also see cool rock formations made of quartz.
Amazing Plants and Wildlife
The reserve is home to a unique mountain marsh and meadow. Many special plants grow here. Some are even rare or endangered! These include:
- Bear Valley bluegrass (Poa atropurpurea)
- Big Bear checkerbloom (Sidalcea pedata)
- California dandelion (Taraxacum californicum)
The meadow is full of different types of grasses. You can find 16 kinds of sedges and 8 kinds of wire grass. There are also 14 types of native grasses. Tall trees like lodgepole pine, Jeffrey pine, and white fir surround the meadow.
Bluff Lake's History
Bluff Lake has an interesting past. People have been visiting this area for a long time.
Early Roads and Travel
In 1899, Gus Knight and Hiram Clark built a toll road. It was called the Bear Valley and Redlands Toll Road. This road passed right by Bluff Lake. Later, in 1915, early buses called White Stages would stop near the lake. They were on their way to Big Bear Lake.
Protecting the Lake
In 2000, a group called The Wildlands Conservancy bought the reserve. They did something important to help the lake's natural balance. They drained the lake for a while. This was done to remove non-native catfish. These fish were harming the native water plants and animals. By removing them, the conservancy helped restore the lake's original ecosystem.
Camp Gilboa and Movie Magic
In 2011, Camp Gilboa bought a 40-acre camp area on Bluff Lake. The Wildlands Conservancy had owned and fixed up this property earlier.
Bluff Lake has even been featured in movies!
- The summer camp scenes in the Walt Disney film, The Parent Trap (1961 film), were filmed here. Back then, it was known as Bluff Lake Camp. The Pasadena YMCA owned it at the time.
- The movie Dr. Dolittle 2, starring Eddie Murphy, was also filmed at Bluff Lake.
