One Day At Big Bear Lake In The Summer

Big Bear Lake is an old mining town located in San Bernardino National Forest and about 2hrs drive from Los Angeles. It is a small town known for being a four-season mountain destination and the perfect pine-filled getaway from the city.

We checked it out for the first time this summer and we really enjoyed spending the day there and exploring the national forest.

Read on to find our itinerary for spending a day around Big Bear in the summer!

Find a Hike

There are so many hikes to choose from around Big Bear and regardless of which one you go on, try to make it the first activity in the morning to avoid foot traffic and the heat in the summer. We did Pine Knot Trail to Grand View Point which is a 6.9 mile out and back trail. This hike has views of the lake in the distance on the way up and then great mountain views at the top (turn around point).

We chose this hike to avoid the crowds at the popular Castle Rock Trail and also to go on a longer route. It was a great choice and such a refreshing feeling being surrounded by the pine trees all around! There were very few people on Pine Knot Trail when we went, but I’m sure there would be more when it isn’t as hot and when the nearby camping is open (closed now due to COVID).

2. Food & Coffee

We visited town next and got food from Sweet Basil Bistro, which is a family-owned Italian Restaurant. We sat outside and enjoyed the paninis that we chose (though we went because we thought they’d have pizza on the menu).

Then we went to get some cold brew coffee at The Copper Q, another small shop in the village. They have coffee & baked goods, as well as a kitchen shop inside. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town, and if you walk down Pine Knot Ave (or Village Dr), you’ll find the main areas for food and shopping.

3, Pick an Activity

Our last recommendation for a day trip to Big Bear would be to find an afternoon activity, whether that is getting on the lake (they have boat, kayak & paddle boarding rentals at the lake), going on the Alpine Slide, or taking a scenic drive to Holcomb Valley, it’s a good idea to have something more planned for the afternoon. Another great option would be to visit the nearby lakes or the town of Lake Arrowhead!

Lastly, check the traffic before leaving to or from Big Bear as there was so many cars driving into town as we were leaving to go home on Friday afternoon! So if you’re going for the weekend try to plan a quiet time to drive there.