Spring is a wondrous time of the year. The browns of winter have given way to greens as the leaves and foliage have begun to return; the chill has left the air, giving way to what some of us love the best: T-shirt weather.
After winter has kept many of us cooped up for a few months, there’s no better time to plan a getaway than during the spring. And one great place to visit during the spring is Big Bear Lake, California.
Big Bear Lake is a prime vacation spot in Southern California. This picturesque mountain town, houses a 7 mile long gorgeous lake, grand mountains that are perfect for skiing, and the San Bernardino Forest that is superb for activities like hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Rest assured that Big Bear has all kinds of family-friendly activities you can enjoy with your loved ones this time of year. Here are just a few adventures that help to make this small city one of SoCal's premier tourist destinations.
Spring Temps
April and May in Big Bear welcome some warmer temperatures, but not too warm as to be uncomfortable. Expect average highs during the day in the high 60s or low 70s—truly T-shirt weather for most people.
In the evening, temperatures can sometimes get down into the 40s, so it’s a good idea to bring along a light jacket for those cool nights.
What makes Big Bear the perfect place to visit during this time of year?
You Can Beat the Crowds
A lot of people come to Big Bear either during the winter months for skiing or lake fun or other summer activities like dirt biking. Crowds tend to thin out a bit during the spring, so if you’re looking for a slightly quieter experience, be sure to consider visiting Big Bear during the spring to avoid the summer/winter crowds.
Make no mistake, however, even during the spring, there’s still plenty to do in Big Bear, California.
You Can Still Hit the Slopes, Even During the Spring
Don't put your snow boots away just yet. Bear Mountain receives its fair share of snow, but when that falls short, man-made snow is there to help ensure that visitors looking to hit the slopes can do so, even in the spring. Lift Tickets are easy to get, no more long lines. March and April almost always see a few inches of snow. Skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing are all classic Big Bear activities every traveling family should experience. Avoiding peak seasons has its advantages with softer snow and less of a crowd, spring break is a great time to visit one of Big Bears Ski Resorts and get some spring skiing in before the trails turn over to mountain biking terrain parks. Twin resorts Bear Mountain and Snow Summit as well as Big Bear Snow Play offer all kinds of amazing snow play for all skill levels. If you are a beginner, they offer many lesson plans for various age groups as well as equipment rentals so you don't have to worry about gear. Don’t hesitate too long, however, ski season is almost over. By the time summer rolls around, the snow is virtually gone until the next winter.
Enjoy Visit Big Bear Lake
After a day on the slopes, and a nice night spent in a fabulous Airbnb cabin rental, perhaps you can spend the next day (or two) exploring all that the lake has to offer visitors to Big Bear. Once the winter season is over and the weather starts to warm up, Big Bear Lake Marinas are open for business, offering all kinds of fun activities you can enjoy as a family. These include a variety of water sports such as canoeing, paddle-boarding, and kayaking. For adrenaline-seeking travelers, wakeboarding and jet skiing are also available.
Big Bear Marina, Pine Knot Marina, Pleasure Point Marina, and Holloway's Marina are all great options for whatever you decide to do.
Spring also brings fishing, and once you’ve gotten yourself a license, grab your pole and start casting your line from the sandy beaches. If you want a more guided experience, Big Bear also has fishing charters that will see you boarding a boat and hitting all of the best fishing spots that the lake has to offer.
If you're seeking more relaxing lake activities to enjoy with grandparents and younger children there are also various pontoon and fishing boat rentals available, as well as a variety of lakeshore activities you can delight in such as picnicking, making sandcastles, or simply enjoying the view and conversation with loved ones.
Spring in Big Bear Is Great for Hiking
Visit San Bernardino National Forest
With temperatures in the 60s or 70s, spring is a perfect time to go hiking in Big Bear. Colors have started to come back to the flora, and the wildflowers have started to bloom, making for quite a great hiking experience and amazing opportunities to capture those beautiful views(if you consider yourself to be a shutterbug).
Big Bear is awash with hiking trails for explorers of any skill level. So, even if you’ve never set foot on a dirt path or you’re a seasoned vet, you can most definitely find a trail to your liking. Biking, hiking, and horseback riding are wonderful activities to enjoy as a family in Big Bear San Bernardino National Forest, particularly during Spring break when the flowers are starting to bloom and our very own celebrity bald eagles Jackie and Shadow are easiest to spot. Enjoy miles and miles of trails.
Pine Knot Trail, Castle Rock Hike Trail, and Cougar Crest Trail are great trails for seasoned adventurers. But for a more laid-back kid-friendly experience, Alpine Pedal Path, Woodland Interpretive Trail, and Champion Lodgepole Trail are also very enjoyable options.
Activities for Animal Lovers
In Big Bear, there are a variety of spots where you and your kids can go get to know the local wildlife as well as play with farm animals. Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a great spot for kids to learn about the area's wildlife and how to sustain the ecosystem. Stop by the rehabilitation facility and say hi to the resident Gray Wolves, Grizzly Bears, and Snow Leopards.
Baldwin Lake Stables & Petting Zoo offer horseback riding plans for the whole family, as well as an adorable petting zoo for the little ones.
Even More Reasons to Head up the Mountain this April and May
Go-Karting, Roller Coasting
The Alpine Slide is a favorite spot for younger tourists. Offering an amazing Go-Kart track, 18-Hole Mini-Golf Course, a thrilling Mountain Coaster, Bobsledding, a waterslide, and their Soaring Eagle zip line ride, the Alpine Slide is without a doubt an amazing place for kids to burn off all their energy.
Zipline Tours
Action Tours offers tourists a very unique way to get to know Big Bear. Enjoy the scenic views while ziplining at high speeds and altitudes through the forests, you and your kids will be able to catch the most amazing views of Johnson Valley and Mt. San Gorgonio.
Scavenger hunting and Escape Rooms
For puzzle-loving families, the spring season in Big Bear is a great time for scavenger hunts and escape rooms. This is an amazing way to pass the time as a family in Big Bear, offering a historical perspective of the area and motivating you to work together as a family. Mountain Room Escapes, Big Bear Escape Room, Urban Adventure Quest, and Riddle Routes all offer great puzzle-solving experiences all year round.
Shop At The Big Bear Village Shops
After you've enjoyed all the springtime fun in Big Bear Lake, it's time to head back into town. Big Bear Lake Village is filled with souvenir shops and boutiques with local gifts perfect for your friends or family back home! You can find everything from sweaters to snow globes. The downtown area of the Village is also a good place to grab dinner and listen to live music.
If you’re curious about what else there is to do in Big Bear during in the spring, stop by The Big Bear Discovery Center.
Your kids will undoubtedly have a blast visiting the small town of Big Bear Lake, the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains. So much so that they’ll probably beg you to spend the weekend—or an entire week.
Spend Your Nights in Style
Regardless of whether you’re planning to spend the week, weekend, or any amount of time in between, anyone visiting Big Bear Lake during the spring should consider doing so in style.
Complete your spring mountain experience in Big Bear with a blazing fire, warm apple cider, and an unforgettable cabin stay.
Midnight Moon Cabins has the best vacation cabin rentals in Big Bear! We offer an array of modern luxury dog-friendly cabins right in the heart of Big Bear Lake, and any of the activities that your kids would love are just a short walk, bike, or car ride away.
Midnight Moon Cabins is offering 15% off your nightly stay this Spring with coupon code springbreak. Just enter the code at checkout to enjoy this discount on your next big bear vacation.