SoCal Mountain Resort Town
Welcome to Big Bear Lake, a four-season San Bernardino Mountains resort town on the south shore of its namesake alpine lake.
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California, set along the south shore of its namesake lake in the San Bernardino Mountains and entirely surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. With a year-round population of roughly 5,000, it is a small mountain city that swells with visitors and second-home owners across every season. The city lies about 25 miles northeast of San Bernardino and immediately west of the unincorporated community of Big Bear City. The setting is what defines the place. Big Bear Lake is a snow- and rain-fed reservoir sitting at roughly 6,750 feet above sea level, one of the highest resort destinations in Southern California. The lake anchors summer recreation — boating, fishing, water skiing, and shoreline leisure — while the surrounding national forest offers hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading. This alpine environment, with its pine forest and dramatic seasonal changes, is unusual in a region better known for desert and coastline. Winter is equally central to Big Bear Lake's identity. Snow Summit, established in 1952, and Bear Mountain, whose roots trace to the 1943 Moonridge Ski Area, operate together as Big Bear Mountain Resort, one of the largest ski and snowboard destinations in Southern California. The ski industry, together with lake and forest recreation, has made Big Bear Lake the region's first and most enduring mountain recreation area, a legacy that reaches back to the early 20th century. The Bear Valley Unified School District serves Big Bear Lake and the surrounding mountain communities, including Big Bear City, Boulder Bay, Fawnskin, and Sugarloaf. The city appeals to outdoor enthusiasts, remote and second-home owners, and families seeking a four-season mountain lifestyle, with the Inland Empire roughly 90 minutes away and greater Los Angeles within about two hours by car.
Big Bear Lake is in San Bernardino County, California, high in the San Bernardino Mountains. The city lies along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest.
Big Bear Lake is served by the Bear Valley Unified School District, which supports the Big Bear area communities including Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, Boulder Bay, Fawnskin, and Sugarloaf. The district operates several schools across the mountain communities.
Big Bear Lake is known as a four-season mountain resort. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski areas, together known as Big Bear Mountain Resort, anchor winter recreation, while Big Bear Lake itself supports boating, fishing, and water sports in summer.
Big Bear Lake has a population of roughly 5,000 full-time residents. It is a small mountain city with a large seasonal influx of visitors and second-home owners drawn by skiing and lake recreation.
Big Bear Lake sits about 25 miles northeast of San Bernardino, reached via State Routes 330, 18, and 38. The drive from the Inland Empire takes roughly 90 minutes, and Los Angeles and Orange County are typically within about two hours depending on traffic and weather.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.
Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.
BROWSE BY ZIP
Browse listings by postal code in this area.