Big Bear Lake, California

About Big Bear Lake

Set in the southeastern part of California, Big Bear Lake is a close-knit town, home to 5,044 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Big Bear Lake holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 6.25 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 807 residents per square mile.

📰 Big Bear Lake News Today

• Video Bald eagles of California's Big Bear Lake welcome 2 eaglets over Easter weekend - ABC News ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · Aug 18
• Shadow, Luna and Sandy look out over Big Bear Lake, California, on July 22, 2026, as their mate and mother, Jackie, is getting assessed and treated 170 miles away at the Ojai Raptor Center. The Daily News | Texas' Oldest Newspaper · Aug 14
• Shadow the bald eagle’s mystery friend visits nest KTLA · Aug 14
• Big Bear's Shadow has a new friend foxla.com · Aug 14
• Man goes missing while camping in Big Bear, found dead Los Angeles Times · Aug 4

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Big Bear Lake Unique

• The only place in America named Big Bear Lake — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in southeastern California, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 5,044.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 14 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Big Bear Lake

• 572 Social Kitchen & Lounge
• Azteca Grill Mexican Restaurant & Cantina — mexican
• BLT's
• Barnstorm Restaurant
• Big Bear Coffee Roasting Company (café)
• Big Bear Lake Brewing Company
• Café Crêp — crepe (café)
• Captains Anchorage — seafood
• Dynasty — asian
• El Jacalito — mexican

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Alpine Slide · Theme park
• Big Bear Alpine Zoo · Zoo
• Big Bear Snow Play · Theme park
• 4wd obstacle · Attraction
• Champion Lodgepole Pine · Attraction
• Gold Rush Mining Company Adventures · Attraction
• Hangman's Tree · Attraction
• Mill · Attraction
• Petting Zoo · Zoo
• Pigmy Cabin · Attraction

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Big Bear Lake

• 🏞️ Bluff Lake Reserve · National Park reviews ★
• Big Bear BMX Park reviews ★
• Boulder Bay Park reviews ★
• Central Pinnacles reviews ★
• Meadow Park reviews ★
• Pinnacles East reviews ★
• Pinnacles North reviews ★
• Pinnacles South reviews ★
• Pinnacles Southeast reviews ★
• Pinnacles West reviews ★
• Rotary Park reviews ★
• Ski Beach reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Big Bear Lake

• Big Bear Middle
• North Shore Elementary

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Bear Valley Community Hospital · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Big Bear Lake

🏘️ Nearby Communities