Things to Do in Big Bear: Lake Time, Alpine Slide and Village Stops

Our Big Bear trip included the lake, Alpine Slide, Fire Rock Burgers & Brews and North Pole Fudge and Ice Cream Co. These were our stops between outings and time at the hotel.

Sponsored by Best Western.

We spent a lot of this Big Bear trip in the Village, walking around, finding places to eat and enjoying the mountain weather with the kids. We also made time for the lake and Alpine Slide. It was a really fun, relaxed trip, and some of my favorite photos came from the simple stops between everything else.

For the hotel stay and more of the family side of the visit, see our Big Bear family-trip story.

Big Bear Lake: leave time for the shore

My favorite evening stop was Boulder Bay Park. We brought Red Baron Pizza and ate under the gazebo around sunset, then spent time along the lake taking photos. The kids loved it, too. We watched people heading out on kayaks and paddleboards, but we stayed on shore that evening.

The park has picnic tables, a gazebo and restrooms, which made it a practical place to bring dinner as well as a beautiful place to photograph. See the city's park information before planning your stop.

For an outing on foot or by bike, consider the Alpine Pedal Path. If you want to get out on the water, local marinas offer options such as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Big Bear’s family activity guide is a useful starting point for comparing these outings. Choose your access point or marina before leaving the hotel so you are driving to the right part of the lake.

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain

We rode the chairlift up for the Alpine Slide, then came down in the sleds. That was really cool, and the kids enjoyed it. It felt a little disorganized during our visit, so my advice is to ask questions when you arrive rather than assume you know where to go next.

It is separate from the site’s Mineshaft Coaster, so check the attraction website to see which ride you want. Review tickets, hours and rider requirements before heading over.

Fire Rock Burgers & Brews: a Village food stop

We loved Fire Rock Burgers & Brews. The food was phenomenal, and the dessert was awesome. It was one of the meals that stood out from our time walking around the Village.

We also ate outside at 572 Social Kitchen & Lounge, with a band playing while we were there. Great food and live music made that a really nice start to the trip before we headed back to the hotel for a swim.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat while exploring the Village, browse Fire Rock’s menu. Select the Big Bear Lake location rather than its separate Calimesa branch.

Something sweet in the Village

North Pole Fudge and Ice Cream Co. was another favorite stop. They had great caramel apples and awesome ice cream. We walked around the downtown area afterward, with horse carriages rolling through the streets. We did not need a big plan to enjoy that part of the day.

It fits into a visit to the Village, Big Bear Lake’s downtown shopping and dining district. Village Drive and Pine Knot Avenue have shops and places to eat, so you can combine a meal and dessert with a walk through town rather than making separate drives for each stop.

Putting the day together

I liked parking in the Knickerbocker public lot. It kept us close enough to walk to everything without feeling right in the middle of the busiest area. We used the Bartlett lot as well, and having restrooms nearby was helpful with the kids.

We also drove around the lake on Highways 18 and 38, stopping at picnic areas and shoreline pull-offs for photos. The mountain drive on 18 was beautiful, especially coming down. I would use proper parking areas and pull-outs for those stops, not try to photograph from the road. Most of our time was still in the Village and at Boulder Bay rather than on long hikes.

The Village has public parking lots, including on Bartlett Road and Knickerbocker Road. Overnight parking is not permitted in those public lots. The tourism board also links to the free Big Bear Trolley from its Village guide, worth checking if you would prefer to leave the car at your accommodations. Confirm that the route and service times work for your hotel and return trip.