As fall comes around, the crisp and fresh air that comes with it is very welcome for locals and visitors. Firstly, the landscape becomes one of the most beautiful things you will likely have ever seen with golden colors exploding, mingling with greens that are clinging to life. This is the perfect time to visit Big Bear.
The Best Time for Outdoor Adventures
During the fall, you essentially get the best of both worlds as you get a little bit of the nip in the air that comes with winter without the logistical drawbacks that come with snow and other winter conditions. As such, hiking is one of the most fulfilling activities you can do. If you want to take it a step further, horseback riding provided by places like Bear Valley Farms. There is an amazing amount of peace and relaxation that comes with bobbing through these beautiful forests atop these majestic animals, especially during the fall. The visual beauty provides for some of the loveliest moments you will ever have. By taking the ski lift at Snow Summit, you will find the most incredible views of this area that you can find.
Fall in Big Bear is the perfect time to get out and hike. One of our favorite spots is Castle Rock. Castle Rock Trail is a popular 2.5-mile-long hike in Big Bear that offers incredible panoramic views overlooking the lake and unique rock formations. Castle Rock Trail is especially stunning in fall when trees along this trail start changing colors into various hues of yellows and oranges. This trail is perfect for those who are looking for a short trail to do in Big Bear that offers incredible views, fall foliage, and doesn’t take too long to complete. The trail starts at the Castle Rock Trailhead located on the Big Bear Blvd. There is a small parking lot across the trailhead, but it can only fit a handful of cars and it fills up quickly. If this parking lot is full, you can also park along Big Bear Blvd, but be careful of the blind corners and oncoming traffic when you park and cross the street. Due to parking limitations, we highly recommend hiking this trail early in the morning.
There are a lot of places to see fall foliage around Big Bear Lake but by far the most colorful location to see the changing fall colors in Big Bear is at The Village. The Village is Big Bear’s downtown area full of shops, restaurants, bars, dessert spots, a movie theater and more. The Village is the epicenter of Big Bear where people head out to eat, walk around, grab a coffee, ice cream, and just hang out. There are tons of amazing restaurants in The Village that are especially popular for lunch and dinner. Dinnertime on the weekends can get crowded and some restaurants can have long wait times up to an hour or more. If you’re hunting for fall foliage, The Village is one of the best places to enjoy an abundance of fall colors in Big Bear. In September and October, Action Tours even offers a daily Fall Segway Tour dedicated to showcasing the most colorful spots around Big Bear Lake for fall colors.
This is also your last chance to take advantage of all the lake fun before it freezes over for the winter. While it may be a touch chilly for some swimming, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it. Fishing is one of those ways that is sure to provide for a relaxing day. It does not hurt that this is one of the best places in California for catching rainbow trout. Getting out on the water is the best way to celebrate the coming of fall as it is fun and peaceful. Renting boats or jet skis at Big Bear Marina is your best bet. Enjoy all the Big Bear Lake activities!
Big Bear Activities
Big Bear is home to one of the highest-rated Oktoberfest’s in Southern California. Big Bear Oktoberfest has been taking place in Big Bear Lake every fall for the past 49+ years and is one of the top events in Big Bear around September & October. It is open on the weekends starting September 7th all the way through November 2nd. Each year the event gets more elaborate, and the festival now offers four live German bands, tons of food choices, beer, dress up, dancing, drinking contests, and other fun activities. If you are planning a trip to Big Bear on a weekend in the fall, Oktoberfest is the one activity that you shouldn’t miss. BUT note that this festival does get super busy, and we highly recommend buying tickets online well ahead of time, or you could end up standing in entrance lines for hours.
It is practically impossible to not have fun or find value in Big Bear explorations regardless of where you stay while you are here. But the right accommodations will take your trip to the next level. Whatever the phrase means to you, you are sure to find “the right accommodations” when you search for a property through Big Bear Cabins. They provide cozy and luxurious homes at the most reasonable prices on the market. There is something for people of every preference and price range here. Big Bear activities are for everyone!
Having an amazing time in the fall in Big Bear does not require all that much preparation, but a little sure goes a long way. If you get yourself a lovely spot to call home through Big Bear Cabins, the rest will surely fall into place. Enjoy!
