Big Bear Park
Rate this placeNearby: Beard Park Fox Grove Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Big Bear Park is a popular recreational area located in the state of California.
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Summary
There are several good reasons to visit this park, such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. The park is also home to some stunning natural scenery, including beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests.
Visitors can explore many interesting points of interest, such as the Alpine Pedal Path, which is a scenic trail that runs along the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Other notable attractions include the Big Bear Discovery Center, which offers educational exhibits and programs about the park's environment and wildlife, and the Skyline Trail, which provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Big Bear Park also has some interesting facts about its history, such as being used as a filming location for numerous movies and TV shows, including Bonanza and Gunsmoke. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bears, coyotes, and mountain lions.
The best time of year to visit Big Bear Park depends on the activities you're interested in. Winter is an excellent time to visit for skiing and snowboarding, while fall and spring offer mild weather and beautiful scenery for hiking and mountain biking. Summer is a popular time to visit for water activities like fishing and boating.
Overall, Big Bear Park is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors and experience all that California has to offer.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
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Modesto Reservoir
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Turlock Lake State Rec Area
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Horseshoe Road Recreation Area & Campground
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Beard Park
Fox Grove Park
Roland Starn Park
Sterling Ranch Park
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area