Bear Mountain
4 minutesSkiing and snowboarding on the highest lifted peak in Southern California, and the freestyle half of Big Bear's two resorts. Four minutes from the driveway, and one lift ticket covers Snow Summit too.
Home / Location & Things to Do
Moonridge, Big Bear Lake
The neighborhood directly below Bear Mountain, with the Alpine Zoo minutes away and the rest of Big Bear Lake a short drive out.
What is nearby
Moonridge sits directly below the mountain, so most of this is a short drive rather than an outing. See the photos for the view from the deck, or the FAQ for parking and winter driving.
Bear Mountain
4 min driveThe freestyle-focused half of Big Bear's two resorts, with the highest lifted peak in Southern California. Four minutes from the driveway.
Snow Summit
shared lift ticketThe other Big Bear ski resort. One lift ticket covers Bear Mountain and Snow Summit.
The Village
11 min driveBig Bear Lake's walkable main street, with restaurants, coffee, bars, boutiques, and events through the year.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
4 min driveA rescue and rehabilitation zoo, in Moonridge, four minutes away.
Big Bear Lake
short driveThe lake itself, a short drive down from Moonridge. Bald eagles winter in the valley, and the Big Bear Solar Observatory sits out on the water.
Moonridge Trails
out the doorQuiet residential streets, out the front door, for walking the dog.
Things to do in Big Bear
Moonridge sits below the mountain and above the lake, so most of this is a short drive rather than a day out. Skiing is four minutes; the water is ten.
Designated Wakesports
12 minutesTournament wakeboat charters with a captain and all the gear, for wake surfing, wakeboarding and tubing, plus Sea-Doo rentals by the hour from the same dock.
The Village
11 minutesBig Bear Lake's walkable main street: restaurants, coffee, bars, boutiques and events through the year. Where most evenings end up.
Big Bear Jeep Experience
10 minutesYou drive their Jeeps and follow a guide onto the trails above the valley. USFS permitted, and a view of Big Bear you cannot reach from the highway.
Snow Summit
9 minutesThe other Big Bear resort, covered by the same ticket as Bear Mountain. More groomed runs, and the summer bike park runs from the same lifts.
Hiking
5 minutesCastle Rock for the short steep one with a view, the Woodland Trail for an easy interpretive loop, and Pine Knot for a longer climb. Moonridge's own quiet streets do for a first walk with the dog.
Big Bear Off-Road Experience
10 minutesGuided Can-Am tours and the Tourzilla safari, run by the same family since 2004. The easiest way onto the mountain without your own vehicle.
Ziplining
12 minutesGuided zipline tours run through the pines above the valley, with several stages and a guide on each one. Book ahead in summer.
Big Bear Lake
10 minutesBoating, kayaking, paddleboarding and some of the better trout fishing in Southern California. Bald eagles winter in the valley and the Solar Observatory sits out on the water.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
4 minutesA rescue and rehabilitation zoo four minutes away in Moonridge. Its residents are animals that could not be released back into the wild, which makes it a different kind of visit.
Bear Mountain Golf Course
4 minutesA nine hole course at the foot of the mountain, about as close to the cabin as the lifts are. Rarely busy outside high summer.
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
10 minutesBobsled track, go-karts, a water slide in summer and snow tubing in winter. The reliable answer when the weather will not cooperate with anything else.
Photographs: tours and boats courtesy of Big Bear Jeep Experience, Big Bear Off-Road Experience and Designated Wakesports; golf courtesy of Big Bear Mountain Resort; ziplining courtesy of Action Tours California; the alpine slide courtesy of Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain; the lake and village from bigbear.com. The bear is a US Fish and Wildlife Service photograph and the trail is Gold Fever Trail, Big Bear (CC BY 2.0). Ski and snowboard images are stock.
The cabin through the seasons
What to expect back at the house once the day is done. The hot tub and the fire pits earn their keep year round; there is more in the cabin tour.
Winter
The cabin has heating, a mini split in each bedroom, and the fireplace. The driveway is relatively flat, and chains are worth carrying for the drive up the mountain.
Spring and Summer
The lake is a short drive down from Moonridge. Back at the cabin there is the deck, the hot tub, and cornhole in the fenced yard.
Fall
The nights get cold. Good season for the two fire pits, the hot tub, and the rocking lounger on the deck.
Getting here
The cabin is in Moonridge, on the south side of Big Bear Lake directly below Bear Mountain. The keypad code is sent on the day you arrive.
Driveway parking for twoRelatively flat, a few steps to the door
Self check-inKeypad code sent on arrival day
Check-in 3:00 PMCheckout 11:00 AM
Plan a stay in Moonridge
Four minutes from the lifts, eleven from The Village. Check your dates on Airbnb.