Notable lake · Shasta, California
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a lake in Shasta, California.
Big Bear Lake: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.
Best time to visit Big Bear Lake
Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Big Bear Lake — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: 40.52559, -121.40061. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Big Bear Lake
- Nobles-Emigrant Trail · trek · Shasta · ~3 km · Must-see
- Lassen Volcanic National Park · sanctuary · Shasta · ~4 km · Must-see
- Summit Lake · lake · Shasta · ~5 km · Must-see
- Cinder Cone · viewpoint · Lassen · ~9 km · Must-see
- Horseshoe Lake · lake · Shasta · ~10 km · Must-see
- Snag Lake · lake · Lassen · ~10 km · Must-see
- Lassen Peak · sanctuary · Shasta · ~12 km · Must-see
- Butte Lake · lake · Lassen · ~12 km · Must-see
- Chaos Crags · viewpoint · Shasta · ~13 km · Must-see
- Bumpass Mountain · viewpoint · Shasta · ~14 km · Must-see
- Juniper Lake · lake · Lassen · ~14 km · Must-see
- Bumpass Hell · attraction · Shasta · ~14 km · Must-see
- Emerald Lake · lake · Shasta · ~15 km · Must-see
- Baker Lake · lake · Shasta · ~17 km · Must-see
- Reflection Lake · lake · Shasta · ~17 km · Must-see
- Sulphur Works · attraction · Shasta · ~18 km · Must-see
- Manzanita Lake · lake · Shasta · ~18 km · Must-see
- Mount Tehama · viewpoint · Tehama · ~20 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Big Bear Lake
- Summit Lake · lake · Shasta · ~5 km · Must-see
- Horseshoe Lake · lake · Shasta · ~10 km · Must-see
- Snag Lake · lake · Lassen · ~10 km · Must-see
- Butte Lake · lake · Lassen · ~12 km · Must-see
- Juniper Lake · lake · Lassen · ~14 km · Must-see
- Emerald Lake · lake · Shasta · ~15 km · Must-see
- Baker Lake · lake · Shasta · ~17 km · Must-see
- Reflection Lake · lake · Shasta · ~17 km · Must-see
- Manzanita Lake · lake · Shasta · ~18 km · Must-see
- Lake Almanor · lake · Plumas · ~48 km · Must-see
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata (CC0) · Overture Maps Foundation (CDLA-Permissive-2.0)
Frequently asked
Is Big Bear Lake full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Big Bear Lake yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Big Bear Lake?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Big Bear Lake?
Nearby: Nobles-Emigrant Trail (trek, 3 km), Lassen Volcanic National Park (sanctuary, 4 km), Summit Lake (lake, 5 km), Cinder Cone (viewpoint, 9 km), Horseshoe Lake (lake, 10 km), Snag Lake (lake, 10 km).
Is Big Bear Lake worth visiting?
Big Bear Lake is listed as a notable lake in California on Spotwander.