Recreation
Summer hikes, winter snowshoeing, off-highway adventures, or stargazing with an astronomer—recreation is the engine behind millions of visits per year to our local mountains.
Our Southern California mountains are within recreational driving distance of 10% of the nation’s population. With more than 24 million people closer than three hours, our local mountains rival the visitorship at Yellowstone and Yosemite combined. It takes the efforts of more than 750 trained volunteers plus the staff to support the needs of visitors. The Forest Association is at the heart of making sure our love affair with our mountains doesn’t mean we love it to death. Our recreation programs teach respect for our public lands environment, stewardship, and deliver hands-on fun.
Outdoor Adventures
Big Bear Discovery Center Tours
The Big Bear Discovery Center is your Gateway to Adventure and Discovery in the Great Outdoors! Join our experienced guides for a winter snowshoe tour or a summer kayaking adventure on Big Bear lake.
Our mountains host many recreational opportunities:
• Mountain Biking
• Camping & Cabins
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horse Riding & Camping
• Hunting
• Nature Viewing
• OHV Riding & Camping
• Outdoor Learning
• Picnicking
• Rocks & Minerals
• Scenic Driving
• Winter Sports
• Other Activities