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Big Bear
Welcome to

Big Bear

Big Bear is Southern California’s four-season alpine destination. Located in the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear provides elevated thrills for an easy road-trip escape at just 100 miles from L.A. With infinite fishing, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding opportunities, Big Bear offers year-round outdoor adventures.

Big Bear sits at an altitude of 6,750 ft., with summits reaching up to 9000 ft. Unquestionably, Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain rising from the valley provide adventurers plenty to explore. Similarly, the manmade Big Bear Lake, stretching 7 miles long and half a mile wide, is a welcome spot for fishing and water sports during the mild summers.

Once home to the indigenous Yuhaaviatam, who referred to it as “Pine Place”, the history of Big Bear Valley traces the steps of gold mining, construction of the mighty dam, and yes, bears. In 1845, when a posse of riders entered the valley in pursuit of suspects that had been raiding their ranches in Riverside, they were astounded to find the area crawling with grizzly bears!

Today, Big Bear’s rich alpine forest continues to be home not only to bears but bald eagles, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and deer. In addition, there are nearly 30 species of protected rare plants at Big Bear. Two of Big Bear’s most famous celebrities are eagles caring for their young, which can easily be found streaming live! The area is also one of the world’s rare Sky Island Forests.

With its astounding peaks, winter is one of the most popular times to visit Big Bear for skiing and snowboarding. Plus, the unique mountain lake alpine environment with ski resorts is a distinctive feature for Southern California. Still, summers are amazingly beautiful and the temperatures are perfect. Fall is also a favorite time among locals and travelers, with plenty of fun events such as Oktoberfest and a feast of beautiful colors.

With year-round outdoor excitement, Big Bear is simply waiting to embrace you!

Locally Owned & Operated

Big Bear

Big Bear

Casago Franchise Owner

Nick Lanza is a mountain man at heart, who always envisioned himself living in the mountains. What better place to be than the outstanding Alpine destination of Big Bear, with its wealth of year-round activities, towering peaks, renowned eagles, and fresh mountain air?

Nick loves Big Bear, and what’s even more noteworthy is his desire to share this enjoyment with others. Additionally, we are proud to share that Big Bear was Casago’s first franchise! Nick joined forces with Casago as he was impressed with our owner-centric approach and exceptional support for homeowners and guests.

Nick has been in the vacation rental business in Big Bear for over 30 years, ever since he saved up to buy a lodge with vacation rental opportunities. He is staunchly dedicated to visitors, homeowners, and his community. As a board member for Visit Big Bear for over three decades, he is also well aware of the responsibility of growing Big Bear to the next level.

Nick and the Big Bear team are driven by creating unique experiences for guests through local recommendations. Be sure to ask for their best local tips to add to any Big Bear itinerary!

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Locally Owned & Operated

Table Of Contents

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Things to do

What you need to know

Big Bear is an outdoor enthusiast's playground! During the summer, the lake attracts boaters, and the rugged terrain invites hikers. Wintertime brings skiers and snowboarders, while the downtown shops are ideal any season.

Recommended by locals

No matter when you vacation, you'll find plenty of outdoor fun in Big Bear. From zipline courses, lake cruises, hiking trails, skiing, and year-round tubing, there's never a dull moment in this year-round alpine destination.

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Snow Summit

Snow Summit

About Whether you prefer schussing down alpine slopes or taking in summer views...

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Restaurants

What you need to know

When it comes to dining in Big Bear, you'll find a wealth of restaurant options. From burgers, authentic Italian cuisine, and prime steaks, there's an eatery waiting for you!

Recommended by locals

You won't really find chain restaurants in Big Bear, so expect locally owned eateries. Local hot spots range from a 50s-style diner to Latin and Italian-inspired cuisine, fine-dining steak houses, and homestyle eats.

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Tropicali

Tropicali

About Expect a Hawaiian aloha experience when visiting Tropicali in Big Bear!...

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Barrel 33

Barrel 33

About Barrel 33 takes being a wine store to another level, making it worth...

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Oakside

Oakside

About With a motto of "Better Food. Better Mood," you know your taste buds are...

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Start Franchise

Book with Confidence

Start Franchise

Book with Confidence

Verified Guests and Owners

Verified Guests and Owners

Booking with Casago guarantees your stay from the minute you check in, to the second you check out. End to end reliability.

Casago Support & Security

Casago Support & Security

Never worry about support hours again with Casago's 24/7 customer support lines

Payment Protection

Payment Protection

Rent worry free with 100% cash back up to 24 hours before your stay

Sightseeing

What you need to know

When you're ready to go sightseeing in Big Bear, attractions include the lake, an observatory, a wetlands preserve, hiking trails, historical museums, and a zoo, to list a few.

Recommended by locals

When planning your sightseeing list, include the Castle Rock Trail and Treasure Island/Garstin Island. Also noteworthy are Snow Summit, Big Bear Discovery Center, and the Juniper Point Picnic Area.

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Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake

About While Big Bear Lake is renowned worldwide for its breathtaking beauty and...

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Sunset Big Bear

Sunset Big Bear

About There's nothing like taking in a sunset in Big Bear country. The...

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Castle Rock Trail

Castle Rock Trail

About Castle Rock Trail is your gateway to soaring pinnacles and expansive...

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Start Franchise

Franchise with Casago

Start Franchise

Franchise with Casago

Verified Guests and Owners

Verified Guests and Owners

The owner's best interest is our passion and the guiding principle behind everything we do and stand for.

Team Training

Team Training

Our team members are trained to see themselves as the owner's advocate, and to make every decision from this singular mindset.

Our Guarantee

Our Guarantee

The Owner-Centric™ philosophy delivers the care, income, and transparency that you deserve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

As a popular drive-to destination, there are three main routes leading to Big Bear: Highways 330, 38, and 18. Driving distance to Big Bear, CA from major hubs: Los Angeles (105 miles), San Diego (155 miles), Palm Springs (90 miles), and Las Vegas, NV (210 miles). Big Bear is also about an 8-hour drive from San Francisco.

Flying? The most common California airports to get to Big Bear are LAX (Los Angeles), Ontario International (ONT), Palm Springs, or the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. A small airport in Big Bear is also available for private planes.

As a four-season destination, there is always something to enjoy in Big Bear. With that said, the busiest times are definitely ski season (from about late November or mid-December through mid-March) and summer months between Memorial Day to Labor Day. Skiing and snowboarding are the main attractions for winter, while outdoor adventures in and around Big Bear Lake are high points throughout the summer.

Spring and fall are equally as welcoming in Big Bear, particularly for those looking to avoid bigger crowds. Additionally, spring and fall are peak fishing seasons for rainbow trout.

Big Bear is home to a variety of annual events and festivals, not to mention the best Oktoberfest in the Western U.S. Some of the traditional highlights include:

  • Oktoberfest: A popular fall tradition for over 50 years that combines German traditions and Big Bear’s mountain landscape into a frenzy of music, food, and drinks. Prost!
  • Big Bear Maifest: Yet another celebration of beer, food, and music set in the fabulous spring, generally late May.
  • Big Bear Run: A two-day dual sport motorcycle tour of the mountains surrounding beautiful Big Bear Lake, running motors for over 30 years.
  • Tour de Big Bear: This late summer two-day cycling event is one of Southern California’s favorite rides
  • Annual Bald Eagle Count: An annual event for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts to observe bald eagles during their wintering period.
More questions

More questions?

Feel free to send us an email with any and all questions you might have regarding the start of a Casago Franchise!

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