Big Bear

Big Bear Lake is a unique mountain resort community located 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles and surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. About 21,000 residents make their home here full-time.

Altitude ranges from 6,750 to 9,000 feet. There are over 300 days of sunshine each year. Summer temperatures average around 80 degrees during the day, and 45 degrees at night. Winter brings about 100 inches of snowfall, and temperatures which average in the low 40's during the day, and mid 20's at night.

Pine and oak forests flourish in Big Bear's alpine environment. The area provides a natural habitat for approximately 30 wintering bald eagles and 29 species of rare plants, ten of which are indigenous to the area.

Our lake is a fresh water lake seven miles long. The average width is 1/2 mile, with a maximum depth of 72 feet and over 22 miles of shoreline.

Our community is full of recreational opportunities such as fishing, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, tours and winter sports. It's home to one of the nation's only alpine solar observatories. Big Bear also features a public zoo, a nine-hole golf course, seven public campgrounds, great restaurants, entertainment and lots of shopping. Big Bear's airport is open 24 hours every day and is equipped for night landings. AirTaxi/Charter service is available.

If someone told you they had just spent a fun-filled weekend at a popular southern California resort called Yuhaviat, you probably wouldn't know what they were talking about. Yuhaviat is a Serrano Indian word that means "Pine Place," and it is the name Big Bear had for more than a thousand years.

Big Bear is no longer called Yuhaviat, because back in 1845, Benjamin Davis Wilson rode into Yuhaviat Valley with a posse of 20 men. They were chasing Indians who had been raiding their ranches in Riverside. As they entered the valley, they found it swarming with bear.

Wilson divided his men into two-man teams. Each team went out, roped a bear and brought it back to camp. They had eleven bear at the camp all at the same time. This prompted Wilson to come up with the name Big Bear Lake. However, it should be noted that Big Bear Lake is a man-made lake that didn't exist in 1845. The lake Wilson named Big Bear was actually the natural lake at the east end of the valley, now known as Baldwin Lake.

Ben Wilson is not only remembered for giving Big Bear its name, but he went on to become an important figure in Southern California history. Among his accomplishments, he is remembered as the first mayor of Los Angeles. He was also a two term California state senator, and he built the first railroad between Los Angeles and San Diego. Wilson died on March 11, 1878, but before he died, he donated land and buildings for the construction of a college. This new college eventually became the University of Southern California.

Wilson's energy and leadership qualities were passed down through his children to his grandchildren. One of those grandchildren was famous World War II General, George S. Patton.