Big Bear Is One of California’s Best Fall Foliage Destinations

Los Angeles’ year-round, sunny and 75 weather is one of the city’s major draws. But when your social media feed fills up with photos of vibrant fall leaves and pumpkin patches, yearning for a chill in the air and a change of color is only natural.

Luckily, you don’t need to go far to find a place that will fit the bill. Located in the San Bernardino Mountains two hours east of L.A., the town of Big Bear Lake has all four seasons—including fall. As a person who’s visited California for over 20 years, I try to plan at least one hike or camping trip here every autumn.

Big Bear is known to Angelenos as the region’s preeminent skiing destinationthanks to its impressive affordability and the presence of Big Bear Mountain Resort. Visitors from drier, warmer climes also flock to the lake shore for boating and fishing in the summer.

“There really is something to do almost every single day of the year,” says Damien Navarro, director of engagement at Visit Big Bear. “We have 300 days of sunshine on average per year, and we’re surrounded by very different places—Los Angeles Basin and the valley, and of course Joshua Tree to the north, which gives us a really rare ecosystem.”

That unique environment becomes all the more apparent when the leaves begin to change color in the fall. While visitors can spot vibrant shades of orange, red, and yellow on the trees right in town, you may want to hit the road for the best sightings.

“A great place is the Alpine Pedal Path on the north side of the lake, because you’ll look back at the south side and see all of the changing colors peppered in through the pine trees, which is absolutely stunning,” says Navarro. “And if you’re just driving through, Eagle Point has a lot of changing trees and beautiful homes that are decorated for our scarecrow contest.”

For those who would prefer to soak up the sights on foot, look no further than Big Bear’s numerous hiking trails. The 2.6-mile trek to Castle Rock, arguably the most popular hike in town, culminates in a rocky viewpoint with 360-degree views of the lake, town, and surrounding peaks. As a bonus, the trailhead just got a major upgrade. “They have a brand new parking lot they put in, so nobody has to park dangerously on the side of the road,” Navarro says.

Back in town, you can stroll along the lakeshore boardwalk and check out family-friendly destinations like Big Bear Alpine Zoo—coincidentally, another excellent stop for leaf-peeping. “The Alpine Zoo is one of the best places to see the leaves changing,” Navarro says.

Or, you could simply head downtown to shop for souvenirs at Scenic Gifts or the Village Make and enjoy a spot of people watching before finding a place to eat. Though most mountain towns—especially ski towns—tend to have a limited dining scene, Big Bear has a nice array of eateries.

You can try Hawaiian-style poke at Tropicalor feast on upscale Californian cuisine at Stella Lunaa farm-to-table establishment right in the heart of Big Bear Village. For a hearty, homey breakfast, you can’t do better than Grizzly Manor Cafea hopping restaurant beloved by locals and hikers alike. As for lighter breakfast options, Navarro recommends the family-owned Sister My Sister Bake Shopknown for its fresh cakes and pastries.

“It’s one of the best bakery places up here,” says Navarro. “Stop when you’re coming in for sure.”

If you want to make a weekend of leaf-peeping, there are a number of hotel options in the area. You could opt for a luxe stay at the Hotel Marina Rivieraa dog-friendly, resort-style hotel which opened on the lakeshore in June 2025. Or, for those who want to make the most of Big Bear’s great outdoors, Serrano Campground in the nearby town of Fawnskin has more than 100 sites and showers.