10 Affordable Kid Activities in Big Bear Lake
Fun in the Sun this Summer Big Bear Mountain Resort
Big Bear Mountain Resort is renowned for its skiing and snowboarding in the winter, but it’s also an alpine oasis for outdoor adventurers near Los Angeles in the summer, featuring plenty of family-friendly options like mountain biking, hiking, and base area activities, with discounts available for kids and seniors.
Here are 10 affordable things to do with kids in Big Bear Lake this summer.
1. Ride the Scenic Sky Chair
Enjoy panoramic views of the Big Bear Valley on a mile-long ascent through the San Bernardino National Forest on Snow Summit’s Scenic Sky Chair before arriving at the mountaintop (elevation 8,200 feet). This one-of-a-kind activity is perfect for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Buy Tickets
Average Cost: Free for kids & seniors. Restrictions apply. 2024 price range is $25-$29 for adults.
Deals:
2. Mountaintop Play Area
An outdoor adventure area for kids (ages 5-12) at the top of Chair 1 behind Skyline Taphouse with natural features like logs, ropes, and other obstacles. Guests must hike or take a Scenic Sky Chair ride to the mountaintop to access the playground.
Average Cost: Free
3. Mountaintop Dining
Experience Big Bear’s only mountaintop dining at Snow Summit’s Skyline Taphouse, located at the top of Chair 1 (elevation 8,200 feet), featuring outdoor BBQ, kids' favorites, and amazing vistas. Other dining or beverage venue options this summer includes Bighorn Smokehouse and Ironwood Coffee.
Average Cost: Menu items start at $19
Deals: Bundle a Scenic Sky Chair lift ticket with lunch at the Snow Summit ticket window and save on dining.
4. Hiking
Big Bear Mountain Resort is home to some of Southern California’s best hiking, from leisurely mountaintop laps with picturesque lake views to an extensive network of Forest Service trails that are easily accessible from the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain base areas. Check out the Bobsled Trail for an enjoyable 2-mile top-to-bottom trek featuring breathtaking views of SoCal's tallest mountain, Mt. San Gorgonio (elevation 11,500 feet).
View Trails
Average Cost: Free
5. Basecamp Activities
Big Bear Mountain Resort also offers several base area activities that are perfect for little explorers and thrill-seekers alike, including a 30-foot climbing wall, Euro Bungee trampoline, and zip line. All activities are located in the Snow Summit Basecamp area, next to the Adventure Academy on the west end of the base area.
Explore Activities
Average Cost: 2024 prices range $19-$27 for single-use ticket or $44-$59 for an all-day pass.
Deals: Bundle all activities into an Adventure Day Pass to save. Group discounts are available.
6. Grizzly Ridge Tube Park
Great for outdoor enthusiasts for all ages, summer tubing is fun for everyone. Skip the hiking and take a magic carpet to the top of the tube park, then slide down our synthetic tubing lanes as fast as you can in one of our high-speed tubes.
Buy Tickets
Average Cost: $19-$27 per ticket
Deals: Summer tubing is also included in the Activity Day Pass. Group discounts are available.
7. Summit Mining Co.
Pint-sized prospectors will enjoy getting their hands dirty as they sift through sand and rocks at Summit Mining Co. in hopes of striking it rich. Grab a bag of mining rough with hidden gemstones, arrowheads, and other fun finds, then uncover the treasures by using a screen tray and water flume in the sluice box. Summit Mining Co. is located in the base area at Snow Summit.
Get Pricing & Details
Average Cost: $12-$25 per sandbag.
Deals: Purchase an Activity Day Pass and add on one sandbag at the Snow Summit ticket windows for only $9.
8. Glow Golf
Join us on select dates at Bear Mountain Golf Course for Glow Golf - a 9-hole extravaganza with a glow in the dark course and balls.
Find Glow Golf Dates
Average Cost: $74 per person.
9. Make Time for Nine
Whether you’re a scratch golfer, new to the game, or somewhere in between Bear Mountain Golf Course offers a unique experience for players of all skill levels. Easily accessible from most points in Southern California, players can enjoy the benefits of playing at 7,000 feet with the sun-splashed San Bernardino Mountains as your backdrop on an idyllic 9-hole course featuring a full-service pro shop, driving range, and practice area.
Book Tee Time
Average Cost: 2024 price range $45-$65
Deals:
10. Mountain Biking
Big Bear Mountain Resort is home to Southern California’s best lift-served, gravity fed bike park, with terrain for riders of all ages and ability levels. From adrenaline-pumping downhill trails featuring an ever-changing mix of jumps, berms, and features to an extensive network of cross-country trails accessible from the Snow Summit base area, there’s plenty to explore.
Shop MTB
Average Cost: Free for kids & seniors. 2024 price range $19-$74.
Deals:
Big Bear Mountain Resort is typically open to the public for summer operations from May through October.
NOTE: Weather can vary at higher altitudes, so be sure to check our mountain report before planning your next outdoor adventure.
Plan a Trip
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for monthly updates of events happening at Big Bear Mountain Resort such as glow in the dark golfing, free family-friend concerts, and more. rich-text, responsive-table
Here are 10 affordable things to do with kids in Big Bear Lake this summer.
1. Ride the Scenic Sky Chair
Enjoy panoramic views of the Big Bear Valley on a mile-long ascent through the San Bernardino National Forest on Snow Summit’s Scenic Sky Chair before arriving at the mountaintop (elevation 8,200 feet). This one-of-a-kind activity is perfect for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Buy Tickets
Average Cost: Free for kids & seniors. Restrictions apply. 2024 price range is $25-$29 for adults.
Deals:
- Military & group discounts
- Free lift tickets for kids & seniors
- Lunch add-on discounts
- Free lift ticket on your birthday
- Free rides for bike park & winter season pass holders
2. Mountaintop Play Area
An outdoor adventure area for kids (ages 5-12) at the top of Chair 1 behind Skyline Taphouse with natural features like logs, ropes, and other obstacles. Guests must hike or take a Scenic Sky Chair ride to the mountaintop to access the playground.
Average Cost: Free
3. Mountaintop Dining
Experience Big Bear’s only mountaintop dining at Snow Summit’s Skyline Taphouse, located at the top of Chair 1 (elevation 8,200 feet), featuring outdoor BBQ, kids' favorites, and amazing vistas. Other dining or beverage venue options this summer includes Bighorn Smokehouse and Ironwood Coffee.
Average Cost: Menu items start at $19
Deals: Bundle a Scenic Sky Chair lift ticket with lunch at the Snow Summit ticket window and save on dining.
4. Hiking
Big Bear Mountain Resort is home to some of Southern California’s best hiking, from leisurely mountaintop laps with picturesque lake views to an extensive network of Forest Service trails that are easily accessible from the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain base areas. Check out the Bobsled Trail for an enjoyable 2-mile top-to-bottom trek featuring breathtaking views of SoCal's tallest mountain, Mt. San Gorgonio (elevation 11,500 feet).
View Trails
Average Cost: Free
5. Basecamp Activities
Big Bear Mountain Resort also offers several base area activities that are perfect for little explorers and thrill-seekers alike, including a 30-foot climbing wall, Euro Bungee trampoline, and zip line. All activities are located in the Snow Summit Basecamp area, next to the Adventure Academy on the west end of the base area.
Explore Activities
Average Cost: 2024 prices range $19-$27 for single-use ticket or $44-$59 for an all-day pass.
Deals: Bundle all activities into an Adventure Day Pass to save. Group discounts are available.
6. Grizzly Ridge Tube Park
Great for outdoor enthusiasts for all ages, summer tubing is fun for everyone. Skip the hiking and take a magic carpet to the top of the tube park, then slide down our synthetic tubing lanes as fast as you can in one of our high-speed tubes.
Buy Tickets
Average Cost: $19-$27 per ticket
Deals: Summer tubing is also included in the Activity Day Pass. Group discounts are available.
7. Summit Mining Co.
Pint-sized prospectors will enjoy getting their hands dirty as they sift through sand and rocks at Summit Mining Co. in hopes of striking it rich. Grab a bag of mining rough with hidden gemstones, arrowheads, and other fun finds, then uncover the treasures by using a screen tray and water flume in the sluice box. Summit Mining Co. is located in the base area at Snow Summit.
Get Pricing & Details
Average Cost: $12-$25 per sandbag.
Deals: Purchase an Activity Day Pass and add on one sandbag at the Snow Summit ticket windows for only $9.
8. Glow Golf
Join us on select dates at Bear Mountain Golf Course for Glow Golf - a 9-hole extravaganza with a glow in the dark course and balls.
Find Glow Golf Dates
Average Cost: $74 per person.
9. Make Time for Nine
Whether you’re a scratch golfer, new to the game, or somewhere in between Bear Mountain Golf Course offers a unique experience for players of all skill levels. Easily accessible from most points in Southern California, players can enjoy the benefits of playing at 7,000 feet with the sun-splashed San Bernardino Mountains as your backdrop on an idyllic 9-hole course featuring a full-service pro shop, driving range, and practice area.
Book Tee Time
Average Cost: 2024 price range $45-$65
Deals:
- Group & military discounts
- Free birthday round
10. Mountain Biking
Big Bear Mountain Resort is home to Southern California’s best lift-served, gravity fed bike park, with terrain for riders of all ages and ability levels. From adrenaline-pumping downhill trails featuring an ever-changing mix of jumps, berms, and features to an extensive network of cross-country trails accessible from the Snow Summit base area, there’s plenty to explore.
Shop MTB
Average Cost: Free for kids & seniors. 2024 price range $19-$74.
Deals:
- Military & group discounts
- Free lift tickets for kids & seniors
- Lunch add-on discounts
- Get a season pass for unlimited rides
- Free lift ticket on your birthday
- 20% off bike park lift tickets for winter season pass holders
Big Bear Mountain Resort is typically open to the public for summer operations from May through October.
NOTE: Weather can vary at higher altitudes, so be sure to check our mountain report before planning your next outdoor adventure.
Plan a Trip
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for monthly updates of events happening at Big Bear Mountain Resort such as glow in the dark golfing, free family-friend concerts, and more. rich-text, responsive-table
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