Big Snowshoes to Fill

Snowshoe hiking in Big Bear Lake

02.09.2017

When snow blasts the San Bernardino Mountains, you know it’s time to head for the hills! And by this we mean Big Bear’s backcountry, currently basking in a winter landscape worthy of some sightseeing. Explore its hidden parts by strapping on some snowshoes and going in search of mountain views and snow-covered peaks.

Your adventure guide? Action Tours Big Bear. Run by locals, the expert guides here know the terrain well. They’ll get you geared up and off the beaten track, cutting fresh track among sturdy mountain mahogany, and towering Jeffrey pines. Trail options vary, depending on whether you and your group want to take it easy or climb to new heights, including vantages overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain and Onyx Peak.

With black bear, coyotes, deer, and many more critters calling the mountain range home, your footprints might not be the only ones spotted. On the return journey, tramp among huge and gnarled juniper trees that are three times older than the state of California! Ancient beauties.

BONUS BEER: After turning in your snowshoes, turn your sights to Big Bear Lake Brewing Company right in the center of town. Pair the Whispering Pine IPA or High Altitude Hefeweizen with some garlic sesame edamame or the beer cheese fries. Action Tours Big Bear is located at 41693 Big Bear Blvd. No dogs on the snowshoe tour, but trails are dog-friendly.

Action Tours Big Bear is located at 41693 Big Bear Blvd.No dogs on the snowshoe tour, but trails are dog-friendly. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  2. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View
  3. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View