Big Bear is mostly pine forest, so fall color here comes in patches of gold and orange among the green. This guide covers when it usually shows, which trees make it, and public places to see it.
Color usually starts to show in early October. Most years, the valley looks its best in the second half of October. In some years the color lasts into November.
The aspen grove off Highway 38 sits higher, and it turns first. The Forest Service says its leaves start to change in late September and are usually at their best in the first week or two of October.
No two years are the same. The weather sets the timing, and a storm or strong wind can strip the leaves in a day or two.
How to check before you drive up: look at the Big Bear weather forecast for storms and wind. You can also ask at the Forest Service's Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so check its hours ↗ first.
All of these are public places. Please stay on trails and public land, and respect private property in neighborhoods.
A Forest Service picnic area on Mill Creek Road, south of Big Bear Boulevard (Highway 18). The Forest Service points to its oak trees for fall color. The Pineknot Trail starts here and climbs through oaks and pines toward Grand View Point.
Aspen Glen details (U.S. Forest Service) ↗A flat, paved path along the north shore of the lake, from Stanfield Cutoff west toward the solar observatory. Strollers and wheelchairs can use it. Willows grow near the west end. Near the east end you will find rabbitbrush, a shrub with bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall.
Alpine Pedal Path details (U.S. Forest Service) ↗Planted trees in and around the Village add reds and oranges, and they often hold their color late in the season. Park once and explore on foot. Please keep to sidewalks and public streets.
The southernmost aspen grove in California, in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The Forest Service says color starts in late September and usually peaks in the first week or two of October. It is about a half-mile walk from the parking area.
Directions and permits (U.S. Forest Service) ↗Looking for a hike? See our trail directory. For fall festivals and other happenings, see the events calendar. For places to eat and stay, browse the business directory.
Most years, the second half of October. Color usually starts to show in early October, and in some years it lasts into November. The weather sets the exact timing, and a storm or strong wind can strip the leaves quickly.
Mostly California black oak, which turns gold to orange among the pines. Willows and cottonwoods turn yellow along creeks and wet meadows. Planted trees in the Village and in neighborhoods add reds and oranges. Wild quaking aspen grows at the Aspen Grove off Highway 38.
Good public places include the Aspen Glen Picnic Area and the Pineknot Trail on Mill Creek Road, the paved Alpine Pedal Path on the north shore, and the Village. Outside the valley, the Aspen Grove Trail off Highway 38 has the southernmost aspen grove in California.
Not to drive around town. Forest Service lots such as Aspen Glen need an Adventure Pass or another valid recreation pass, which is $5 a day or $30 a year. The Aspen Grove is in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, so you also need a wilderness permit, and fall weekends book up fast.
Trees, places, passes and aspen timing come from the U.S. Forest Service's San Bernardino National Forest pages linked above. The valley's usual timing is drawn from dated fall color reports from past seasons. Conditions change, so check the official pages before you go.