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care for big bear

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace

Leave a positive impact on the environment by travelling green!

In any season, a drive to Big Bear Lake is a scenic experience. Winding roads through the mountains lead you to a destination worlds apart from the bustling cities below. The smell of fresh pine fills the air and a town of rustic cabins and mom n' pop shops welcome your arrival. We invite visitors year-round but ask that you treat our home with care, pick up after yourself, and respect our wildlife and environment.

Please remember to...

Plan Ahead & Prepare

  • Know the rules and regulations for the area, particularly camping and fire restrictions.
  • Prepare for weather hazards and emergency situations.
  • Carry chains in your vehicle from November to April as well as a shovel and traction aids like cat litter or gravel.
  • Travel with blankets and water should you become stuck or stranded on mountain highways.
  • To avoid the heaviest traffic, plan to travel weekdays and non-holiday periods.
  • Dine out and support local restaurants.
  • Make activity reservations if possible before you arrive.

Use & Maintain Campfires Responsibly

Respect Wildlife

  • Observe wildlife from a distance, do not follow or approach them.
  • Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and dangers.
  • Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
  • Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

  • Respect other visitors.
  • Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces

  • Check open campgrounds first
  • Durable surfaces include established trails and roads, campsites, rock, and gravel.
  • Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
  • Good campsites are found, not made. Do not alter a site.
  • Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches in the wilderness.
  • Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
  • Do not disrupt areas where the impact is minimal or nonexistent.
  • If you see areas where impact is beginning, avoid the area and let it recover.

Respect Trails & Leave What You Find

  • Keep to existing trails. Do not create new ones.
  • Do not leave trash on trails and pick up any trash you find.
  • Do not take away rocks, plants, or other natural objects.
  • Do not approach wildlife.
  • Examine - but do not touch - cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
  • Do not introduce or transport non-native species.

Dispose of Waste Properly

  • Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods.
  • Bury human waste in holes 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from the water, camp, and trails.
  • Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
  • To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap.
  • Scatter strained dishwater.