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Gateway to Bear Valley Adventures - The Big Bear Discovery Center
Rate it! Votes (1) | Comments (0) By Mitch Mandell Posted July 13th, 2008 FabulousFoods.com Recommends: San Bernardino Mountain Trails: 100 Hikes in Southern California, by John Robinson, (2006, Wilderness Press)	San Bernardino Mountain Trails: 100 Hikes in Southern California

BIG BEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA, USA - There's a lot to see and do in and around Big Bear Lake, California and the best place to start your explorations is at the Big Bear Discovery Center on the north shore of the lake. Here you'll find helpful knowledgeable staff that can help you choose the right adventures for you, including hiking trails, historic driving tours, maps, general history and information about Bear Valley and its flora and fauna, the incredible stargazing opportunities that fill the night skies, and more.

Take some time and explore their forest animal and plant and mineral exhibits for a solid background about what you'll be seeing in the mountains and woods surrounding the lake.

The Discovery Center also has a wonderful gift shop stocked with an eclectic collection of unique items (this writer has bought many a Christmas and birthday gift there).

You can pick up your forest service Adventure Passes at the Discovery Center, which are required for private vehicle parking within forest boundaries.

Summer evenings at the discovery center bring live campfire programs out under the stars. Rangers speak on a variety of subjects and guests from the Moonridge Animal Park often attend with live animal presentations.

Fabulous ToursTourists should note that the Discovery Center offers a wide variety of tours for those who want to explore Bear Valley, but not necessarily on their own. Some of the areas on the tours include back country that could normally only be reached by conditioned hikers, but the Discovery Center in conjunction with Big Bear Off Road Adventures makes them accessible to everyone. Of particular note are the Holcomb Valley tours, which offer visitors a glimpse of mining in Bear Valley, both past and present; and the Butler Peak Tour which culminates with a visit to the Butler Peak Fire Lookout Tower, where a ranger is always on call surveying the panoramic views for possible forest fires.

One of the most enjoyable tours offered for families is the canoe tour of Grout Bay. At only $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids for the equipment rental and experienced ranger guide, it's also a great bargain (as of this writing in 2007). You'll glide along the gentle lake waters viewing a variety of wildlife including ducks, coots and a real beaver dam.

At the right time of year you may also spot an eagle or two, as these majestic birds migrate annually to Bear Valley to spend the winter and early spring. Big Bear Lake is an ideal habitat for eagles because the fresh water lake rarely freezes over and is loaded with small forest game, ducks and fish. Since the annual eagle counts began in 1978, as many as 30 bald eagles have been confirmed each year in Big Bear Valley alone.

Those specifically interested in our national bird will want to join one of the Discovery Center's Eagle Tours. Led by a naturalist guide you'll begin with an hour long presentation about the birds' habitat, feeding habits, and migratory patterns, after which you will board a van to visit 10 or more points around the lake to search for the birds in the wild. These telescope viewpoints will give you first-hand look at the eagles' nesting, breeding and feeding habits. Eagle tours usually run from late December through early March and include bottled water, snack, and the use of spotting scopes and binoculars. Space is limited to 13 people so reservations are recommended.

Those interested in searching for the eagles on their own may obtain information on eagle watching from a free booklet called "Eagle Discovery Guide," which is available at the Big Bear Discovery Center.

Practicalities
The Big Bear Discovery Center is a prototype for urban forest Visitor Centers around the country. In a unique partnership with the US Forest Service, the non-profit San Bernardino National Forest Association manages this state-of-the-art visitor center and educational facility. For tour reservations or information about all of the activities at the Big Bear Discovery Center, log onto www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com or call 909.382.2790. Find the facility on North Shore Drive, Highway 38 in Big Bear Lake. Note: The Discovery Center is pet friendly and handicapped accessible. Hours of Operation: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Seven Days a Week.

Vehicles parked on National Forest land for recreational purposes must display an Adventure Pass. These areas include dispersed land, trailheads, roads, highways and turnouts. The pass is $5 for the day or $30 for an annual pass.

For more information about Big Bear, to book accommodations, or to request a Visitors Guide, visit the Big Bear Resort Association's website at www.bigbear.com or call 1-800-4-BIG-BEAR.

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