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I’m sure other dog moms (and dads) out there can relate when I say, “Pets need vacations too!”. Zooey (my English Springer Spaniel) just turned two this year and I wanted to take her to a dog-friendly winter destination. I chose Big Bear Lake because it’s super close to Los Angeles and it’s a dog-friendly town that encourages visitors to bring their pups along for an adventure.

Before I list the dog-friendly things I did in Big Bear, I highly suggest stopping by the brand new Visitor’s Center. The staff is friendly and are local experts that can give you so many great tips and suggestions to make the most of your trip in Big Bear. You’ll need to stop by here to purchase an Adventure pass, which is a parking pass for all the trails. I saw cars getting ticketed, so definitely get that pass as it’s only $5 per day.

Entrance to Big Bear Lake Visitor’s Center - 40824 Big Bear Blvd

1. Snow Play at Woodland Trail

Woodland Trail is considered an easy 1.5-mile interpretive loop. It’s a self-guided tour where you learn about the woodland area’s geology and wildlife.

Woodland Interpretive Trail Entrance Sign

Earlier in the week, Big Bear had a huge snowstorm, so the trails were still blanketed in snow and it was a bit difficult to find our way around the trail. I couldn’t find a clearly marked path and didn’t want to get lost, so we decided to play in the snow midway into our hike instead of trying to figure our way around the trail. It wasn’t quite what I had planned, but we had a great time running and jumping around in the snow.

Zooey getting ahead of Candy and chasing after a green ball

2. Sledding at Cougar Crest Trail

A short 1.5-mile drive from Woodland Trail is Cougar Crest Trail. This trail is much longer at 5.3 miles. We didn’t intend to hike the entire trail, but we did want to stop by and explore some of it. We trekked through the woodsy path for about a mile before we made our way back to an area that was perfect for sledding.

Zooey walking on the trail that is covered in snow

Zooey has never gone sledding so I really wanted to spend some time doing this with her. I ran back to the car and grabbed our sled and boy was she excited when I made my first attempt down the hill. I think she was amazed at how fast I was going that she jumped on me and gave me a million kisses when I reached the bottom of the hill. We spent at least an hour sledding and Zooey still had tons of energy left in her even after all the chasing up and down the slippery hill.

Zooey running along the sled that Candy is sitting in

Zooey waiting for Candy to sled down the hill

3. Stroll Along Alpine Peddle Path

When I asked the Visitor’s Center for suggestions on dog-friendly places, they said all the trails were dog friendly and to also take a stroll along Alpine Peddle Path. The entire path is paved along Big Bear Lake’s north shore with plenty of room for everyone to share. The view of the lake is beautiful and you can also see the ski slopes in the distance beyond the lake. We parked at Woodland Trails and simply walked across the street and hung out at the end of the trail right past the east public boat launch.

Big Bear Lake with the ski slopes in the distance

There were flocks of ducks in the waters, which I thought would excite Zooey, but she was surprisingly calm about their presence. Zooey put her paws in the water, but she immediately came back to shore. The water temperature might have been a bit cold for her, so instead, she spent most of her time running up and down the sandy area. We stuck to this area the entire time, but you can use the Alpine Peddle Path for running, fishing, road biking, and more.

Zooey getting her paws wet from stepping inside the water at Big Bear Lake

4. Custom Wine Barrel Dog House at Barrel 33

Since I visited Big Bear during the pandemic, we didn’t dine out. However, when things go back to normal and with a little bit of planning ahead of your trip, a custom wine barrel dog house would be a unique souvenir to pick up on the way home from your Big Bear trip. This family-owned wine tasting room crafts one-of-a-kind wine barrel dog houses and beds which are made with high quality recycled wine barrels. It’s such a fun way to make memories for your pup.

Barrel 33 Custom Wine Barrel Dog House (Image Credit: Barrel 33 )

Barrel 33 Custom Wine Barrel Dog Bed (Image Credit: Barrel 33 )

Where To Stay

Big Bear offers an array of pet-friendly lodging and I chose to book a stay at an Airbnb Plus. Our Airbnb was close to Big Bear Village and had a fantastic outdoor space that Zooey thoroughly enjoyed.

Some Tips

Pick up after your dog
Purchase Your Adventure Pass at the Visitor’s Center (Opens at 10 AM)
Drive cautiously and prepare for icy conditions on the roads
Carry tire chains at all times from November to April

Big Bear Lake 2020 Magazine, Adventure Pass (for Parking), Woodland Trail Pamphlet

Final Thoughts

I really wanted Zooey to experience playing in the snow this year and am happy I was able to make that happen for her. There was plenty of snow everywhere and although I would have really liked to see it actually snowing, we still had a blast playing in the snow. I was pleasantly surprised at how dog-friendly Big Bear Lake was and plan on making another visit soon since it’s such a short distance away from Los Angeles.