Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California, set along the south shore of its namesake lake in the San Bernardino Mountains and entirely surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. With a year-round population of roughly 5,000, it is a small mountain city that swells with visitors and second-home owners across every season. The city lies about 25 miles northeast of San Bernardino and immediately west of the unincorporated community of Big Bear City. The setting is what defines the place. Big Bear Lake is a snow- and rain-fed reservoir sitting at roughly 6,750 feet above sea level, one of the highest resort destinations in Southern California. The lake anchors summer recreation — boating, fishing, water skiing, and shoreline leisure — while the surrounding national forest offers hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading. This alpine environment, with its pine forest and dramatic seasonal changes, is unusual in a region better known for desert and coastline. Winter is equally central to Big Bear Lake's identity. Snow Summit, established in 1952, and Bear Mountain, whose roots trace to the 1943 Moonridge Ski Area, operate together as Big Bear Mountain Resort, one of the largest ski and snowboard destinations in Southern California. The ski industry, together with lake and forest recreation, has made Big Bear Lake the region's first and most enduring mountain recreation area, a legacy that reaches back to the early 20th century. The Bear Valley Unified School District serves Big Bear Lake and the surrounding mountain communities, including Big Bear City, Boulder Bay, Fawnskin, and Sugarloaf. The city appeals to outdoor enthusiasts, remote and second-home owners, and families seeking a four-season mountain lifestyle, with the Inland Empire roughly 90 minutes away and greater Los Angeles within about two hours by car.