Big Bear's Holcomb Valley
I’ve been going to Big Bear since I was a child. Actually, my frequent visits began with a summer camp and a memorable trip into the nearby back country where miners once swarmed the mountains in search of gold. It’s a trip I’ve never forgotten and have repeated several times as an adult. Recently, we took our friends to this area, known as the Holcomb Valley, and they marveled that this long forgotten piece of California history located in our own backyard.
Big Bear has something for everyone no matter what time of year you come. Of course, there are several ski resorts for those who choose to swoop down the snow-covered slopes. Summer months are every bit as busy. The lake is manmade – a damn was built in 1884 to flood the valley floor for both recreation and more practical purposes. Though the lake isn’t as pristine as nearby Lake Arrowhead, there are public beaches, as well as windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, sailing and fishing. For mountain bikers, Snow Summit has the sky chair, which is essentially a ski lift to which they attach your bicycle so that you can go up the mountain, and take an exciting ride down the dirt trails. We watched! As it happened, we were there when a professional competition was in progress.
Because I’m a history buff, I was interested in revisiting Holcomb Valley...again! Thank heavens our friends had a 4-wheel drive SUV, as the roads are now rutted and rocky. For those of you without a sturdy car who would like to see the old mining area, complete with a hanging tree, mine shafts, and a replicated miner’s shack, there are jeep tours available through Big Bear Jeep Tours. There were quite a few people hiking through the valley, but I’d check with the local Park Rangers before doing this, as the San Bernardino Mountains are filled with rattlesnakes certain times of the year. (I ought to know, as I was nearly bitten when I was with the summer camp group!) We spent nearly the entire day in the Holcomb Valley, and it was a wonderful adventure.
The only way to get to Big Bear is by car. You’ll need one there, too.
