Big Bear Lake, California, United States of America: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2021]
This article contains affiliate links to Amazon and other vendors. We may earn commission from purchases made through these links. Traveling to Big Bear Lake, California, United States of America? If you're planning to go to Big Bear Lake, this article contains some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack.
Contents
- When to go to Big Bear Lake
- Important essentials for Big Bear Lake
- Big Bear Lake in January: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in February: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in March: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in April: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in May: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in June: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in July: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in August: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in September: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in October: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in November: weather and what to pack
- Big Bear Lake in December: weather and what to pack
When to go to Big Bear Lake, California, United States of America
Based on the climate and weather in Big Bear Lake, the best time to go is July. See below for details.
Important esssentials for Big Bear Lake, California, United States of America
Here are some general tips on what to wear in Big Bear Lake, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 PACKING ESSENTIALS
- proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you have it
- vaccine card protector
- N95 masks for top protection
- kids' KN95 masks
- hand sanitizer
- touchless thermometer
- travel disinfecting wipes (for plane, etc)
- A plug adapter that supports outlet types A and B. This one works in most countries, but you may want to check with your hotel.
- A portable power bank, like this one
- A SIM card that works in Big Bear Lake. A good global SIM card works in most countries, but check the country list before buying. In some locations you may need a satellite phone. We recommend this satellite phone
- Appropriate museum wear
- Emergency water purifier
- For families with young children:
- Big Bear Lake visitors tend to do a lot of walking, so a lightweight backpack like this is essential
- Airplane or car necessities:
- Photography items that we like:
- cell phone photography gimbal
- camera drone for outdoor shots
- extra batteries
- extra memory cards
What to wear/what to pack for Big Bear Lake, California, United States of America by month
January
Traveling to Big Bear Lake in January, you will notice that it can be very chilly. Expect it to snow occasionally. Daytime temperatures are in the high 40s F (single digits C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Heavy jacket
- Insulated water bottle
- Warm pants or jeans
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Gloves or mittens
- Sweaters
- Lip balm
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to day-to-day shoes, you should bring snow boots. For travel to Big Bear Lake, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is something you need here. This one is a perfect option.
- Big Bear Lake has some excellent ski areas If you plan to ski, we also recommend:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
February
February in Big Bear Lake is brisk. The rain/snow can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the high 40s F (single digits C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Gloves or mittens
- Sweaters
- Heavy jacket
- Lip balm
- Insulated water bottle
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to day-to-day shoes, you should bring snow boots. For traveling to Big Bear Lake, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A umbrella is essential here. This one is a great option.
- Big Bear Lake has some famous ski areas If you plan to ski, we would recommend:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
March
March in Big Bear Lake is pretty cool. The rain/snow can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the high 30s F (single digits C) to low 50s F (low 10s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Lip balm
- Sweaters
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Heavy jacket
- Insulated water bottle
- Gloves or mittens
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to standard footwear, it's important to bring snow boots. For travel to Big Bear Lake, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A umbrella is essential here. This one is a perfect choice.
- Big Bear Lake has some good ski areas If you plan to ski, we also suggest:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
April
Traveling to Big Bear Lake in April, you will notice that it is crisp. Daytime temperatures are in the high 50s F (mid 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Sweaters
- Gloves or mittens
- Heavy jacket
- Lip balm
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Insulated water bottle
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to day-to-day shoes, it's important to bring snow boots. For traveling to Big Bear Lake, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A windproof umbrella is essential in this type of weather. This one is a great option.
- Big Bear Lake has some excellent ski areas If you plan to ski, we would recommend:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
May
May in Big Bear Lake is balmy and dry with little rain. Temperatures average in the high 60s F (high 10s C) during the day.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Fleeces
- Jacket or coat
- Light gloves or mittens
- Socks
- Lip balm
- Standard footwear
June
June is warm and very dry with almost no rain. Temperatures average in the 70s F (mid 20s C) during the day.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Bug repellent
- Shorts or short pants
- Light footwear
- Dresses
- Skirts
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Sandals
- Sunscreen lotion
July
July is pretty consistently hot and dry with little rain. Temperatures average in the low 80s F (high 20s C) during the day.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Sunscreen lotion
- Sandals
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Shorts or short pants
- Light footwear
- Bug repellent
- Skirts
- Dresses
August
If you go to Big Bear Lake in August, you will notice that it is a perfect temperature and dry with little rain. Daytime temperatures are in the low 70s F (mid 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Shorts or short pants
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Sandals
- Sunscreen lotion
- Bug repellent
- Light footwear
- Dresses
- Skirts
September
September in Big Bear Lake is a perfect temperature and dry with little rain. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the low 40s F (single digits C), with a few days below 32 F (single digits C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Bug repellent
- Light footwear
- Skirts
- Sandals
- Shorts or short pants
- Dresses
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Sunscreen lotion
October
October is crisp. Temperatures average in the 60s F (high 10s C) during the day.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Light gloves or mittens
- Jacket or coat
- Warm pants or jeans
- Lip balm
- Socks
- Fleeces
- Standard footwear
- In addition to day-to-day shoes, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Big Bear Lake, a great option is these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is essential here. This one is an excellent choice.
- Big Bear Lake has some famous ski areas If you plan to ski, we also suggest:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
November
November in Big Bear Lake can be brisk. The rain/snow can amount to several inches/centimeters.
During this time, temperatures average in the 50s F (low 10s C), although night temperatures can dip into the low 20s F (single digits below 0 C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Warm pants or jeans
- Lip balm
- Insulated water bottle
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Heavy jacket
- Sweaters
- Gloves or mittens
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to day-to-day footwear, you should bring snow boots. For visiting Big Bear Lake, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is essential here. This one is an excellent choice.
- Big Bear Lake has some famous ski slopes If you plan to ski, we would recommend:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
December
December can be brisk. Temperatures average in the high 40s F (single digits C) during the day. It snows once in a while.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Lip balm
- Insulated water bottle
- Warm pants or jeans
- Sweaters
- Gloves or mittens
- Heavy jacket
- Heavy socks, such as:
- Cold weather footwear
- In addition to regular shoes, it's important to bring snow boots. For traveling to Big Bear Lake, we suggest these boots:
- Waterproof jacket that can be used in snow
- Waterproof boots
- A wind resistant umbrella is important here. This one is a great option.
- Big Bear Lake has some good ski slopes If you plan to ski, we also suggest:
- day pack
- mittens (in addition to gloves)
- thermal pants
- paraben-free sunscreen
- lip balm with SPF
- ski socks (at least 2 pairs)
- ...and of course your ski gear
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