Bear Valley, California: Escape to the Mountains

Enjoying a paddle out on Bear Lake.

Bear Valley, California, is a charming mountain community nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada range. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, it offers a serene and picturesque escape for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers looking to avoid the crowds. The area is filled with towering pine forests, pristine alpine lakes, and stunning mountain vistas. Bear Valley is well-known for its exceptional winter sports opportunities, including skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing, with abundant snowfall in the area. In the summer, the region transforms into an outdoor paradise, with countless trails to explore and small lakes to spend the day swimming or floating along.

(Pictured: Sunset from a cabin in Bear Valley, CA.)

I have yet to explore this area during the winter season, however, when we came in early September it felt almost as if we had found paradise. To begin with, it is exceptionally quiet in this area. There are not really any major freeways or roads nearby, making it a serene and idyllic place to enjoy a quiet afternoon in the mountains. We love to kayak, and the lake was also abundant with paddle boards and various water toys to use. I found this location to be an exceptionally idyllic place to float out on the water for the afternoon and forget about pretty much everything else.

(Pictured: Sup boarding on Bear Lake.)

Please note that this is a small mountain town. There are not very many stores or things to do that don't revolve around being outdoors. If you are not a nature-lover, this might not be the vacation spot for you. This is the perfect place to hang out by the lake with the family, pack some beers, and maybe book an AirBnb with some fun amenities to really make the trip worthwhile. Where we stayed included a jacuzzi, sauna, and wonderful deck views of the mountains to enjoy while we weren't out on the lake.

(Pictured: Kayaking on the lake.)

We ended up visiting Bear Valley while my boyfriend was participating in a triathlon race, so this gave us a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the locals and stay with our family friends who own a cabin there. The community itself exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with cozy lodges, charming cabins, and friendly locals. It was not hard to feel like part of the family in this small community, and I found everyone I interacted with during the race and in the town to be quite friendly. You can tell that everyone absolutely loves living in this town.

Before the triathlon in Bear Valley.

Next time you are looking to escape to the mountains- whether you are seeking adventure or tranquility - Bear Valley offers an idyllic retreat in the heart of California's wilderness that any nature-lover can enjoy.