good for you

Just a quick drive from Los Angeles, Big Bear Cabins are nestled in the Cienaga Creek Ranch in the San Bernadino National Forest. Quiet and remote, the cabins are just minutes to Big Bear Lake, mountains, downhill skiing, parasailing, boating, golf, tennis, swimming, restaurants, shopping and entertainment. You can hike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe from your cottage door to explore the miles of breathtaking views of the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from the Mexico Border to the Canadian Crossing. The five cosy and romantic cabins are spread out over 50 magnificent acres in the middle of the forest, which offers a different outdoor experience each season.

Big Bear offers 300 days of sunshine, the bluest skies and outdoor adventure, just a couple of hours away from Southern California.

good for california

Cienaga Creek Ranch relies 100% on solar power. The cottages are built from recycled salvaged wood and wood from the ranch's own sawmill. In the middle of a national forest, the cabins both depend upon and respect their pristine environment.

Rooms

Food

The cottages are self-catered, but there are many restaurant options in the area - see the 'Local Info'

section for details.

Features & Facilities

The 5 well-appointed cabins are spread out over 50 magnificent acres in the middle of the San Bernardino National Forest. Each cottage sleeps 4 and has a bathroom, living room and kitchen. Every cottage is distinctively decorated with wood wainscotting, log trim, log beds with pillow top mattresses, spacious kitchens, and fine tile and tumbled marble counters, showers and floors.

The cottages all contain lovely soaps, double-layer robes, fresh whole bean coffee (with a coffee grinder), full-size coffee maker, and the heaviest towels. There is also a television, DVD/VCR and CD player in each cottage. The bedroom skylights offer great stargazing from your bed, or you can take in the view while soaking in your Jacuzzi spa. The showers are spacious, with room for two people.

For that special occasion the Big Bear are happy to add special touches such as:

• Champagne & Strawberries - $30
• A Romantic Retreat: Champagne, strawberries, flowers, flower bath, open fire on arrival - $99
• A Birthday surprise: Champagne, birthday cake, balloon bouquet - $59

Special days are meant to be remembered!

• An Enchanted Evening: Roses, champagne, strawberries, romantic game, fizzy Jacuzzi, open fire. $149

Local Info & Activities

The area around Big Bear Cabins is heaven for the outdoorsy type.

big bear mountain

Bear Mountain offers skiers and snowboarders 1,700 vertical feet terrain, suitable for beginners through to experts, spanning four mountain peaks and encompassing several perfectly groomed or powder-packed runs. Silver Mountain is home to three popular advanced runs and provides great access to Deer and Goldmine canyons. Geronimo is the highest, steepest, and most advanced run in Southern California and offers great access to Deer and Bow canyons. Big Bear Mountain Resorts features THE PARK, the only full-service mountain resort in the world devoted to freestyle terrain - incorporating 117 jumps, 57 jibs, and 2 pipes on 195 acres. With over 100 snow features placed in a variety of locations around the mountain, The Park features a variety of tables, step-ups, step-downs, transfers, hips, hip-tables, vaders, fins, banks, rolls and quarter-pipes, and features the only world-class competition Superpipe in Southern California. THE SCENE - an area located directly off the 13,000-square-foot sun deck - offers a revolving setup of new signature jibs for hiking and all-day sessions. Bear Mountain's snowskate park features rails and boxes specially designed for snowskating. When the snow gets deep and the powder is present, Deer, Goldmine and Bow Canyons offer hundreds of acres of undeveloped canyon terrain for tree skiing and riding.

Take the express shuttle over to The Park's Westridge at Snow Summit, offering an additional 45 acres of terrain park. Ego Trip Fun Park, Zzyzx pipe & park, Last Chance Jib Line and the Family Fun Parks features 45 jumps, 25 jibs and another halfpipe. Park fanatics can take advantage of the night sessions at Snow Summit. All dual-mountain and Bear Mountain only season passes are valid for Snow Summit night sessions.

meadow park

Located on Big Bear Lake, Meadow Park provides shaded picnic areas, barbecues, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, playground equipment, softball fields, a sand volleyball court, and a swim beach area.

big bear lake

Big Bear Lake is a four-season resort community surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Paddle boating, pontoon boating, sailing, power boating, windsurfing, sailboarding, waterskiing or jet skiing are all offered at the Lake. All boats and equipment can be rented at any one of the marinas that dot the lake's 23 miles of shoreline. Bass, trout and catfish are abundant in Big Bear Lake for a day of fishing. The hills and mountains offer hiking trails with spectacular views of the lake and forest. Ride the Sky Chair to the top and travel the scenic bike trails, or ride the gentle North Shore bike path. Enjoy a 9-hole round of golf on a regulation course, sharpen your skills at the driving range, or take the family for a round of miniature golf . . . all with the majestic mountains as your backdrop. Swimming, tennis, horseback riding and many other outdoor pursuits are on offer.

ski, snowboard and bike rental

Goldsmith's Board Shop is closest to Big Bear Mountain with top notch ski and snowboard equipment and cross county ski rentals at great prices. Print out a coupon for 10% off at www.goldsmithsboardandski.com

• Alpine Sports Center: 909-866-7541
• Bellow's Ski Rentals: 909-866-4447
• Big Bear Bikes/Prodigy Snowboard: 909-866-2224
• Blauers Ski & Board Shop: 909-866-7200; 909- 866-5689
• Getboards: 909-878-3155
• Little Mort's Ski & Snowboard Shop: 909- 866-4721
• Skyline Ski & Sports: 909- 866-3500

Big Bear Discovery Center: 909-866-3437

mountain biking

Big Bear offers mountain biking at its best. Ride the Sky Chair to the top and then travel the scenic bike trails, or ride the gentle North Shore bike path. Bike rentals for all levels of riders are available from many of Big Bear's sport shops.

• Alpine Sports Center: 909-866-7541
• Big Bear Bikes/Prodigy Snowboard: 909-866-2224
• Mountain Bear Essentials: 909-584-7654
• Scenic Sky Chair at Snow Summit: 909-866-5766
• Skyline Ski & Sports: 909-866-3500

Team Big Bear: 909-866-4565

horseback riding

Baldwin Lake Stables are open all year round. 909-585-6482

entertainment

For celebrations in the sun to nightlife after sunset, Big Bear offers a range of entertainment - from a variety of live music and dancing to Broadway plays, matinees and more.

• Big Bear Discovery Center: 909-866-3437
• Big Bear Lake Convention Center/Oktoberfest: 909-585-3000
• Big Bear Lake International Film Festival: 909- 866-3433
• Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center: 909- 866-4970
• Big Bear Mountain Resort (Seasonal): 909- 585-2519
• Old Miners Days: 909-866-4608
• Open Sky Music Festival: 626-355-9201

Snow Summit Mountain Resort (Seasonal): 909-866-5766

restaurants

breakfast

• Grizzly: Lots of good food; 41268 Big Bear Blvd.,
• Big Bear Lake La Paws: Authentic Mexican Breakfast; 1128 W. Big Bear Blvd. (1/2 block east of Motel 6), Big Bear City
• Bailey's Deli, 41869 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake (corner of Summit)
• BLT's, 41799 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake, (909) 866-6659

fine dining

• North Shore Cafe: Good Food and Breakfast too; 39226 North Shore Dr., Fawnskin. 909-866-5879
• Stillwells: Nice Outdoor Eating Area, 40650 Village Dr. (at Northwoods Inn), Big Bear Lake. 909-866-3121
• Madlon's: Excellent, Advance Reservations a must for Dinner; 829 W. Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. 909-585-3762
• Le Bistro: Elegant; 42200 Moonridge Rd. (Big Bear Chateau), Big Bear Lake. 909-866-6666
• Mandarin Garden: Good Chinese Food; 501 W. Valley (overlooking the Airport), Big Bear City. 909-585-1818
• The Mandoline Bistro, 40701 Village Drive, Big Bear Lake, (909) 866-4200.

Captain's Anchorage, 42148 Moonridge Rd., Big Bear Lake, (909) 866-3997.

Sustainability

Cienaga Creek Ranch is well off the electricity grid and runs on solar power alone.

Family owned and built, the Cienaga Creek Ranch is managed, run and cleaned by a small, friendly staff. Here, everybody is on a first-name basis.

The cottages are built from recycled salvaged wood and wood from the ranch's own sawmill. In the middle of a national forest, the cabins both depend upon and respect their pristine environment.

Getting There

Take Fwy 10 east to University Offramp. University is the exit just past Orange. Do not take the 30 interchange. Turn left on University traveling north to Lugonia. Turn right on Lugonia. As you follow Lugonia out through Mentone, Lugonia turns into Hwy. 38. Follow Hwy, 38 up the mountain to Rainbow Lane, turning right. If you reach Onyx Summit you have passed Rainbow Lane. Turn around and go back 1.5 miles. As you turn onto Rainbow Lane, you will immediately come to a closed wrought iron gate. The access code is 2758. As you come through the gate, you will see our ranch entrance about 1/4 mile back. As you come through the log entrance, stay to the left.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Rates are $149 - $299 a night, depending on the number of guests in the cabins and the time of year.

Send in an inquiry form to receive more detailed info on rates and availability.

• Check in time is 3pm, check out is 11am.
• Maximum occupancy per cabin is 4 adults or a single family.
• All cabins are non-smoking

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.