Autumn Is Here: Big Bear’s Color, Calendar & Where to Stay
The lake goes quiet, the air turns crisp, and the mountain starts doing that thing where every trail and turnout suddenly has gold in it. Fall at 6,750 feet is short, a little unpredictable, and genuinely one of Big Bear’s best stretches — foliage, a packed weekend calendar, and cabin rates that finally ease up before winter takes over. Here’s when the color actually peaks, what’s happening around town through November, and how to build a trip around it.
When the Colors Come Out
Late September – Early November · Peaks Mid-October
Where to Actually See It
Big Bear’s forest is mostly evergreen, so don’t expect a wall-to-wall New England postcard — the color shows up in pockets, wherever aspens, willows, cottonwoods, and oaks cluster along the shoreline and creek beds, turning yellow, gold, and orange against all that pine. Mid-October is the sweet spot for catching the most color at once, though it shifts a little year to year depending on how the weather behaves.
For an easy, no-hiking payoff, walk the boardwalk at Stanfield Marsh for gold against still water, or Boulder Bay Park for foliage paired with one of the lake’s most photographed shoreline views. The Alpine Pedal Path is a flat, paved stretch good for a slow lakeside walk or bike ride through the color. If you want to earn the view, the Pine Knot Trail is a moderate hike with pockets of color and wide lake overlooks, and a drive along North Shore Drive turns up scattered color at literally every pull-off.
Bring a jacket for the marsh and lakeside spots — mornings run cold even when the color’s at its best
This Fall’s Event Lineup
The Village · October 8–11 · Kodiak Ultra Marathon by UTMB
Four Days of Trail Racing Through Three Climate Zones
Kodiak teams up with Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc for one of the bigger trail-running weekends on the Southern California calendar. The 100-Mile kicks off Friday at 1 PM from Rim Nordic Ski Area, circling the valley, crossing Siberia Canyon, and summiting Sugarloaf Mountain, while Saturday stacks the 100K (6 AM), 50K along Skyline Ridge at 8,000 feet (7:30 AM), 21K with San Gorgonio Peak views (9 AM), and a lake-view 10K at noon. Expo and bib pickup run Thursday, there’s a kids’ race Friday afternoon, and Sunday wraps with a pancake breakfast and awards.
Heads up if you’re hoping to run: the 100-Mile, 100K, 50K, and 21K are already sold out for 2026. The 10K is the one distance still open.
Spectating is free and easy along Village Drive and Pine Knot Ave · Register for the 10K at kodiak.utmb.world
Performing Arts Center · October 2–4 · Big Bear Yoga Festival
A Weekend of Yoga, Sound Healing & the Occasional Dance Party
This year’s theme centers on the Vishuddha Chakra — speak your truth, move your body, free your voice — across a weekend of 10-plus yoga classes, guided meditations, sound healing, and live music and kirtan. Friday opens with a welcome celebration, Saturday runs 9 AM to 9:30 PM and ends with the “After Glow” yoga dance party, and Sunday closes things out with hiking, more yoga, and brunch. There’s a Vendor Village and Creators Village to wander between sessions, plus a dedicated kids’ play area.
Kids 17 and under attend free, and discount codes are available for Big Bear locals, military, first responders, seniors, and students. Book your stay with promo code YOGA for a lodging discount alongside your festival pass.
Registration and full schedule at bigbearyogafestival.com · Tickets are non-refundable
More on the Fall Calendar
- Twilight Safaris — Sept 20 & 27, Oct 11 & 18. After-hours guided tours at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo to see nocturnal animals come alive, with hot chocolate and cookies included. $30/ticket, online only, and these sell out.
- Pumpkin Smash Zipline — Every Saturday in October, 11 AM–2 PM. Nine ziplines up to 35 mph plus a pumpkin-smashing challenge at Action Zipline Tours, starting at $125.
- Bear Crawl in the Village — Date TBA. A costumed crawl through 10 Village restaurants and bars benefiting the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and Grace’s Place Foundation, with a costume contest and commemorative glass.
- Village Wine Walk — October 10. Check in at Copper Q, then sample wine and snacks at shops around the Village, benefiting the Big Bear Valley Education Trust.
- Boo at the Zoo — October 24, 10 AM–3 PM. Trick-or-treating through the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, included with general admission.
- Oktoberfest — Runs weekends through mid-November. We’ve got the full schedule, food, and beer rundown in our Oktoberfest guide.
And that’s before Halloween season fully kicks in — keep an eye out for Dark Legends Night Hikes, the Mystery Maze at Moose Lodge, and The Big Scare at Swim Beach, which locals will tell you is the biggest Halloween event of the year. Dates for those typically firm up as October gets closer.
Beyond the Events
The Lake and Trails Before Winter Takes Over
Fall is the lake at its calmest — boat traffic thins out after Labor Day, mornings are still, and it’s a genuinely good stretch for fishing or a slow paddle without dodging wakeboats. The trail network is in its best shape of the year too: cooler temperatures make climbs like Castle Rock and the Cougar Crest Trail far more comfortable than they are in July, and the crowds thin out right alongside the weather.
It won’t last. Ski season typically starts pushing in by mid-to-late November depending on how the snow falls, so fall is really a closing window — the last stretch where you can hike, paddle, and sit outside without needing to check a snow report first.
Where to Stay This Fall
Coupon Code FALL26 · Valid September 21 – November 19, 2026
25% Off Midweek Stays
Book a Sunday-through-Thursday stay of two nights or more and take 25% off your base lodging rate — the tradeoff is the booking has to be entirely weekday nights, with checkout no later than Friday, so this one’s built for a foliage trip or a work-from-the-cabin week rather than a weekend blowout. It applies to base lodging only, not taxes, cleaning, or resort fees, can’t be combined with other offers, and a handful of properties are excluded.
Apply code FALL26 at checkout on bigbearvacations.com, or call (877) 417-6504 and we’ll confirm which cabins qualify.
Best paired with a quiet midweek foliage drive — fewer crowds at Stanfield Marsh and Boulder Bay on weekdays, too
Where you post up depends on what you’re there for. A cabin near the Village puts you close to the Yoga Festival, Wine Walk, and Bear Crawl without much of a drive. If foliage and quiet trails are the priority, look at the North Shore, where you’re minutes from Stanfield Marsh and the scenic drive without the Village’s weekend foot traffic. Either way, this is the season to book something with a fireplace or a hot tub — the days are still mild, but the temperature drop after sundown is real.
Fall Trip Tips from Our Team
- Aim for mid-October if fall color is the main goal — earlier and the aspens haven’t turned yet, much later and they’ve already dropped.
- Pack layers. Afternoons can still feel like summer while evenings drop into jacket weather, sometimes within the same day.
- If you’re chasing both foliage and an event, check dates carefully — the Yoga Festival, Kodiak races, and early Oktoberfest weekends all land in the first half of October.
- Book the FALL26 midweek rate if your schedule is flexible; weekend rates climb fast around event dates.
- Fall weather is genuinely unpredictable at elevation — check the forecast the week of your trip rather than the week you book.
Autumn in Big Bear: Your Questions Answered
FAQ
When do the leaves actually change color in Big Bear?
The season runs from late September into early November, with mid-October the best overall window for catching the most color at once. Because the forest is mostly evergreen, expect pockets of gold and orange along the shoreline and creek beds rather than a solid wall of color — the timing also shifts a little year to year depending on the weather.
FAQ
Does it snow in Big Bear during the fall?
It’s possible but inconsistent. Ski season typically doesn’t get going until mid-to-late November depending on conditions, so an early-season snow before then is the exception, not the rule. Plan a fall trip around hiking and foliage, not snow.
FAQ
Is Big Bear crowded in the fall?
Outside of event weekends it’s noticeably quieter than summer or winter. Oktoberfest weekends, the Kodiak Ultra Marathon, and the Yoga Festival will all draw a crowd on their specific dates, so if you want the quiet version of fall, build your trip around the gaps in the calendar above.
FAQ
Are cabins cheaper in Big Bear in the fall?
Generally, yes — especially midweek. Our FALL26 code takes 25% off a Sunday–Thursday stay through mid-November. Weekends tied to a festival or race still command premium rates, so a flexible, midweek schedule is where the real savings are.
FAQ
What should I pack for a fall trip?
Layers, above everything else. Afternoons can still feel like summer while evenings drop fast once the sun’s behind the ridge, sometimes within the same day. Bring closed-toe shoes if you’re hitting the trails or an after-hours event like the Twilight Safaris, and a warmer jacket for anything after sundown.
FAQ
Can I see fall colors without hiking?
Yes. The boardwalk at Stanfield Marsh, the shoreline at Boulder Bay Park, a stroll through the Village, and the paved Alpine Pedal Path all offer color with little to no elevation gain. A drive along North Shore Drive is another easy, no-hiking option.
Book Your Fall Getaway
25% off midweek stays through mid-November — the easiest way to catch the color, the calendar, and a quieter version of Big Bear before winter arrives.
See the Fall Getaway OfferWritten by the Big Bear Vacations Team — your local experts in Big Bear Lake cabin rentals, powered by Casago. We live here, we watch the leaves turn here, and we’re here to make your fall trip unforgettable.
