Big Bear is one of the few places where you can cruise a mountain lake on a pirate ship in July and snowshoe through ponderosa pines in January. The catch is that the tours worth doing change completely with the season, and most “top tours” lists never mention that. This guide covers every tour worth your time, sorted by season, with an interactive finder to match you to the right one.
Whether you want a narrated lake cruise, an off-road adrenaline hit, a scenic helicopter flight, or a guided snowshoe trek, you’ll find it here, along with who each tour is best for and how to plan around the weather. Start with the finder, then read on for the details.
The short answerThe best Big Bear tours depend on when you visit. In summer, the lake rules: narrated cruises on the Big Bear Queen, Miss Liberty paddlewheel, and Big Bear Cruzer, plus the Time Bandit pirate ship and Big Bear Tiki Tours, alongside Jeep and off-road adventures. In winter, it’s guided snowshoe treks and ski and snowboard lessons. A few tours run all year, including helicopter flights, ghost tours, and ziplining. Book ahead for summer weekends and holidays, when the popular tours fill fast.
How to pick a Big Bear tour
The first question isn’t “what’s the best tour,” it’s “when am I visiting.” Big Bear’s signature experiences are split down the middle by season. The lake tours, the pirate ship, the tiki boat, and most off-road trips run spring through fall, when the water is open and the trails are clear. Come winter, the same valley turns into a snow-play destination, and the guided tours shift to snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and lessons at the resorts. A handful of tours, like helicopter flights and ghost walks, run year-round. Once you know your season, narrow by what you’re into: sightseeing, adrenaline, family fun, or something on the water. The finder below does exactly that.
Find your tour
Pick your season, add a filter or two, and the finder shows the tours that fit. Tours with a dedicated guide on our site link straight to the details.
Big Bear Vacations
Big Bear Tour Finder
The tours you can do depend on the season. Pick when you’re visiting and filter by what you’re into to find the right one.
Big Bear Queen
A historic narrated lake cruise running since 1965, gliding past Boulder Bay, the bald-eagle nest, and the solar observatory from Pine Knot Marina.
Miss Liberty Paddlewheel
A classic paddlewheel boat tour with narrated history of the lake and its landmarks.
Big Bear Cruzer (Big Bear Marina)
A 90-minute open-air narrated lake tour with no passenger minimum, so it is easy to hop on.
Time Bandit Pirate Ship
Big Bear’s only pirate ship, a 1/3-scale galleon with a 90-minute narrated cruise, treasure for kids, and a full bar.
Big Bear Tiki Tours
A tropical tiki boat (the Oso Grande) with hammocks, a bar, and cocktails. Sunset cruises are 18+; other tours welcome kids.
Big Bear Jeep Experience
Drive a customized Jeep on legendary off-road trails while a guide narrates by radio. Beginner to advanced.
Tourzilla Off-Road Safari
Ride along in a 12-passenger off-road rig through Holcomb Valley with stories of its Gold Rush past. No driving required.
Wakesports Charter
Wakeboat charters and Sea-Doo rentals for wake surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and tubing.
Guided Mountain Bike Tours
Guided rides on Big Bear’s renowned trails, from mellow forest loops to Skyline singletrack.
Helicopter Tours
See Big Bear Lake and the San Bernardino Mountains from the air on a scenic flight.
Ghost Tours
An evening walking tour into Big Bear’s spookier history and local legends.
Zipline Tour (Action Tours)
Nine ziplines up to 35 mph through the forest over about three hours. Ages 8 and up, runs year-round.
Guided Snowshoe Tour
A guided three-hour snowshoe trek through ponderosa pines and mountain scenery. Ages 10 and up, snow permitting.
Snowmobile & Snow-Play Tours
Guided snowmobile rides and snow-play outings in the national forest when there is enough snow.
Guided Ski & Snowboard Lessons
Lessons and guided runs at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain for first-timers and improvers.
No tours match those filters. Try removing a filter or switching seasons.
Tours, seasons, and availability vary by operator, weather, and snow conditions. Confirm current schedules and prices directly with each tour company before you plan.
Summer tours
From late spring through fall, Big Bear is all about the water and the trails. This is peak season for the tours most visitors come for.
On the water
The lake is the heart of a Big Bear summer, and there are several ways to tour it. The Big Bear Queen has run narrated cruises since 1965, pointing out Boulder Bay, the resident bald-eagle nest, the solar observatory, and the historic dam from its home at Pine Knot Marina. The Miss Liberty paddlewheel offers a similar narrated history cruise with old-riverboat charm; you can read the full rundown on our guide to the Miss Liberty paddlewheel tour boat. For something more flexible, the Big Bear Cruzer at Big Bear Marina runs a 90-minute open-air narrated tour with no passenger minimum.
If you’d rather have fun than facts, two boats stand out. The Time Bandit pirate ship, a one-third-scale galleon docked at Holloway’s Marina, sails a 90-minute narrated cruise with treasure hunts for kids and a full bar for the grown-ups. Big Bear Tiki Tours runs the Oso Grande, a hammock-strung tiki boat with an onboard bar that’s built for sunset cruises and celebrations (the sunset trips are 18 and over).
On land
Big Bear’s backcountry is a legitimate off-road destination. With the Big Bear Jeep Experience, you drive a customized Jeep along legendary trails while a guide narrates by radio, at a difficulty you choose; our guide to Big Bear Jeep tours covers what to expect. Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? The Tourzilla safari seats a dozen passengers in a custom off-road rig for a ride through historic Holcomb Valley, and there’s more in our overview of Big Bear off-road tours. Add guided mountain-bike rides and wakeboat charters, and there’s an adrenaline option for almost everyone.
Winter tours
When the snow falls, the tour menu changes entirely. Guided snowshoe tours lead you on multi-hour treks through the pines, no experience needed, with operators like Action Tours running customizable outings for small groups. Snowmobile and snow-play tours run in the surrounding national forest when conditions allow. And at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, guided ski and snowboard lessons get first-timers up and riding fast. For the full cold-weather picture, see our guide to winter activities in Big Bear, and if a ski trip is the goal, our Big Bear ski trip guide helps you plan.
Year-round tours
A few experiences don’t care what the calendar says. Helicopter tours lift off for scenic flights over the lake and the San Bernardino Mountains in any season; our Big Bear helicopter tours page has the details. Ghost tours walk you through the valley’s spookier history after dark, a fun change of pace for date night or older kids. And ziplining runs all year, sending you across nine forest lines at up to 35 miles per hour. These are the reliable picks for a shoulder-season trip when the lake boats have docked but the snow hasn’t arrived.
Tips for booking your Big Bear tour
A few things save headaches. Book ahead in summer. Weekends and holidays sell out, especially the lake cruises and the pirate ship, so reserve before you arrive. Watch the weather. Lake tours, off-road trips, and snow tours all depend on conditions, and schedules shift with sunrise, sunset, and storms. Match the tour to your group. The paddlewheel boats, pirate ship, and Tourzilla safari are easy with kids; the tiki sunset cruise and ghost tour skew older. When in doubt, call the operator and ask. For even more to fill the days between tours, browse our roundup of things to do in Big Bear Lake.
Where to stay
The easiest way to fit in more tours is to stay in the middle of it all. A Big Bear cabin puts you minutes from the marinas, the trailheads, the Village, and the slopes, with room for the whole group and a hot tub to soak in after a day on the water or the snow. Big Bear Vacations manages cabins across the Big Bear Lake area, from cozy couples’ retreats to large group homes, so you can base your trip right where the tours are.
Book your Big Bear basecamp
Stay minutes from the lake, the trails, and the slopes. Search cabins for your Big Bear tour trip and find the right fit for your group and season.
Search Big Bear Cabins or call (877) 417-6504Frequently asked questions
What are the best tours in Big Bear?
It depends on the season. In summer, the standouts are the narrated lake cruises (the Big Bear Queen, Miss Liberty paddlewheel, and Big Bear Cruzer), the Time Bandit pirate ship, Big Bear Tiki Tours, and Jeep or off-road adventures. In winter, guided snowshoe treks and ski and snowboard lessons top the list. Helicopter tours, ghost tours, and ziplining run year-round. Use the finder above to match tours to your season and interests.
What tours run in winter versus summer?
Most lake and off-road tours run spring through fall, when the water is open and trails are clear. That includes the paddlewheel and pirate-ship cruises, the tiki boat, Jeep tours, and wakesports. In winter, the guided options shift to snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ski and snowboard lessons at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. A handful of tours, such as helicopter flights, ghost tours, and ziplining, operate all year.
What is the best lake tour in Big Bear?
There isn’t one best pick; it depends on the vibe you want. For narrated history and sightseeing, the Big Bear Queen, Miss Liberty paddlewheel, and Big Bear Cruzer are all strong choices. For a family adventure, the Time Bandit pirate ship is hard to beat. For a relaxed, social cruise with cocktails, choose Big Bear Tiki Tours. All are seasonal, generally running spring through fall.
Are Big Bear tours good for kids?
Many are excellent for families. The paddlewheel boats and the Big Bear Cruzer are easy, narrated cruises, and the Time Bandit pirate ship is built for kids, with treasure hunts aboard. The Tourzilla off-road safari lets families ride along without driving, and ski and snowboard lessons welcome first-timers. A few tours skew older, including the tiki sunset cruise (18+) and the ghost tour, so check age notes before booking.
Do I need to book Big Bear tours in advance?
For summer weekends and holidays, yes. The lake cruises and the pirate ship in particular fill up, and some boats guarantee only certain daily departures. Booking ahead locks in your spot and preferred time. Midweek and shoulder-season trips are more flexible, but it’s still smart to confirm schedules with the operator, since hours shift with weather, sunrise, and sunset.
What can I do in Big Bear when there’s no snow?
Plenty. In the shoulder seasons, before snow or after the lake boats slow down, the year-round tours are your best bet: a scenic helicopter flight, an evening ghost tour, or a zipline run through the forest. The lake cruises and off-road trips often keep running into fall on warm days, so it’s always worth checking with operators for current availability.
Tour details reflect information published by each operator as of 2026 and may change; confirm current schedules, seasons, and prices directly with each tour company. Seasonal availability depends on weather and snow conditions.
