Let’s be honest about this winter. It didn’t show up. The snow that every restaurant, rental cabin, ski shop, and gas station on this mountain depends on simply never came. Big Bear recorded zero snowfall in December. Temperatures hit 72 degrees when they should have been in the 40s. Resorts ran a quarter of their trails. Restaurants in Running Springs stared at empty tables for weeks. Some businesses across the mountain reported revenue down as much as 60 percent.
A late-February storm finally broke the drought — four feet of snow in a single week — and the mountain exhaled. But the damage was already done. Months of lost tourism revenue don’t get made up in a weekend. The people who live here year-round felt every quiet week of it.
And that’s exactly why spring matters more this year than it has in a long time. This isn’t just a season changing. It’s a community leaning forward, shaking it off, and getting after it again. The patios are open. The trails are soft. The light is longer. And there’s a charge in the air across every town on this 30-mile ridge that has nothing to do with altitude and everything to do with resilience.
Thirty miles of ridge connects these towns, but it’s the people who make the thread hold. The woman who opens her pottery studio every Saturday in Cedar Glen and never advertises. The couple in Running Springs who just planted two hundred native wildflower seeds behind the community center because nobody asked them to. The crew at the fire station in Crestline who coached a Little League team on their days off all winter. This mountain runs on people who show up without being told.
“Every town on this mountain has a story it’s still writing. My job is to make sure people hear it.”
And right now, that energy is everywhere. Big Bear is gearing up for one of its biggest spring event seasons in years. Lake Arrowhead’s Village renovation is settling in and looking sharper every week. Crestline’s community groups are organizing walks, rituals, and gatherings that feel less like events and more like homecomings. Running Springs has its Saturday farmers market humming again. Even the smaller pockets — Skyforest, Arrowbear, Green Valley Lake — are shaking off the frost and getting after it.
What follows is your guide to what’s happening right now and what’s coming in the weeks ahead. Events, insider recommendations, and a few things worth knowing about the towns that make up this 30-mile stretch of the best-kept secret in Southern California.
What’s Coming Up
Spring Equinox Community Ritual
A community gathering to welcome the equinox at 6:30 PM on Lake Drive. Open to all. It’s the kind of thing that only happens in a place where people still mark the turning of seasons together.
CommunityRed Bull Roll the Dice
ProAm jib competition where riders roll oversized dice to determine their trick. Two tries to land it or you’re out. Live DJ, snacks, spectator-friendly. Registration $20, ages 16+. Free to watch. 9 AM–5 PM.
Action SportsLip Sync Battle Fundraiser
Family fundraiser for Mountain Counseling & Training. 6–8 PM, $5 entry. Register at mountaincounseling.org. Watch your neighbors give it everything they’ve got on stage for a cause that matters.
Family · FundraiserBear Break
SoCal’s biggest springtime bash. Pond skim, retro fashion show, live entertainment by Surfer Girl, vendor activations, prize giveaways, and end-of-season energy you can feel from the parking lot. Free registration. Lift ticket required for pond skim.
Festival · All AgesEaster Brunch at Bin 189
Festive lakeside brunch with seasonal dishes, craft cocktails, and views of the lake through floor-to-ceiling glass. Reservations strongly recommended — this one fills up every year.
Fine DiningEaster Egg Hunt on the Snow
Kids hunt for colorful eggs scattered across the snow at the resort. A mountain twist on a classic tradition. 9–10 AM. One of the most popular family-friendly spring events in the valley.
Family · HolidayBig Bear Restaurant Week
The largest dining festival in Big Bear’s history. BOGO specials, complimentary appetizers, limited-edition dishes, and drink deals across 15+ restaurants. Hosted by the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Bear. A full week to eat your way through the valley.
Dining · Valley-WideBig Bear Polar Plunge
Run, walk, or dance into the icy waters of Big Bear Lake to raise funds for Special Olympics Inland Empire. $50 minimum donation to participate. Cold water, warm hearts, and the kind of crowd energy that makes strangers feel like family.
Charity · OutdoorSacred & Baroque Concert
Mountain Top Strings perform works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Corelli in a spring mini-series directed by Sharon Rizzo. Free admission. Presented by Arrowhead Arts Association. A rare afternoon of world-class music at 5,000 feet. 3 PM.
Classical MusicEvery Week on the Mountain
Twin Peaks Farmers Market
Rim of the World Masonic Lodge, 26012 CA-189 in Twin Peaks. 100% local, pesticide-free produce, artisan bread, local honey, food trucks, and the best people-watching on the mountain. The Thursday ritual.
Running Springs Farmers Market & Artisan Faire
Between the Running Springs Library and First Foundation Bank on Whispering Pines Drive. Fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts. A small-town Saturday morning done right.
“Thirty miles of ridge, a dozen towns, and one thing in common — the people here chose this life on purpose. That’s what makes it different from everywhere else.”
Mountain Munches: Where to Eat
Bin 189 at the Lake Arrowhead Resort
The lakeside happy hour (Sunday through Thursday, 3–6 PM) is one of the most underrated moves in town. Steve Lawless plays piano on Sundays during brunch. Window seats fill first — arrive early or regret it.
Barrel 33 in Big Bear Village
Live music every Tuesday during High Alti-Tuesdays. Wine-focused, mountain-casual, and a vibe that splits the difference between a tasting room and your living room. Half-off select wine bottles on event nights.
RB’s Steakhouse in Cedar Glen
Prime rib Wednesdays: 12 ounces with a side, 3–9 PM, while supplies last. No frills, no reservations, no pretense. Just a properly cooked piece of beef in a room full of locals.
Insider Tips This Month
SkyPark Is in Spring Mode
Ice skating wraps up as the weather warms, and the mountain bike trails shift into prime condition. Nearly 10 miles of singletrack through Skyforest, plus archery, fly fishing, and ziplines. The annual pass pays for itself fast.
Walk the Lake Gregory Loop
The full loop around Lake Gregory in Crestline is flat, paved, pine-shaded, and nearly empty midweek. Dogs welcome on leash. Fitness stations along the way. It’s the best 40-minute walk on the mountain right now.
Heaps Peak Arboretum & Strawberry Peak Lookout
The interpretive trail at Heaps Peak is a quiet 30–40 minute walk through the forest. Pair it with the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout for one of the widest panoramic views in the San Bernardino range. Both are open and both are free.
Littlebear Bottleshop in Skyforest
Sustainable wines, SoCal microbrews, and craft spirits curated by someone who clearly cares. On the historic Rim of the World Highway. The kind of bottle shop that makes you rethink your Friday night plans.
Know Someone Who Deserves the Spotlight?
Mountain Cribs Life exists because of the people who hold these towns together — the ones who organize, volunteer, build, mentor, and show up every single day without fanfare. If you know someone whose quiet work makes this mountain a better place to live, we want to tell their story.
Send us a name. Tell us why. We’ll do the rest.
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