Located at an altitude of more than 6,700 feet In the 824,000-acre San Bernardino National Forest, about two hours east of Los Angeles, snow- and rain-fed Big Bear (top) is seven miles long, about 2½ miles at its widest, and reaches up to 72 feet in depth. In warm weather it's popular - especially with Angelenos looking for a cool mountain escape - for fishing, boating, kayaking, and water skiing, though because of obstacles near shore as well as the water's coldness (it can drop as low as the 30s Fahrenheit), swimming isn't encouraged. The surrounding pine forests are also popular for hiking, biking, quad riding, ziplining, and other adventure activities, as well as skiing and snowboarding in winter.
Read more in Tripatini contributor Ady Kang-s post 13 of the Top Recreational Lakes to Enjoy in California.
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