The Best Cabins and Vacation Rentals to Book in Big Bear Lake, California

Including the sofa bed in the loft area (which also comes with a TV), this raised woodland chalet sleeps seven guests across four rooms. There’s also a fenced yard with a deck and a charcoal barbecue, while the flames dancing in the living room’s stone-built wood-burning fireplace are a spectacle as old as time that’ll divert your attention from the widescreen TV. All guests here are entitled to two hours’ complimentary bike, kayak or paddleboard rental, and there’s also parking space for up to three cars.

With its baby blue paint job and bright red door, this cabin with a gambrel roof could pass for a home in a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Inside, it is just as charming, with a large brick fireplace, wood-beamed ceiling and mahogany bunk beds for the kids. The sliding patio doors in the main bedroom flood the room with morning sunlight and grant easy access to the outdoors, with Holloway’s Marina only feet away, with options for boat rental. For those rare occasions when the Californian sun isn’t playing ball, the property comes with Netflix, cable TV and a selection of board games.

The nighttime starscape is often spectacular during a crisp, cloudless evening spent sitting on the wood deck that wraps around both levels of this three-bedroom chalet. All linens, towels and blankets are provided, and pets are welcome for a small additional cost. The quilted cushions, knitted rugs and hand-carved furniture add to the rustic country vibe of the place, as do the old-school wooden skis and trinkets that hang from the walls. By contrast, the kitchen is filled with modern gadgets, including a rice cooker, blender and filter coffee machine.

This chalet is situated on the south side of Big Bear Lake, only a minute’s walk from Metcalf Bay. Also within walking distance is Boulder Bay Park, a rocky haven for hiking, kayaking and canoeing. Other nearby activities include horseback riding, zip lining, fishing and even luging. For something a little more sedate, retire to the lodge’s large private yard, where you’ll find a hot tub and a barbecue. In the lodge itself, there’s an industrial-sized oven that wouldn’t look out of place in most professional kitchens, and a double fridge-freezer with enough space to ensure you’ll only need to make one trip to the grocery store throughout your entire stay.

With its white and forest-green color scheme, this pleasant cabin stands out from its more traditionally decorated neighbors. With just one bedroom, it’s also smaller in scale than some of the properties nearby, making for a cozy and intimate setting for a romantic retreat. There’s also a strict no-pet policy, so guests with allergies need not fret. However, if you are an animal lover, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll be only a few steps away from the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, where injured and endangered animals are rehabilitated before being re-released into the wild.

Centrally positioned on the south side of Big Bear Lake, this quaint complex of cabins and lodges offers a wide variety of options to suit various group sizes. The decor is simple, but most accommodations benefit from lake and/or mountain views. Each cabin comes with wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, microwaves, coffeemakers and ample parking. As well as good-sized family cabins, up to two pets under 25lbs (11kg) are welcome for a small additional charge.

In contrast to some of the other properties on this list, this two-bedroom cabin makes a big thing of the fact that it has neither wifi nor Netflix, and instead cleaves to the traditional concept of a rustic getaway by encouraging its guests to enjoy the great outdoors. Each resident will get one free pass for ski and snowboard rental, while additional nearby amenities include tennis courts and tranquil fishing spots. The property is not completely free of modern appliances, though: a DVD player (complete with film collection), coffee machine and microwave are all present and correct.