Ski Beach Park
Big Bear Lake, California · on Big Bear Lake · Meadow Park/ Ski Beach Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10.00
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Ski Beach Park
Ski Beach Park is a lakeside park on the south shore of Big Bear Lake in the city of Big Bear Lake, California, managed by the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District (a San Bernardino County special district). It hosts 'Swim Beach,' the only officially designated swimming area on Big Bear Lake and the lake's one sanctioned swimming hole, along with a fishing pier, playground, and restrooms.
The park sits directly on Big Bear Lake's south shoreline in the city of Big Bear Lake, adjacent to Meadow Park and a short distance from the Village and Pine Knot Landing marina area, at an elevation around 6,750 ft in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Swimming at Ski Beach Park
Swimming happens at Swim Beach, a sandy, lifeguarded beach area within Ski Beach Park described by the local visitor bureau as 'Big Bear Lake's only area specifically designed for swimming.' It suits families and casual swimmers looking for a supervised, developed lake beach rather than a wild or secluded swim spot.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 41216 Park Ave, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, immediately adjacent to Meadow Park (41220 Park Ave) on the lake's south shore.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Ski Beach Park/Swim Beach is a developed lakefront park at 41216 Park Ave, Big Bear Lake, directly on the shoreline with no trail or hike required; access is a short walk from park parking/entrance to the sandy beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Swim Beach is a lifeguarded, sandy-entry designated swim area within Ski Beach Park with a youth admission tier (age 3-12 $5) and lifeguards on duty during all open hours (Fri-Sun 11am-4pm, summer season). Adjacent Ski Beach Park also has a playground. No cliffs or currents involved; it's a developed, supervised lake beach rather than a wild swim spot.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are listed as an on-site facility at Ski Beach Park (41216 Park Ave) per the San Bernardino County Special Districts park page; exact building location on the 2-acre site not specified.
Hours
Swim Beach (the designated swim area within Ski Beach Park) is open seasonally, June through summer, Friday-Saturday-Sunday 11:00 AM-4:00 PM with lifeguards on duty. General park grounds hours not separately stated.
On the water
Restrictions: Big Bear Lake broadly permits kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motorboats, and jet skis (per bigbear.com's boating/watersports page), but Swim Beach itself is a lifeguarded, roped-off designated swim area within Ski Beach Park -- motorized/launch activity would be expected at nearby marinas rather than inside the swim area itself. No official source specifying a no-wake zone or launch restriction directly at Ski Beach/Swim Beach was found.
The bigbear.com boating page references a separate 'Lake Safety and Information' section covering life-vest laws and swimming rules, but that page returned a 404 during this research pass, so specific no-wake-zone or quarantine/mussel-inspection rules could not be confirmed.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon boats (22' and 25'), fishing boats, and jet ski rentals
439 Pine Knot, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 -- immediately adjacent to Ski Beach Park/Pine Knot Landing on the south shore (per prior verification, Ski Beach Park sits adjacent to Pine Knot Landing) · Mon-Thu 8am-5pm; Fri-Sun 8am-6pm
Pontoon boats (up to 12 people), fishing boats, wave runners/jet skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards; dogs allowed on pontoon boats only
Prices: Not published on site; a customer review cited it as having the cheapest rental prices on the lake
500 Paine Court, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 -- described as walking distance from the Village, roughly 0.5-1 mile from Ski Beach Park along the south shore · Based on sunrise/sunset, holidays, and weather -- no fixed hours published
Pontoon boats, fishing boats, pirate ship charters; jet skis and tow/powerboat watersports via affiliated operator North Shore Landing
Prices: Pontoon boats from $99 plus gas/tax; pirate ship charters from $49/person; boat slip rentals from $68/day
398 Edgemoor Road, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 -- south shore, a few miles west of Ski Beach Park
Ski Beach Park: FAQ
Does Ski Beach Park charge a fee?
Swim Beach admission: Adults (13+) $10.00, Youth (3-12) $5.00, Seniors (60+) $5.00, Military/Veterans $5.00, under 3 free (per Big Bear visitor bureau, 2026 season pricing).
Is Ski Beach Park kid friendly?
Swim Beach is a lifeguarded, sandy-entry designated swim area within Ski Beach Park with a youth admission tier (age 3-12 $5) and lifeguards on duty during all open hours (Fri-Sun 11am-4pm, summer season). Adjacent Ski Beach Park also has a playground. No cliffs or currents involved; it's a developed, supervised lake beach rather than a wild swim spot.
Do I need to hike to reach Ski Beach Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Ski Beach Park?
No official source found specifying parking lot type, capacity, or cost for Ski Beach Park; county and visitor-bureau pages describe park amenities but not parking arrangements.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Ski Beach Park?
The bigbear.com boating page references a separate 'Lake Safety and Information' section covering life-vest laws and swimming rules, but that page returned a 404 during this research pass, so specific no-wake-zone or quarantine/mussel-inspection rules could not be confirmed.
When is the best time to visit Ski Beach Park?
Summer; Swim Beach operates seasonally from June through the summer months, open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM with lifeguards on duty.
What water body is Ski Beach Park on?
Ski Beach Park is on Big Bear Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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