1 / 2Big Bear Alpine Zoo
📍 Big Bear Lake, CA
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a compact mountain zoo featuring locally indigenous animals including grizzly bears, with feeding sessions in the early afternoon when animals are most active.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with young children who want quality animal encounters in an uncrowded setting. The intimate scale keeps kids focused and engaged without the sensory overload of large zoos. The grizzly bear exhibit and keeper presentations are the standout draws.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →3,718 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Chu Tang (Mia)
8 months ago
“It's definitely worth seeing! There are so many carnivorous animals! But most of them are hibernating and sleeping! It's quite interesting! Worth a visit!”
Valerie King
10 months ago
“We visited on a Friday afternoon. Upon a recommendation by a local cashier, we visited around feeding time (2pm-ish). Although it is a small zoo with only locally indigenous creatures, every animal was out and visible, some moving about, some lounging. Gift shop prices were reasonable, compared with other gift shops. The premises were clean and festively decorated for the holidays. Also there is a $1 discount ea. for a group of 10 or more.”
Tanya Newell
a year ago
“Visited the zoo for the first time and LOVED it! We spent about 2 hours at the zoo, casually walking around to learn & observe the animals. The bears, especially the grizzly, were the best! Caught most of the presentation on the skunks which was super interesting. The little skunks were fun to watch scurrying around for the meal worms while the docent shared a wealth of info. At the end, we decided to become annual members so we could visit the zoo & Big Bear more often. The cost of 2 adult tickets was $34 ($17 each), but you can buy a couples pass for the year for just $90. Looking forward to our next visit!”
💬 What parents mention
Overview
Big Bear Alpine Zoo houses locally indigenous California wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, skunks, and other mountain animals. Feeding sessions run in the early afternoon, when animals are most active and visible. Grounds are consistently clean with ample parking and clean restrooms. The small footprint makes it a focused two-hour visit. Seasonal hibernation affects animal activity, so call ahead during winter months.
