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Sky Ranch in Big Bear

Hosted by Mike · Big Bear, California

2 sites · Lodging · 5 acres

85%

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

This is a truly unique piece of land, for travelers who want to experience pure nature and the spirit of a bygone age. The ranch sits at 7,000 feet, surrounded by towering old-growth Jeffrey pines. While nearly all the other camping spots in Big Bear Valley are packed tightly together, as soon as you enter our private five-acre Sky Ranch, you can discover true seclusion. This land was homesteaded by a Swiss woman, who called it home from 1915 until 1988. Step onto the broad wooden Star Deck, and you're looking at an alpine forest which has changed little since the Serrano Indians first arrived here 3,000 years ago. There are no homes visible -- and immediately adjacent to your camping spot, you'll find the trails of the San Bernardino National Forest, winding through hundreds of square miles of pure nature. This property is quiet night and day, the perfect break from harried city life. The only sounds you're likely to hear are wind through the trees, and birds which glide from tree to tree. And when the brilliant colors of sunset subside, thousands of stars emerge to remind you of why the Milky Way got its name. -------------------------------- * Yes, dogs can come too! * During holidays, we may ask a 3-night minimum stay. * For special events, see calendar at Big Bear website. -------------------------------- The Sky Ranch is adjacent to hundreds of square miles of forest. The famous Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches 2,663 miles from Canada to Mexico, passes just east of us. This land is a perfect retreat — whether you’re escaping the city or taking a break from a PCT trek. Even on big holiday weekends, you'll be completely isolated from traffic and crowds. In the Summer, Big Bear Valley offers countless hiking trails, boating and fishing in the lake, mountain and road biking, horseback riding, golf, ziplining, the zoo, and many other outdoor activities. In Winter, there's skiing/boarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and more. For kids, there's a "fort," swings, and a huge sandbox in a boat. They're also welcome to help feed our chickens. That's always a big hit! And we have a telescope for stargazing. Some guests swear they can feel the spirits of the Native Americans and others who lived here. Is it real? You tell us. * * * About Town: The nearest stores and restaurants are within five minutes by car or bus. The center of Big Bear Lake is 10 to 20 minutes away, and offer scores of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. There are also two supermarkets, multiple drug stores, and a hospital. Also within minutes by car/bus are... > Two ski and snowboard resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, offering 26 lifts and 55 runs. There are excellent schools and family areas, as well as serious terrain parks and an Olympic-size halfpipe. This is where Shaun White learned to fly! > Big Bear's famous alpine lake, which offers fishing, all forms of boating, and other water sports. > Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk & Wildlife Preserve, where you can stroll the boardwalk, have a picnic in the gazebo, or just sit and enjoy the lake and mountain views. > The U.S. Forest Service Discovery Center, which offers a variety of nature programs. > A truly remarkable animal park -- one of only two alpine zoos in the U.S. -- housing grizzlies, wood bison, cougars, timber wolves, eagles, and much more. > Big Bear Valley Museum. Although you're staying in one of the rarest historical homes in California, the museum has some great exhibits as well, including an example of a stamp mill which was used to crush gold ore in the era when this cabin was built. > Bear Mountain Golf Course. At 7,000 feet, it's an entirely different game. For those seeking a true wilderness adventure, the San Bernardino Mountains offer spectacular terrain. While the Serranos have called these mountains home for many centuries, Europeans didn't venture into this rugged land till 1850. It's one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world (in geological terms) and features scores of steep, challenging peaks, which stretch from the natural hot springs of Deep Creek in the west, to huge Yucca forests in the east. 11,500-foot Mount San Gorgonio, named by Spanish missionaries in the early 17th century, is at the center of the first designated wilderness area in America. Also known as "Old Greyback," San Gorgonio and the 11 surrounding peaks over 10,000 feet are home to an extremely rare herd of bighorn sheep. The headwaters of the Santa Ana and Mojave rivers offer premier wild trout streams such as Bear Creek, accessible only by foot. Hundreds of miles of unpaved National Forest roads offer every type of off-road experience -- ranging from an easy drive to Pioneertown, to the most radical 4WD trails imaginable (11 Difficults, six Most Difficults). The Cabin is right in the middle of the major routes. After a day here, you may find it hard to believe that you're just 100 miles (and perhaps a century) away from Downtown Los Angeles. Welcome. ------------------------------ (See additional info below the Japanese.) ロスアンゼルスから車で２時間、青い空と自然にかこまれ、静かでゆったりした時間を過ごすことができます。春、夏は美しいビッグベア湖でカイヤッキングや魚釣り、または数あるハイキングコースにチャレンジ。冬は、サミットとベアマウンテン、２つのスキー場でスキーやスノーボードを楽しんだ後、満天の星を見ながらジャクジーで疲れをいやすのはいかがですか？ロスアンゼルス空港からの送迎も可能です。その他、ご質問等ございましたら日本語でお気軽にお問い合わせ下さい。 ------------------------------ Useful Notes: Dogs are always welcome, and a spacious dog corral is available. We do ask guests to pay an added fee of $5 per pup per day. Propane stoves are OK, and we have a natural-gas BBQ grill available for use. Outdoor wood fires and/or lighter fluid are never allowed. There is easy parking for any number of cars. RVs and trailers are no problem either. Total charges will depend of the number of guests and vehicles. Cell phones on Verizon and Sprint will have coverage. The AT&T and T-Mobile networks still do not cover this area, however the wifi near our home enables calls/texts on most phones. The public bus stop is a short walk. Surprisingly, it is possible to take public transit from any train station in SoCal all the way to our bus stop (and vice versa). Cheaper than driving, and no worries about weather. Ask us for details. If you're bringing kids, let us know the ages. You may get a discount. :) For equestrians, we have a two-acre horse corral, plus hay barn and covered stall. ------------------------------ Legal Note: Upon booking, you will gain access to a Ranch Manual, which includes the rental contract for your stay. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all terms in advance.

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Tall Pines Chalet

100%

(7)

Cabin · Sleeps 10

Located in pristine forest at 7,000 feet, the Chalet is quiet night and day. The nearest neighbor (our home) is 200 feet away. This is a perfect spot to take a break from city life, with no concerns about traffic or noise...just pure tranquility. The Chalet is a true piece of art, for people who want a mountain holiday that's out of the ordinary. This home was literally built by hand in the classic Swiss style, by a family of professional artisans. Special touches are visible everywhere, from floors of solid oak two inches thick, to custom benches and cabinets, to hand-painted artwork on beams and railings. Although the home is only 50 years old, its craftsmanship derives directly from centuries of European tradition. As you relax on the deck, the only sounds you're likely to hear are wind through the trees, and the songs of birds who come to drink natural spring water from our pond. If you want a relaxing holiday retreat in the woods, in a home overflowing with warmth and tradition, this is your destination. Inside the Chalet, you will enjoy a spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace, an adjoining formal dining room, plus a large deck with BBQ which overlooks the pond, tall poplars, a broad meadow, and the towering pines. Weddings have been held in the meadow, which still shows evidence of its heritage as a summertime camp for the native Serranos. The kitchen is roomy and equipped with full-size appliances (including refrigerator, stove, oven, and dishwasher) plus all the cooking gear you need to create memorable meals (even a crockpot). If you don't see what you want, just talk to us! The home features two extra-large bedrooms, each of which holds a large bed for two. Each bedroom has a full attached bathroom, and all towels as well as bedding are provided. One of our bedrooms is actually double the normal size, and includes a set of twin beds. For a little creative work, or just meditation, our den features two vintage desks, and 180-degree views of the forest and our artesian spring. The living room offers a queen-size fold-out bed, and either the living room or den can accommodate two additional twin beds. For maximum comfort, we recommend no more than eight adults in the Chalet. In back, there's a large veranda, with relaxing chairs and a stunning panorama of tall pines. The large hot tub is literally next to the forest, just a few steps from the veranda. It's a wonderful spot to relax and reacquaint yourself with nature, including an array of stars that you may have forgotten. We have an authentic horseshoes course, an area for archery, and a telescope for stargazing. For kids, there's a "fort," swings, a sandbox in a boat, and chickens to feed. (That's always a big hit!) In the Summer, the valley offers countless hiking trails, boating and fishing, mountain and road biking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, ziplining, the zoo, and many other outdoor activities. In Winter, there's skiing/boarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and more. Inside the Chalet, we offer board games and even an electric organ! The Chalet is the ideal gateway to hiking, running, biking, horseback riding, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Established hiking paths literally begin at your back door, and the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby.

No campfires

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

Showers

Picnic table

from

$160

/ night

for NaN guests

Gold Rush Cabin

90%

(5)

Cabin · Sleeps 4

This is a truly unique mountain home, for travelers who want to experience the spirit of a bygone age. Our carefully restored Gold Rush Cabin sits at 7,000 feet, surrounded by towering old Jeffrey pines. While nearly all the other homes in Big Bear Valley are packed tightly together, as soon as you turn into our private five-acre Sky Ranch, you can discover true seclusion. Step out onto the broad wooden porch of the Cabin, and you're looking at an alpine meadow which has changed little since the Serrano Indians first arrived here 3,000 years ago. There are no other homes within 300 feet -- and immediately adjacent to our ranch, you'll find the trails of the National Forest, winding through hundreds of square miles of pure nature. This home is quiet night and day, the perfect break from harried city life. The only sounds you're likely to hear are wind through the trees, and birds which glide from tree to tree. And when the brilliant colors of sunset subside, thousands of stars emerge to remind you of why the Milky Way got its name. You'd never know by looking at it, but the Cabin has been updated with such "modern luxuries" as electric lighting, a gas-fired heater, a wood-burning Earth Stove, a vintage propane cookstove, an antique claw-foot tub, a unique and eco-friendly composting toilet, wifi, and (yes) running water. Even with these amenities, this cabin is the most authentic Western experience that you're going to find without a Time Machine. If you want a relaxing vacation in the woods with a surplus of vintage charm, this is the place. The living room is unusually spacious for its era, and features a hand-built stone hearth and wood-burning fireplace. The kitchen's vintage cookstove still works as well as it did in 1870. Of course that's a different experience from a modern appliance, so we also have a microwave, toaster oven, coffeemaker, crockpot, and a small fridge. The Cabin features one main bedroom on the first floor, which holds a cozy full-size bed for two topped by a plush quilt. There's also a big upstairs loft, accessed by an old-fashioned ladder staircase, with two more large beds. If you prefer to avoid the stairs, there's a sofabed in the living room. For maximum comfort, we recommend no more than four adults. The back porch has chairs for relaxing, a charcoal BBQ, a table for dining, and an incredible view of meadow, forest, and sky. The Gold Rush Cabin offers the best of all seasons. When snow is on the ground, enjoy our perfect sledding hill, snowshoe, or cross-country ski. From Spring to Fall, you can practice yoga, hike the local trails, pitch horseshoes, try your hand at archery, cycle, or just relax on the back porch and enjoy pure nature. Some guests swear they can feel the spirits of the people who have lived in and around this historic structure. Is it real? You tell us. * * * The Gold Rush Cabin is adjacent to hundreds of square miles of forest. The famous Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches 2,663 miles from Canada to Mexico, passes just east of us. The Gold Rush Cabin is peaceful night and day -- a perfect retreat from the city. Even on big holiday weekends, you'll be completely isolated from traffic and crowds. You can enjoy a large hot tub, which sits 100 yards away at the very edge of the National Forest, offering a commanding view of trees and sky. In the Summer, the valley offers countless hiking trails, boating and fishing in the lake, mountain and road biking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, ziplining, the zoo, and many other outdoor activities. In Winter, there's skiing/boarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and more. For kids, there's a "fort," swings, and a huge sandbox in a boat. They're also welcome to help feed the chickens. That's always a big hit! Inside the Cabin, we offer board games, playing cards, materials for drawing, other arts & crafts, and a collection of vintage music boxes. We also have a telescope for stargazing. It's all waiting for you, just a couple hours from the center of the city.

No campfires

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

Showers

Picnic table

from

$170

/ night

for NaN guests

from

$160

/ night

2 sites

Reviews

85% Recommend72 ratings · 51 reviews

Recommends

· May 2024

Group trip ·

Tall Pines Chalet

Mike's place was perfect for our large group. Plenty of space to roam, hang out, and spend time together in Big Bear. The house is cute and quirky and there's plenty of bedding and space to sleep and unwind. Also great hiking trails and outdoor space just behind the house. Thanks, Mike!

Kaitlin F.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2023

Nice cozy time with lots of space

Group trip ·

Tall Pines Chalet

It was plenty of space for our 8 adults. The extra cots came in handy so we didn’t even need to share beds. The woods around the property were super nice. We discovered the hot tub on our last day since it was a little removed from the main house. (It’s behind one of the garage buildings). The lighting was sufficient but overall low level and not super bright in a lot of rooms (which is totally fine for a cozy cabin). All amenities were nice. The one sun room at the back corner of the house has some wonky blinds and can get very cold at night. Overall I’m happy with the choice. We hoped to save money with splitting a cabin 7 or 8 ways, but the price scales with the number of guests, so not as economical as originally hoped, but still not so bad.

Trevor O.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2023

Beware of the Hot Tub

Tall Pines Chalet

I definitely had a great time at the Chalet for the weekend! What a beautiful place to escape the rush and hustle of the city. Enjoyed exploring the backyard (which is literally the forest) and the space felt so huge and open. I must say, if more work and effort was put into maintaining the backyard and the outside surroundings of the Chalet, this place would really be one of a kind. It has potential, just needs more taking care of. One huge bummer was opening the hot tub lid, only to find that the water was super green and it had a very nasty and foul stench. Seemed like it had not been properly maintained in a while. I honestly was looking forward to the hot tub and relaxing in it (which was a huge factor in why I booked this place in the first place) but it was disappointing to discover it was non operable due to the water conditions inside of it. Besides that, everything else was wonderful! The host was very informative and helpful with information about The Chalet and Big Bear.

Carlos M.

3 reviews

Recommends

· July 2022

Loved it

With kids ·

Tall Pines Chalet

Great place. House was perfect for what we were looking for, great hiking locations, and amazing stargazing.

Tim D.

4 reviews

Recommends

· July 2022

A Mountain Gem

Group trip ·

Tall Pines Chalet

My family of five spent 3 nights at this uniquely beautiful chalet surrounded by pines. We had a most relaxing and fun time. The accommodations were spacious and super comfortable. We really enjoyed gathering all together around the large dining room table and on the front deck for meals and games. The office area was a little retreat where we set up a jigsaw puzzle and people could go off for quiet yoga or to lounge with a book. There were hiking trails that started in the back yard, and we visited Big Bear lake daily. Every room at the chalet had a view into nature…we spotted different types of squirrels and chipmunks, hares and rabbits, many bird species, and a wild donkey. It was such a blast, and Mike (the owner) was readily available (via text) to answer any questions that we had. We would love to return and to stay even longer.

Janine L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· March 2022

Chalet stargazing.

With kids ·

Tall Pines Chalet

This was a wonderful cabin on the eastern edge of Big Bear, backed up against open forest. The chalet was large with two bedrooms. One was huge, contained three beds and an adjoining office. There was a patio through the french doors, with a view of the forest. Just a great spot to relax. Their were two bathrooms, both were clean, with showers and tubs and flush toilets. A nice fireplace was in the center of the chalet, giving the whole place a nice cozy feel. There is a hot tub and play area as well. While there are other buildings on this property, the Chalet felt private. This is a great spot, both in the winter and summer. There are plenty of hiking trails, and the ski slopes are nearby. At night the stars really popped and it was great hanging out on the patio looking into the sky.

Jeremiah F.

7 reviews

Recommends

· August 2021

Group trip ·

Gold Rush Cabin

My friends and I had a great time staying at this cabin! It felt very secluded, but there were other houses on the same property so we felt safe as well. In my opinion, the location was the best of both worlds - close enough to everything we wanted to do in Big Bear, but still secluded enough to feel like we were escaping city life. I was worried that going up into the loft area would be a scary, but the area felt surprisingly sturdy, even when we had 3 people up there at one point. We didn't use the stove, so I can't comment on that, but the fridge, microwave, sinks, etc., all worked great. We were also happy to see all the dishes and kitchen supplies that were available, as they ended up having a couple of things that we hadn't thought to bring (like a knife and a measuring cup). There were only a couple of small downsides overall (and I hesitate to even bring them up because they really didn't negatively impact our trip). One was that the mattress on the floor upstairs was not comfortable at all - it was more of a cot than an actual mattress. I ended up just sleeping in the recliner downstairs instead, which was very comfortable. The other was that the composting toilet did seem to attract a lot of flies. We were able to open the window and shoo them away, and there were fly papers hanging in the bathroom, so it wasn't really a problem, just a very small nuisance. I absolutely plan to stay here again as soon as possible. The owners were very friendly and helpful as well! I loved the history of the home, how quiet it was, the views, and how at peace I felt there. If you're looking for a rustic stay, this place is perfect.

Emily M.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2021

Awesome and unique rustic exprience

Gold Rush Cabin

This cabin is a unique experience and one that I absolutely loved! It is a 150 year old orignal gold rush cabin with vintage everything inside. Its important to note that, as its not the latest top of the line luxury, but that was not the experience I was after. What I wanted for myself and my family was a rustic experience, to be alone, in the woods, with nothing but fresh air and bird songs, and that is exactly what I got! And the fact that the store was still 5 min away, and the town of Big Bear and the lake beach 15 min away made it worth every penny! Highly recommend if you feeling adventerous and do not need anything past simple comforts! Mike was an exelent host and great communicator, and went out of his way to help me with last minute changes to my reservation. 5 starts all the way!!

Max G.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2021

Sky Ranch in Big Bear

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Tall Pines Chalet

Gold Rush Cabin

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Hosted by Mike C.

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