Boulder Bay is the best place to paddle board on Big Bear Lake: it’s a sheltered, slow-speed bay with granite boulders and small rocky islands, and you can rent a board right at the park. If you’re staying in town, launch from the Village shore at Pine Knot Landing or Veterans Park, where rental outfits sit right on the water.
Big Bear Lake sits at about 6,740 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, so you get pine forest, mountain views and much cooler summer days than the cities below. The lake is busy with powerboats in summer, but the whole shoreline is a 5 mph zone, and small paddle craft are required to stay inside it. Every board needs a Lake Use Permit and an inspection before it goes in.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Boulder Bay Park, with a rental and a short loop around the boulders.
- Staying in the Village: Pine Knot Landing or Veterans Park, with rentals steps from the water.
- Quieter water: the north shore around the West Ramp and Grout Bay.
- East end: the Carol Morrison East Ramp, near Big Bear City.
- Before you go: buy a Lake Use Permit (from $29 a day at the time of writing) and get your board inspected.
The best places to paddle board on Big Bear Lake
Boulder Bay Park
Directions
Best for: beginners, photos, calm-morning paddles. Flat water.
Boulder Bay, on the south shore toward the west end of the lake, is famous for its granite boulders and the rocky islands rising out of the water. The Big Bear Municipal Water District (BBMWD) marks it as one of the lake’s popular hand-launch spots. The bay is narrow and protected, so it’s usually calmer than the open lake.
Where to launch: Boulder Bay Park, a small city park off Big Bear Boulevard, has a beach launch, picnic tables and restrooms.
Rentals and lessons: GETBOARDS (Big Bear Lake Kayaks) rents paddle boards and kayaks at Boulder Bay Park (39166 Big Bear Boulevard) for self-launch from the beach, with the gear wheeled down for you.
Good to know: The rocks under the surface are part of what makes the bay pretty, and part of what makes it a fall hazard. Paddle slowly around them, and wear your leash.
Pine Knot Landing and Veterans Park (the Village)
DirectionsBest for: a paddle from town, rentals, families. Flat water, with boat traffic offshore.
The Village shore has marinas, docks and restaurants close to the water. It’s the easiest place to paddle if you’re staying in town without a car.
Where to launch: Rent from one of the shoreline outfitters and launch from their docks. Stay inside the 5 mph buoys: the marinas send pontoon boats and fishing boats out through this stretch all day.
Rentals and lessons: Pine Knot Marina (439 Pine Knot Avenue) rents paddle boards and kayaks along with boats, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. GETBOARDS also rents boards from Veterans Park (40905 Big Bear Boulevard), launching from a private dock for a small marina launch fee per board.
Good to know: The lifeguarded McDill Swim Beach at Meadow Park is just east of here. Swim areas are for swimmers, so paddle around them.
North shore: West Ramp and Grout Bay
Directions
Best for: quieter water and forest views. Flat water.
The north shore, along Highway 38 between the Duane Boyer West Ramp and Fawnskin, is less built-up than the Village side. The BBMWD map marks hand-launch spots at the West Ramp and at Dana Point Park on Grout Bay, where you can explore the bay’s shoreline.
Where to launch: The Duane Boyer West Ramp is a public launch ramp run by the BBMWD, with restrooms and an accessible fishing pier nearby. Don’t block the ramp: the docks at the launch facilities are for loading and unloading only. Dana Point Park, on Grout Bay in Fawnskin, is a smaller hand-launch spot.
Good to know: Wind can build across the open middle of the lake in the afternoon. Stay close to shore and head back when whitecaps appear.
Carol Morrison East Ramp
DirectionsBest for: a quieter launch at the east end, near Big Bear City. Flat water.
The Carol Morrison East Ramp is the BBMWD’s eastern public launch, by the Stanfield Cutoff. Permits are sold at the public launch ramps, so it’s a convenient place to start.
Where to launch: Hand-launch near the ramp, away from boats using it.
What to avoid: Stanfield Marsh, just east of the cutoff, is a waterfowl preserve with a boardwalk, and the BBMWD map marks it as closed to boating and swimming. Don’t paddle into it.
Good to know: The BBMWD warns that fluctuating lake levels can create unmarked hazards, such as rocks just below the surface, anywhere on the lake.
When to go
Big Bear Lake’s paddling season runs from late spring into fall. This is a high mountain lake, so expect cold water early in the season and cool mornings.
- Late spring (May–June): the lake is quieter, but the water is still very cold. Dress for a fall in.
- Summer (July–August): the warmest water and the busiest lake. Paddle early, before the powerboats and the afternoon wind. The BBMWD warns that lightning storms can build quickly over the mountains and often strike the lake, so get off the water at the first sign of a storm.
- Fall (September–October): cooler days, fewer boats and some of the calmest mornings of the year.
- Winter: cold air and cold water. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
Planning a longer paddle along the shore? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a route will take at your pace.
Rules and safety on Big Bear Lake
California treats a paddle board like any other human-powered vessel. According to the state’s Division of Boating and Waterways:
- Life jacket: every vessel must carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. Children under 13 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle.
- After dark: you need a white light, such as a bright flashlight, ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
The BBMWD manages the lake and adds its own rules:
- Lake Use Permit: paddle boards count as vessels, so every board, inflatable or hard, needs a permit displayed on it. At the time of writing, a daily permit for a non-registered vessel is $29 (with two- and three-day options), and a seasonal permit is $68 for April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Permits are sold at the public launch ramps, the BBMWD main office (40524 Lakeview Drive) and most private marinas.
- Inspection: all vessels must be inspected before entering the lake, to keep out quagga and zebra mussels. Arrive clean, drained and dry.
- Stay near shore: manually propelled vessels under 12 feet long must stay between the 5 mph buoys and the shore. Many paddle boards are under 12 feet, so assume this applies to you.
- Give boats room: the BBMWD asks all boaters to stay 100 feet from other boats when underway.
- Swimming is only allowed within 50 feet of shore, in designated swim areas or near private docks. There are no lifeguards except at serviced beaches.
- Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 7 feet on BBMWD property.
Questions about permits or inspections? Call Lake Patrol and the BBMWD main office on 909-866-5796.
FAQ
Do you need a permit to paddle board on Big Bear Lake?
Yes. Every paddle board needs a BBMWD Lake Use Permit and an inspection before launching. Daily permits start at $29 at the time of writing. If you rent, ask the outfitter whether the permit is covered.
Where can beginners paddle board on Big Bear Lake?
Boulder Bay Park. The bay is sheltered, it’s a slow-speed area, and you can rent a board on the beach. Go in the morning, before the wind picks up.
Can you paddle board in Stanfield Marsh?
No. The BBMWD marks Stanfield Marsh as closed to boating and swimming. Enjoy it from the boardwalk instead, and paddle the main lake.
Can I bring my dog paddle boarding on Big Bear Lake?
Dogs are allowed on a leash of up to 7 feet on BBMWD property, so check the rules at your launch. Put your dog in its own life jacket, and read how to paddle board with a dog before your first trip together.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
Heading down the mountain to the coast? See our guides to where to paddle board in Long Beach and where to paddle board in Newport Beach. Not sure what size board you need? Try the Board Fitter.
