Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Big Bear Alpine Zoo things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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@Visit Big Bear We had so much visiting Alipine Zoo! #visitbigbear #bigbear #bigbearcalifornia #bigbearalpinezoo #thingstodowithkids #activityforkids
kokoslifestyle_kokoslifestyle_
1181
LA Summer Escape: 🐻 Big Bear Lake Off-Season Weekend Getaway Guide
cosmic_spiritcosmic_spirit
210
We loved our trip up to Big Bear Zoo! I can say that the only disappointment was the arctic fox and the peregrine wasn't there, which is one of my daughters favorite animals (she loves the movie) Besides the little disappointing part above, it was great! The zoo is small and intimate, but it packs so much in a small area! We actually missed the grizzly at the beginning of the zoo, so I was sad, until we realized where they were! Not only is there one grizzly, but there are currently 3! We also loved the little owls in the room, you have to see them in person for them to make their full impact. Theyl little buggers just glare at you, judging you through your soul lol. The most majestic was the timber wolves, they were huge! And a whole pack of 4! I have a video of the alpha body slamming one of the other pack members. The staff is also very knowledgeable about the animals and they have regular info sessions where they stand at the enclosures and tell you great info. We got the coyote Q&A session (they can run upto 45mph!) along with the raccoons (trash pandas), we just missed it with the wolves. We got to see the trash pandas actually being fed. They get a mix of fruits and veggies and dead mice, which are hid as an enrichment activity. Seeing them find one and rip its head off was kinda wow. Not for the faint of heart. I suggest going through the zoo a few times if you don't get to see an animal that you really want to see. Our first time around, the snow leopard and Timberwolves were completely inactive and hidden, we kept going elsewhere and coming back, and finally we got to see then in action! We had no clue there were 4 wolves until they all came out, and 2 snow leopards! Only thing that never came out of their den would be the mountain lions, which we could still see, they were just mostly hidden and far away. Luckily OC zoo at Irvine Parkhas some huge ones that we have gotten close to. Best part is, we are santa ana zoo members, so we got in free! Normally admission is $12 for adults. We still left a donation to help the zoo.
Joe “Joey” VJoe “Joey” V
10
a truly exceptional little zoo. all of the animals were awake and playing!! we got to watch the zookeepers interact with them which was awesome, and we saw a bunch of them get fed, and I love that they're close enough to each other that they can hear each other. (it also means you're close enough to other exhibits so that if the grizzly bear is doing something cool, even if you're four or five exhibits away, you can see the crowd of people get excited and run over and watch what he's up to.) the raccoons were my favorite, they were playing together and were so funny!! i'm definitely going to be coming here again and again. this is a perfect day trip for younger kids. the LA zoo can be overwhelming because its so big, and a lot of the time it's so hot out the animals aren't doing a whole lot. i LOVE the LA zoo and have been probably a hundred times, this is not a criticism!! it's just very hard to plan trips for young kids, or kids who are especially sensitive. this zoo presents a really beautiful opportunity to expose those kids to the zoo in a smaller dose. these animals are also all from the climate found in big bear, so it's easier for them to be comfortable. it's especially cool to see squirrels and raccoons treated as wild critters deserving of the same respect the grizzly bear or puma get. or the coyote or foxes. these are animals kids may get a glimpse of in their daily lives, and this is a fantastic opportunity to let them observe them safely and respectfully. this was also a perfect day trip for me and my mid-20s friends!! we got to do this and then other stuff! $15/each is a steal and we donated more money before leaving. i will definitely be coming back again and again. this was my first time here and i'm considering an annual pass. i have been to a BUNCH of zoos of all different sizes and this was easily one of the best.
Eliot DowensEliot Dowens
20
When traveling to Big Bear with kids (and probably even without), the Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a MUST visit! The staff are all very friendly, accommodating and great at answering questions. The price tag is a bit steep for what it is... it's not that large of a zoo... BUT... look around as they offer great discounts! If you're a member of the LA Zoo, you get 50% off and that made it just right for us! You can see the entire zoo in just over an hour... but if you're patient, I found it quite enjoyable to sit and watch for a while. The bears steal the show here! It was wonderful sitting and watching them eat, swim, and play with their enrichment toys. The badger put on a show for us as well. The wolves are amazing to watch as well and you can get pretty close in certain areas. A lot of things were away... we didn't get a peak at the mountain lions or mule deers... but if you stay a bit longer you should be able catch a glimpse of most things. They don't offer a restaurant or snacks here, which is a bit of a bummer... but you can get back in for free all day with your receipt. So theoretically, you could do the zoo, go for lunch and a nap and come back. I kind of wish the experiences/trainer talks were more spread out during the day. We were finished the zoo and had to head to our next place hours before the first talk. One cool thing is that they have a lot fo animals that aren't on display that they're rehabbing to be released back into the wild. All that said, check this place out! If you have kids (or just love animals), you need to visit!
Michael TeoliMichael Teoli
10
The animals seem physically healthy and there is a decent variety of American (and from elsewhere) species. Some of the enclosures feel very small for the animals kept inside, however. A nice addition is that most (not sure why not all) enclosures have little QR code placards that you can scan to learn more about the specific animals currently housed at the zoo. My favorite background stories of the day would probably be the story of Pooh, the American black bear and the great honey heist, and the educational explanation about Valentine and her condition that tied in nicely with preservation. Overall, the zoo isn't very large. There is a bathroom, and a gift shop, but no café. Me and my wife had a pleasant time looking at and learning about the different animals and we recommend a visit. However, I think there is little point for visiting a second time due to its limited number of houses animals and other things to do besides looking at the animals in their small enclosures.
bankooferbankoofer
10
Nearby Attractions Of Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Apples Bed & Breakfast Inn
Bristlecone Trail
Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Midnight Moon Cabins
Big Bear Moonridge Cabin
Search Cabins in Big Bear, CA - Mountain Lake Properties - Jane Brayton
Apples Bed & Breakfast Inn
4.7
(84)Click for details
Bristlecone Trail
4.6
(60)Click for details
Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo
4.4
(18)Click for details
Midnight Moon Cabins
4.3
(17)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Moonridge Coffee Company
Dank Donuts
The Moonridge Room
The Deli Moonridge
Moonridge Coffee Company
4.5
(353)Click for details
Dank Donuts
4.7
(305)Click for details
The Moonridge Room
4.9
(20)Click for details
The Deli Moonridge
5.0
(1)$$
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
42801 Moonridge Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Map
Phone
(909) 584-1299
Call
Website
bigbearzoo.org
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(1.5K reviews)
Ratings & Description
outdoor
family friendly
accessibility
Description
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a zoo in Big Bear Lake, California, United States. It is one of two Alpine zoos in the United States. It specializes in the rehabilitation and release of local Alpine species and also has a permanent collection of animals in the zoo.
attractions: Apples Bed & Breakfast Inn, Bristlecone Trail, Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Midnight Moon Cabins, Big Bear Moonridge Cabin, Search Cabins in Big Bear, CA - Mountain Lake Properties - Jane Brayton, restaurants: Moonridge Coffee Company, Dank Donuts, The Moonridge Room, The Deli Moonridge
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