Most years, when storms roll through Southern California during the winter holiday, local mountains transform into a wonderland blanketed in snow. But instead, the recent storms featured relentless rains, bringing a downpour of destruction and disappointment. A woman sits near the North Shore Lookout Point next to Big Bear Lake as Snow Summit is seen in the distance in Big Bear on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.
While Southern California conjures images of endless sunshine and sandy beaches, just two hours from Los Angeles lies a striking contrast: Big Bear, a high-altitude hideaway that offers a true four-season escape. Tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains and wrapped around a namesake lake, this alpine town trades highways and palm trees for snowy slopes in winter, wildflower-strewn trails in spring, colorful foliage in fall, and breezy lakeside afternoons come summer.
