Activity Guide

Bald Eagle Watching

Overview

What to Expect

Bald eagle watching in Big Bear is less about finding one famous perch and more about watching the lake as eagle habitat. Resident birds use the valley, and winter can bring additional migratory bald eagles to Southern California's mountain lakes. Eagles may be perched high in shoreline trees, crossing open water or nowhere in sight while you are looking. A good outing requires optics, patience and realistic expectations.

Highlights

What Makes It Special

The Best Time to Go

Winter is the primary eagle-viewing season because additional migratory bald eagles use the region during colder months. There is no guaranteed hour for a sighting. Give yourself enough time that an eagle has a chance to move through the area rather than treating this as a five-minute roadside stop.

Planning

Plan Your Visit

Local Tip

Dana Point Park works because you can watch from a legal public area without trying to approach protected habitat. Bring a scope if you have one, settle in and keep checking the lake and sky. You may have a better sighting when an eagle flies across the water than you would staring at one distant tree.

Parking and Access

Getting There