Big Bear pulls in over seven million visitors a year, and the prices show it. Seventeen miles east, at around 6,000 feet in the same range, Running Springs offers a similar alpine setting with far fewer people and noticeably friendlier rates. The unincorporated community covers just 4.2 square miles, home to roughly 5,000 residents, and sits right on the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, one of southern California's standout drives. The 2024 Line Fire scorched parts of the surrounding forest, but firefighters saved the town and trails are reopening as the area recovers.
The headline attraction is Snow Valley Mountain Resort, a 240-acre ski area just above town and the oldest continuously operating resort in southern California, dating to 1924. It runs 11 lifts across 28 runs plus three terrain parks, with a base at 6,800 feet and a summit of 7,841 feet. Right next door, Rim Nordic Mountain Bike Park & Cross-Country Ski Area claims southern California's only machine-groomed cross-country ski trails, and both properties swap skis for bikes in the dry months.
Five miles up the road in Skyforest, SkyPark at Santa's Village is a 230-acre Christmas-themed adventure park with a mountain bike trail network spanning 7.5 miles, a 30-foot climbing tower, ziplines, fly fishing, and seasonal ice and roller rinks. Come December, it adds a mini train, live shows and Santa himself. Also in Skyforest, Heaps Peak Arboretum is free, open daily, and criss-crossed by an easy one-mile Sequoia Trail with a self-guided booklet; more ambitious hikers can tackle the 2.5-mile Little Green Valley Trail, which climbs 590 feet to views over the valley and desert (bring a map, and watch for bears).
Budget stays are part of the pitch. Giant Oaks Lodge has 14 rooms and cabins, many with fireplaces and spa tubs, plus an indoor heated pool, and it's dog-friendly. Deep Creek Motel offers 28 rooms with free Wi-Fi and parking, while SkyPark Camp and RV Resort rents out Airstreams and A-frame cabins alongside tent and RV sites. For food, locals point to Old Country Coffee Shop, a diner serving all-day breakfast and Mexican plates in generous portions, and Neo's Pizza House for hand-tossed pies, a salad bar, beer and an arcade. If you time a trip for August, the Mountain Top Days festival brings a parade, farmers' market and artisan fair.
Who is this for? Anyone who wants a mountain escape from Los Angeles or the Inland Empire without Big Bear's crowds or pricing. Running Springs is the closest mountain town to the lowland cities, about 20 miles from San Bernardino International Airport, with Redlands and Highland within easy reach. You'll want a car to make the most of it, and Lake Arrowhead is only 7.5 miles away if you fancy a lakeside detour.
