Big Bear · Wildlife & family
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Wildlife rehabilitation centre in Moonridge you can visit
Heads up
Call ahead on a snowy day
The zoo's own Plan a Visit page says that on snowy days it may open later or not at all while staff clear snow, and gives 909-584-1299 as the number to call first. BearRoam does not track whether the zoo is open right now — the phone number and the zoo's site are the only reliable answer.
Managed by Big Bear Alpine Zoo (bigbearzoo.org)
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a wildlife rehabilitation and conservation facility first, and a place to visit second. Animals here are injured, orphaned or imprinted wild animals — the goal is treatment and release, and the residents you see are the ones that could not be returned to the wild.
That makes it a very different visit from a traditional collection zoo: the residents are rescued wild animals rather than a curated collection, and the keepers' work is care and rehabilitation rather than display. Which animals are on view at any time is the zoo's to say, not ours.
It is a genuinely easy family outing: a compact, walkable site in Moonridge with paid admission, free parking, and daily behavioural-enrichment activity that the zoo says is included with admission.
Visitor information
42801 Moonridge Road, Big Bear Lake, CA
909-584-1299- Open daily. Summer hours (Memorial Day – Labor Day) 10am – 5pm; winter hours (Labor Day – Memorial Day) 10am – 4pm.
- General admission as published: adult (13–59) $17, senior (60+) $12, youth (3–12) $12, children 2 and under free. Serving or retired military with ID $12.
- Parking free. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Groups of 10 or more together at the ticket counter get $1 off per person.
- Group tours are arranged through the zoo's tour application form; the zoo lists 909-866-9700 for tour questions.
The zoo states that ticket prices are subject to change at any time, and hours are seasonal. Treat everything above as what the zoo published when we last read its page — confirm before you drive over.
As published by Big Bear Alpine Zoo — Plan a Visit ↗ · read 2026-09-09
Getting there
- 42801 Moonridge Road, Big Bear Lake — on the Moonridge side of the south shore, a short drive from the village.
- Parking is free, per the zoo's own Plan a Visit page.
- Snow matters here: the zoo states that on snowy days it may open later or not at all for snow removal, and asks visitors to call ahead on 909-584-1299. We do not publish whether it is open today.
Safety & etiquette
- These are wild animals in care, not exhibits to interact with — follow keeper instructions and barrier signage.
- The site is at around 7,000 ft and largely outdoors: sun, cold and fast weather changes all apply.
- Found an injured or orphaned wild animal? Do not bring it to the gate unannounced — call the zoo first.
Keep exploring nearby
- Big Bear Discovery Center →
The forest's visitor information hub on the north shore
- Pine Knot Trail 1E01 & Grand View Point →
Oaks, pines and wildflowers to a south-rim overlook
- Castle Rock Trail 1W03 →
Short, steep climb to a granite outcrop above the south shore
What we don't publish
Whether the zoo is open right now, today's weather or snow closures, current ticket prices, which animals are on view and event dates beyond the zoo's published calendar: not published here. Call 909-584-1299 or read the zoo's own pages.