Big Bear Lake Jeep Tour with Light Lunch: Scenic Forest Picnic

A Jeep ride into the forest, then lunch with a view you pick yourself

A two-hour Jeep tour of Big Bear Lake that ends with a gourmet picnic lunch at a scenic forest bluff overlooking the lake. Your guide, an award-winning food blogger, drives you up a dirt forest road, shares the history of Big Bear Valley, takes photos of your group, then steps back so you can eat and talk in privacy. Light lunch, beverages, plates, glasses, napkins and pillows are all included. Vegan and gluten-free options are available on request, and a more elevated menu with items like curried chicken salad and watermelon feta salad can be added for an extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep tour and picnic lunch in forest

• Pickup by picnic guide in Jeep SUV
• Drive up dirt forest road
• Stop at scenic picnic spot with lake view
• Enjoy light gourmet picnic lunch
• Guide shares Big Bear Valley history
• Take scenic photos with guide
• Relax and enjoy privacy in nature

The experience

The Jeep picks you up and heads into the forest on a dirt road, climbing toward one of the most scenic spots in Big Bear Lake. Your guide (The Hungry Mountaineer, an expert on the valley's history and an award-winning food blogger) can stop anywhere along the way if you want to get out and take photos. The forest itself is the point: you're not rushing through a list of named attractions, just moving through the landscape toward the place where you'll eat.

At the picnic spot, usually with a lake view, the setup is already there: snacks, drinks, napkins, plates, silverware, glasses, and pillows spread out on the bluff. Your guide will tell you stories about Big Bear Valley, take as many photos of your group as you want, then leave you alone to eat and talk. The light lunch is seasonal. A menu with choices comes when you book. A sample might include assorted nuts, veggies with baba ganoush, cheeses with salami, and sweets. Vegan and gluten-free options are available on request, and if you want something more elaborate (curried mango chicken salad, rhubarb compote, mint chutney, items from the guide's organic garden). You can upgrade at checkout.

The whole thing runs two hours. The air-conditioned Jeep means the drive is comfortable, and the bluff location means you're eating in nature without roughing it. Infants and small children can come along. The guide works with any dietary restrictions you have.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned Jeep with pickup and drive up the forest road.
• light lunch with seasonal menu choices.
• beverages.
• all setup including snacks, napkins, plates, drinking glasses, silverware and pillows.
• guide's stories about Big Bear Valley history.
• professional photos of your group taken by the guide.
• vegan and gluten-free options available on request.

Options for this experience

3 options

Big Bear's only pop-up picnic, with a light lunch included and striking lake views.Guide in English · No fixed time

Harbor pop-up picnic with a boat swim.Guide in English · Available from 25 May 2027Harbor pop-up picnic with swimming: an option for a picnic on a private dock in the harbor, where guests can swim off the back of the dock or fish. Sunrise and sunset options are available.

Richer food options are offered too.Guide in English · 11:00More lavish options are available: the upgraded lavash menu adds extra dishes such as curried chicken salad, fancy nut mixtures, mint chutney, and rhubarb compote.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

AgesAdult (18 to 54 years) · Senior (55 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Amber Holloway

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided forest picnic where the guide steps back during the meal. You get local stories and photos without constant narration while you eat.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of food is in the light lunch?

The light lunch is seasonal and changes with what's available. A menu with choices comes when you book. A sample picnic might include assorted nuts, veggies with baba ganoush, assorted cheeses with salami, and sweets. Vegan and gluten-free options are available on request, and you can add a more elevated menu with items like curried mango chicken salad or watermelon feta salad for an extra cost.

Can the guide stop for photos on the way up?

Yes. The forest tour is scenic and your guide can stop anywhere along the dirt road if you want to get out and take photos. Your guide will also take photos of your group at the picnic spot as many times as you'd like.

What does the guide do during lunch?

Your guide hangs out with your group and shares stories about the history of Big Bear Valley, then steps back and leaves you privacy to eat and spend time together. The guide is there if you need anything, but the lunch itself is yours.