Save the Big Bear Night Sky: Join the Dark Sky Initiative

Big Bear's Night Sky Is Disappearing — But We Can Save It 🌌

At over 7,000 feet elevation, Big Bear Lake offers one of Southern California’s most awe-inspiring natural features — a brilliant night sky filled with stars, constellations, and even the Milky Way. But every year, that view grows dimmer. Light pollution from surrounding cities and careless outdoor lighting is threatening our ability to see the stars. Lets dive in to the Dark Sky Initiative in Big Bear.

Did you know we’re losing visibility of one star per year due to increasing light pollution? Across North America, nighttime brightness grows by 10.4% annually, according to the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society. If we don’t act, we risk losing one of Big Bear’s most magical attractions.

We are losing sight of one star per night due to light pollution.

- Vatch Arouchian, Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

✨ Why the Big Bear Night Sky Matters

1. For Nature: Wildlife like birds, bats, and insects rely on dark skies to migrate, feed, and thrive. Artificial lighting confuses them and disrupts critical patterns.

2. For People: Natural night skies improve sleep, reduce stress, and enhance human health. They also provide unforgettable moments — like stargazing from a hot tub or capturing long-exposure astrophotography.

3. For Big Bear Tourism: Stargazing, night hikes, and astronomy events are a major draw for guests. Protecting the night sky preserves Big Bear’s unique appeal for families, photographers, and outdoor lovers alike.

At Big Bear Lakefront Cabins, many guests visit just to enjoy a peaceful night under the stars. That’s why we’re proud to support the Dark Sky Initiative led by Care For Big Bear — a valley-wide effort to preserve our dark skies.

🔦 What Is the Dark Sky Initiative?

The Dark Sky Initiative, led by Care For Big Bear, is a community-wide movement to protect our night sky. Its goal: reduce light pollution across Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, Fawnskin, Baldwin Lake, Erwin Lake, Sugarloaf, and Lake Williams.

New outdoor lighting policies have already been adopted, including:

  • A Dark Sky Curfew: Outdoor lights must be turned off when areas are unoccupied (with exceptions for safety lighting).

  • A strict light trespass standard of 0.1-foot candle in the Mountain and Desert Regions.

  • Tighter rules for string lights and commercial lighting.

✅ How You Can Help During Your Stay

When you visit Big Bear Lakefront Cabins, you’re already in the perfect place to enjoy a dark, star-filled sky. Here’s how to keep it that way:

🌑 Turn off exterior lights when not in use.
🔦 Use motion-sensor lights that turn off after 5 minutes.
🌠 Shield lights so they point downward — not into the sky.
💡 Choose warm, low-wattage bulbs (under 40 watts when possible).
📲 Spread the word: Share stargazing photos with #SaveOurSky and #DarkSkyBigBear.

Want to go deeper? Pack a red-light flashlight to preserve your night vision, and use stargazing apps like Sky Guide or Star Walk 2 to navigate the stars overhead.

📷 Perfect for Photographers and Stargazers

For night sky photographers, Big Bear is a dream. Long exposures, clear constellations, and no city haze. But preserving these views requires effort from all of us. As Brady Enger of Bending Energy Photography said:
“Big Bear is surrounded by ever-expanding cities, and our valley suffers more and more from light pollution.”

Let’s not wait until those stars are just memories.

Being a Southern California destination, Big Bear is surrounded by ever expanding cities, and our valley suffers more and more from light pollution that inhibits our ability to see and enjoy the night sky.

- Brady Enger, Bending Energy Photography

🪐 Experience the Magic — and Help Protect It

Big Bear is a stargazer’s dream, but we can’t take it for granted. With just a few mindful choices, we can preserve the Big Bear night sky for generations of visitors and residents to enjoy.

At Big Bear Lakefront Cabins, we’re proud to support the Dark Sky Initiative. Whether you're soaking in a hot tub beneath Orion’s Belt or sipping wine on a deck under a meteor shower, you’re part of something bigger — a movement to keep our skies wild and wondrous.

Current Lighting Policies

Read current policies regarding exterior lighting in the City and within the unincorporated valley.