How high is Big Bear Lake?

Big Bear Lake sits at 6,755 ft (2,059 m) above sea level, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data. That sits above California’s average of 2,802 ft (854 m) — a relatively high spot, with only about 7% of the state higher.

Interactive 3D elevation map of the Big Bear Lake, California area, from the Copernicus GLO-30 model

A live 3D slice of the terrain around Big Bear Lake, from our satellite elevation model. Big Bear Lake is marked at 6,755 ft (2,059 m); the highest ground in view reaches 11,460 ft (3,493 m). Drag to spin it (tap to start on mobile).

Big Bear Lake in California

Here’s the useful context: Big Bear Lake, at 6,755 ft (2,059 m), sits roughly 3,953 ft (1,205 m) above California’s average elevation of 2,802 ft (854 m). It is one of the higher places in its state — our model puts only about 7% of California’s land higher.

-282 ft — California low▲ Big Bear Lake 6,755 ft · avg 2,802 ft ┈14,465 ft — California high

The terrain around Big Bear Lake

Across this view the land rises toward the east. The western third of the frame averages about 2,657 ft (810 m); the eastern third about 3,350 ft (1,021 m) — a climb of roughly 692 ft (211 m), topping out near 11,460 ft (3,493 m) at the edge of the frame. That is the mountain front Big Bear Lake sits against.

You can read the whole story in the map above — the flatter ground where the city sits, and the way the land gathers into peaks nearby. It’s the difference between where you stand and what you can see from it.

What Big Bear Lake’s altitude means

At 6,755 ft (2,059 m), Big Bear Lake is high enough that most visitors feel it, even though it’s still below the ~8,000 ft (2,400 m) line where altitude sickness typically begins. The first day or two can bring shortness of breath, a faster heart rate, trouble sleeping, and quicker dehydration.

The fix is patience: arrive, hydrate hard, go easy on alcohol and hard exertion, and let your body adjust over a day or two. Most people feel normal by the second or third day. If you’re heading higher into the mountains from here, the effects only grow.

How Big Bear Lake compares

Among California’s larger cities, Big Bear Lake is the highest by elevation. For a familiar yardstick, that puts it a bit above Denver’s mile-high 5,280 ft (1,609 m).

Big Bear Lake — 6,755 ft (2,059 m)
Moreno Valley — 1,634 ft (498 m)
Bakersfield — 410 ft (125 m)
Fresno — 315 ft (96 m)
Los Angeles — 302 ft (92 m)
Santa Maria — 223 ft (68 m)
Chico — 207 ft (63 m)

Big Bear Lake elevation FAQ

How high is Big Bear Lake?: Big Bear Lake’s elevation is about 6,755 ft (2,059 m) above sea level at the city center, measured from Copernicus GLO-30 satellite data.
Is Big Bear Lake high or low for California?: High. At 6,755 ft (2,059 m) it sits above California’s average of 2,802 ft (854 m), with only about 7% of the state higher.
Does Big Bear Lake’s altitude affect visitors?: Often, yes. At 6,755 ft (2,059 m) most visitors feel the thinner air for a day or two — shortness of breath, poor sleep, dehydration — before adjusting.

Explore more

↑ California’s full elevation map — the whole state in interactive 3D, with its high and low points and average elevation.
· Blog: Average Elevation by State — where California’s 2,802 ft (854 m) mean ranks.
· Blog: Elevation vs Altitude — what a city’s elevation figure actually measures.

Big Bear Lake’s elevation is a native ~30 m windowed-median sample from Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA); the California figures are computed across the state from the same model. The 3D view is a fine windowed sample at roughly 202 m resolution, sharp enough to resolve the surrounding ridgelines. Data as of 2026-08-17.