My friend and I used this launch site for my 16-foot kayak on our first visit to Big Bear. While it was a great bay for jet ski or small watercraft launching, the area was pretty windy and the wake from non-compliant/inexperienced tourist-boaters made paddling quite difficult. As experienced kayakers, we still had a great time, but in the future, I would definitely check out Boulder Bay Park. When leaving Big Bear, we saw much calmer waters for kayaks and canoes, and inlets protected from the waves for a better paddling experience! The staff at the public launch seemed irritated by a large family of obnoxious tourists — after a short time, we could see why. When an employee approached my vehicle as I drove up, he seemed rude and asked me for my permit(which I did not yet have and needed to purchase). He then told me my kayak would be subject to inspection, then rubbed some sand off of it and looked at it closely to verify my answer that the last place it had been used was in the ocean. I understand that ALL watercraft in Big Bear Lake require a permit(as it is posted in various locations), and that it is smart to inspect non-rental boats for mussels and other bad things, but this guy seemed to be having a bad day and left us sort of confused. By the end of the permit transaction, I think he realized we were sober and knew what we were doing, and were not out to make his day worse, so he turned his frown upside down! We paid $ 20 for a day pass, walked the boat down a 25 foot sand ramp, and had a fun day in the choppy water!
Pam L.
Classificação do local: 4 Henderson, NV
Great place to kayak, paddleboard, fish and just take a dip in the lake. Good launch site for boats. Parking can get a bit scarce on weekends. Nice little hot dog stand to get a quick bite to eat.
