Bear Lake
Swim, paddle or settle in at the beach steps from the chalet. Bear Valley Adventure Company rents paddleboards, kayaks and canoes, including Bear Lake delivery for eligible guests.
The Lake Chalet · Guest guide
Everything for a good stay
The current cabin guide, weather, local favorites, upcoming events and checkout list—all in one place.
Open the cabin guide ↓Conditions at the cabin
Mountain weather moves quickly
Check the current conditions before heading onto the lake, trail or road. Forecasts are a guide; use local conditions and good judgment.
Tuesday, July 28
Checking conditions at the chalet…
Cabin manual
The chalet, without guesswork
This is the current public source of truth for cabin operations. Door codes, the Wi-Fi password and stay-specific contacts remain in your private reservation message.
01Getting here & parking
Summer: Drive directly to 16 Lake Rd, Bear Valley, CA 95223 and park at the chalet. On Lake Road, use the second driveway on the left, marked “16 Lake Rd” and “House 300.” Please do not use the first driveway, which belongs to the neighboring cabin.
Winter: Village roads close to cars. Park in a designated lot near Bear Valley Lodge, follow the posted snowplow schedule and use the last-mile plan in your reservation message—usually a snowmobile taxi, ski, sled or walk of about one mile.
02Heat, fire & backup power
The main heat sources are the Vermont Castings Encore wood stove and propane floor furnace. The furnace grate becomes extremely hot: keep it clear, wear footwear nearby and keep the loft hatch above it closed so nothing can fall through.
Keep the wood-stove door latched, never leave a fire unattended and use water to fully extinguish outdoor fires or grill embers. Never put ashes in the trash. Tesla Powerwall backup supports essential circuits during most outages, but mountain services can still be interrupted.
03Kitchen & appliances
The remodeled kitchen includes an Electrolux induction range, full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and small appliances. The outdoor pellet grill is seasonal. Appliance manuals are kept in the kitchen drawer beneath the microwave.
Induction cooking heats the pan rather than the cooktop; use the induction-compatible cookware provided and make sure a pan is centered before turning on a burner.
04Internet & entertainment
The chalet uses high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. The current network and password are provided in your private reservation message, not on this public page.
There are two smart TVs, including a Fire TV in the loft, a HomePod mini in the kitchen for AirPlay and a portable Bluetooth speaker in the queen bedroom. Please sign out of any personal streaming accounts before checkout.
05Lake, beach & dogs
Bear Lake has no lifeguard. Swim and paddle at your own risk, closely supervise children and use suitable flotation. Never walk on the winter ice. Dogs are welcome around the village on leash but are not allowed on the beaches or in the lake because Bear Lake is a drinking-water reservoir.
Bring your own non-motorized boat or rent one from Bear Valley Adventure Company; do not use residents’ watercraft. Beach hours are 8 AM–11 PM, with no loud music after 9 PM.
06EV charging, trash & wildlife
A Level 2 J1772 Wallbox charger is available in drive-in season, with a Tesla adapter at the chalet. Winter access and snow conditions may make cabin charging unavailable; plan a backup stop before climbing Highway 4.
Never leave food or trash outside. Bears, coyotes and other wildlife live nearby. Keep pets supervised and take trash and recycling to the transfer dumpsters near the Bear Valley Library and school before departure.
Right around the cabin
Start close to home
Most of these are best from late spring through fall. Check trail, road and water conditions before heading out.
Trails from the village
Walk or ride into Bear Valley’s trail network, including the less-obvious routes around Avalanche Road. Check the summer map and current trail report before setting out.
Hike toward Lake Alpine
For a longer high-country outing, follow the mapped route from the village side near the Big White Tent toward Lake Alpine. Carry water, watch the weather and confirm seasonal trail conditions first.
Courts, kids & easy extras
Buy a guest day pass for the tennis and pickleball courts at BVAC. The Bear Valley Library and next-door playground are favorites with younger children; disc golf and the wooded fitness course are easy add-ons.
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Upcoming in Bear Valley
The next local events, drawn from the Bear Valley calendar. Confirm details with the organizer because mountain schedules can change.
Checking the local calendar…
Before you head down the mountain
Checkout, in seven steps
Please leave enough time for the dishwasher and the final cabin walk-through. Your confirmed reservation shows the checkout time for your stay.
Kitchen
Run the dishwasher (allow 60–90 minutes) and put all clean items away.
Heat
Turn the furnace thermostat completely off. Close the air control, damper and ash drawer on the wood stove; unplug the three space heaters and return them; turn off the dining-room and southeast-bedroom baseboard heaters plus the mudroom and living-room wall heaters.
Food
Remove all opened or perishable food and message the host if a pantry staple is running low.
Furniture
Return moved furniture and outdoor items to their original places; outdoor items belong in the entryway closet.
Trash
Take all trash and recycling to the transfer dumpsters near the library and school. A $25 fee applies to each bag left behind.
Lights
Turn off every light, including the loft, deck and porch lights and the red mudroom light switch if it was turned on.
Doors & key
Close and lock all doors and windows, including four sliding deck doors and the laundry-room and bathroom windows. Return the key to the lockbox and scramble the combination.
A little high-country awareness
Safe, simple and ready for the day
For a non-emergency cabin question, use the host contact in your reservation confirmation. That channel identifies your stay and reaches the right person.
In an emergency
Leave any immediate danger and call 911. Give the address as 16 Lake Rd, Bear Valley, CA 95223, along with the nature of the emergency.
Smoke or CO alarm
If an alarm sounds, get everyone outside first and call 911. Do not re-enter or silence the alarm until the cause has been checked.
Lake time
There is no lifeguard. Closely supervise children, use suitable flotation and remember that cold water, weather and shore conditions can change quickly.
Fire & hot surfaces
Keep the floor-furnace grate clear, never leave fire unattended and remember that hidden embers can stay hot for hours. Never put ashes in the trash.
Winter access
Village roads close to cars. Follow your confirmed arrival plan, observe closures and plow notices, and check road and weather conditions before setting out.
Wildlife & altitude
Secure food and trash, give wildlife space and keep pets supervised. At 7,270 feet, hydrate, pace yourself and descend if altitude symptoms become concerning.
Need more?
Keep exploring Bear Valley
The main site has the full chalet story, regional day trips and live combined availability. For a cabin issue during your stay, use the host contact in your reservation confirmation.