One of the best places to watch the sunset in CA

You can find many suggestions and tips for phenomenal sunset spots all over the Big Bear Valley, but you will not find a better spot than the Big Bear Tiki Tours boat. Watching the sunset from the middle of Big Bear Lake is a magical, intimate experience. It only gets better when you leave all of the hard work and responsibility of getting there to the captain and crew while you relax with a drink in a hammock.

The Big Bear Lake Tour boat at dusk with the lights coming on

We’ve had countless phenomenal Big Bear sunsets on the water, and some of the most memorable evenings include the rise of the super moon, new moons, post-monsoon clouds turning vibrant with the fire of the dying day.

If you’re really lucky, the best conditions to watch the sunset on Big Bear Lake are after one of our beautiful summer monsoon rains. Watch the clouds build in the afternoon, experience a drizzle or a downpour, then watch the sky clear up and the wind whisper out until the lake is glass reflecting the lingering clouds as they warm from a light gray to a fiery orange pink. We look forward to rainy days in Big Bear on the tiki boat when we know we can tuck in under our roof and watch the magic as the rain passes into a beautiful afternoon and evening.

Watching the clouds light up over the Big Bear dam

As the light dies, we flip on our soft onboard lighting designed to set a cheerful, mellow mood. Our lights lining the pontoons will transition through the blues, pinks, greens, and reds acting as a beacon of life and vibrance on the darkening lake. We’ll play friendly music to focus your attention on the fun you’re having onboard and draw you into a dreamy escape for the duration of the tour.

When we get back to the dock, we’ll be greeted by warm lighting and the sounds of the frogs and birds settling in for their nightly symphony. You’ll wonder if you were dreaming as you push past the shoreline and break the spell only when you get back to your car. Nowhere else in the valley will you experience a sunset so stunning and immersive.

Summer monsoons in the desert make for a stunning show over the lake