• Address

    657 Modoc Dr, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

ITH Big Bear RETREAT CENTER & HOSTEL Logo 01

Ultimate Big Bear Hostel For Mountain Explorers

Nestled into the heart of Big Bear, our rustic mountain hostel is the perfect cabin rental to escape from the city into a cozy, natural, and peaceful space.  The Big Bear Hostel sits on a beautiful hillside above the lake at the entrance of Big Bear Village.  The great location puts your group within walking distance to great hiking trails, breweries, restaurants and lake activities like boating and jet skiing.

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Built in the early 1900’s for the Bank of America family, the facility has spaces for all types of experiences regardless of your groups itinerary to create a social, friendly and fun atmosphere.  The variety of a rest areas on the property make for the perfect environment to host events.

Inside the hostel, there are private rooms with private or shared bathrooms, as well as dorm style rooms with bunk beds.  There are two lounges each with its own fireplace for guests to gather and socialize. A full kitchen and multiple dining areas allows groups to prepare delicious meals for entertaining.

The exterior of the ITH Big Bear Lake Hostel begins with multiple patios and BBQ areas for comfortable hosting. The back of the property leads up the hill providing lake views and offering wellness areas, hammocks for resting and a small amphitheater.  The Hostel is also a pet-friendly experience in Big Bear and includes a fenced in area for dogs to have fun. 

Regardless of the itinerary for your Big Bear vacation, the ITH Big Bear Hostel is the ideal basecamp for your group’s mountain adventure.

Hostel Rooms

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Private Rooms

Sleeps 2

Call For Bookings and Availability

Bed (1)
QUEEN BED
Pillows
cozy bed
Smart Tv
SMART TV
Bathtub ICON 50
PRIVATE & SHARED BATHROOMS

AMENITIES

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Single Bed in a Shared Dorm

Sleeps 1

Call For Bookings and Availability

Bunk Bed
4 - 8 Bed Dorms
Pillows
COZY BED
Bathtub ICON 50
SHARED BATHROOM
Outlet
OUTLET PLUG

AMENITIES

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Travel
Sleep Outside
Sleeping Bag
Enjoy Alone time
Bathtub ICON 50
SHARED BATHROOM
Moon
sleep under the moon

AMENITIES

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Hostel Facilities

KEY AMENITIES AT OUR HOSTEL

BREAKFAST INCLUDED
FREE WIFI
LOCAL TIPS
COMMUNAL KITCHEN
BILLIARDS
LAUNDRY
LOCKERS

Things To Know

CHECK-IN: AFTER 4:00PM
CHECK-OUT: BEFORE 11:00AM
BRING GOOD VIBES
EMBRACE GLOBAL CULTURES

Hostel Facilities

6BJSDI

Where You’ll Be

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BIG BEAR LAKE

CURRENT WEATHER

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Big Bear Lake, US
1:50 pm, December 25, 2024
temperature icon 43°F
clear sky
Humidity 37 %
Wind Gust: 0 mph

Where You’ll Be

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BIG BEAR LAKE

CURRENT WEATHER

loader-image
Big Bear Lake, US
1:50 pm, December 25, 2024
temperature icon 43°F
clear sky
Humidity 37 %
Wind Gust: 0 mph

EXPLORE THE BEST OF BIG BEAR

SUMMER IN BIG BEAR

WINTER IN BIG BEAR

GUEST REVIEWS

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Lucas PereiraLucas Pereira
23:04 05 Dec 24
Really nice place. I will be back!
Walter LarkinsWalter Larkins
03:11 22 Oct 24
Day One:bit by dog (I love dogs)Day two:Marley GM got bit by dog, sends her to hospitalMyself and 3 others get chemical burns from the hot tubDay three:Fat from the uncleaned grill catches fire and is a serious incident and near missDay four:I’m asked to leave by Jackie after making a report.Cool hostel, garbage experience handled even more inappropriately by inexperienced managers
Camila SteffensCamila Steffens
19:31 30 Sep 24
The place is amazing. The staff are very friendly, it's worth visiting and I'll definitely want to go again. You feel at home and everything is perfect! 🫶
Julia ShipeJulia Shipe
00:14 10 Sep 24
Cozy rooms. Lots of games to play and choose from. Great staff who are friendly and welcoming. Cozy cabin with lots of character and charm. I suggest going on the hammock. That was my favorite part
MIN KYU KIMMIN KYU KIM
20:19 05 Sep 24
John ThomasJohn Thomas
18:17 27 Aug 24
This place is absolutely fantastic. Perfect to enjoy the mountain vibes in the rustic rooms, bask in the spa under the stars and hang out playing some pool. Also has really great information about all the local hikes nearby. The friendly greetings each day from the local “guard” dog were always warm. Would recommend this to anyone.
Jake GarhartJake Garhart
04:34 18 Aug 24
Great spot in the mountains to get away from the city, real mountain lodge vibe. Definitely worth visiting!
HarleysargeukHarleysargeuk
21:08 30 Jul 24
It's a wooden building in a state of decline. Dorm bed was clean with very soft saggy mattress. Good breakfast and a bonus barbecue on a saturday night. Just bring beer. Free tea and coffee all day. Hot showers. I tort it had a bit of a cleanliness issue with the floors outside of bins spiders webs etc but it is cheap. The staff are super friendly and make your stay enjoyable. There is a new building next door with better cleaner rooms but it is what it is. Location is good for walking into town for bars stores and restaurants. You can rent kayaks at the hostel and its near the lake with nice view from the front porch. Relax and enjoy
Rachel EgyedRachel Egyed
03:18 13 May 24
This was my second ITH hostel and it did not disappoint. The staff was awesome and the accommodations were exactly what we were looking for at a super affordable price. Can’t wait to visit their others!
Ian MattaIan Matta
21:26 08 May 24
Really fantastic hostel experience. Great mountain atmosphere, full kitchen, hot showers, and a great dog. Jackie made us feel so welcome here and will 100% help you with whatever you need.
Janu NewarJanu Newar
05:49 01 May 24
Such a great place to stay! It is affordable and has all the facilities. You can also socialize with lot of people. And “Yogi” he is amazing ❤️
Peter PolsonPeter Polson
01:33 01 May 24
I stayed with my son on his PCT hike, and the hostel was terrific. Generous space inside and out, plus a big new adjacent house to expand the space. Jackie was so helpful, welcoming, and very accommodating of our last minute booking and even changes to our booking. What a wonderful hostel! Thank you.
Caydin ChenCaydin Chen
14:51 11 Apr 24
This is a well overdue review but thank you to Jackie and nick for making my time there so comfortable. This is a great location to stay in big bear, especially on a budget. I loved meeting everyone that came through. The great room in the cabin is truly remarkable, with a big fireplace in the center. I recommend bringing your own towel. Can’t wait to come back for next season!
Pat KennedyPat Kennedy
19:58 09 Apr 24
Very affordable and clean Hostel. The hot tub was really nice after a long day of snowboarding. Free breakfast and a good game room. Great place!
Abhishek PaulAbhishek Paul
01:12 08 Apr 24
If I had one word to describe this place, it would be amazing. The environment is amazing. The location is amazing. The staff is amazing. The customers are amazing. Come solo or with friends or with a significant other. I promise you won't regret it.
Max MMax M
14:29 10 Mar 24
One of the better hostels I've been to, great living areas with games and entertainment. The supplied bedding was nice and comfortable, and we stayed at a nice temperature at night. I'm only giving four stars because there were no single use towels, which in a hostel setting is pretty odd. They even had a sign on the wall that told you not to share towels to prevent the spread of the norovirus. Other than that, it was a nice stay.
Juliana TanJuliana Tan
05:51 31 Oct 23
Chill place with cabin vibes! The staff, Jackie, was very friendly and welcoming - she made the whole experience better. Room and bathroom were clean. Will recommend this to solo/couple travellers to Big Bear!
Melissa Juliet LawsonMelissa Juliet Lawson
05:08 31 Oct 23
Jackie the manager there is amazing! Beautiful amenities and had such a fun stay!
Jessie PauloskiJessie Pauloski
15:13 31 Aug 23
My boyfriend and I stayed in Big Bear and absolutely loved it!!! Jackie is an incredible host who facilitated great conversations, took us swimming in the lake (incredibly refreshing), and showed us her favorite Indian food restaurant, the perfect way to end a great day!!! The lodge offers a hot tub and pool as well as VERY comfortable beds and a huge porch, perfect for hanging out with Yogi and listening to the crickets and birds!
Malcolm McCreadyMalcolm McCready
15:01 31 Aug 23
Beautiful hostel! I had a wonderful time staying here, the staff was fantastic, the location is perfect and most importantly it was clean. Cant wait to go back!
Callaghan SwearengenCallaghan Swearengen
20:02 10 Feb 23
I wasn't sure what to expect when visiting ITH Big Bear. Initially I thought it was just a good deal. However, this place surpassed all expectations. The staff are great, the beds are super comfortable, and the vibes are immaculate. This place isn't a hostel - it's an experience. Making plans to go back ASAP.If you are looking for a solid bang for your buck place to stay, traveling solo, or just want to have a wholesome experience - ITH Big Bear is the place.Cheers to Bruno and friends for making it possible.
Garrett ChallburgGarrett Challburg
20:39 08 Jun 22
Best hostel experience I’ve ever had! The staff was super friendly (Adrian and Bruno were incredibly helpful!) The hostel was clean and cozy. Beds were comfy, showers were clean and had great water pressure. The game room and great room were perfect for kickin back and relaxing. Less than a 5 minute walk from the village which has great food and bars. I’d choose this hostel over any of the hotels nearby (even if those hotels weren’t 10 times more expensive.) I couldn’t have asked for a better stay! Thank you ITH! I’ll be back for ski season!
Chris GChris G
19:44 24 May 21
These guys are awesome, the hiker bix and pantry top notch, good people and activities all around, plus snack and coffee with reasonable rates. Call ahead, and thank me later.
Brenna AndersenBrenna Andersen
17:41 18 Feb 21
I absolutely love this place! I was traveling solo so I am so thankful I booked here. It was like a community. We all had dinner together and painted and they were so sweet to my pup. The staff rocks!!! I cannot wait to come back. I felt like I was spending a weekend in a mountain house with friends. Thanks ITH!
Jaimeson MusichJaimeson Musich
19:12 22 Oct 20
Came here just to camp at a nice spot and a view and this place far exceeded any expectations. The amenities at this hostel are amazing; instruments, billiards, and included breakfast. Staff are great and really nice (stupidly unprepared for how cold sleeping outside would be, they helped me with a ton of warm blankets). I've worked in Hostels before, this place is special. Thanks guys 😁
Pam Millan-GronlundPam Millan-Gronlund
17:36 12 Oct 20
We loved ITH and will be back. It was affordable, comfortable and I loved the community vibe. The fireplace was a plus as well. The staff was wonderful. If you're looking for a high-end hotel move on - if you want something more homey and warm, this is the place!
Carlsbad beachCarlsbad beach
23:57 04 Sep 20
The best low key and clean 5star
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Male Icon

Mike from USA said:

“I liked everything the place feels like a giant cabin. It was clean and relaxing and the staff was friendly. They also made us dinner and breakfast such a great value.”

Reviewed on Booking.com

Female Icon

Jewel from USA said:

“Great place, great people, very comfortable and warm! Good breakfast and dinner and a very cozy feel that encourages a community atmosphere. “

Reviewed on Hostelworld

EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL SPOTS WITH OUR BIG BEAR TRAVEL GUIDE

Welcome to Big Bear Lake
Mountain and Nature just outside the city. Get out in the wilderness and explore the San Bernardino National Forest.
Four Seasons of Weather
Southern California's largest four season mountain town offers snow in the winter and sunshine on the lake in the summer.
A Lake In the Mountains
Hike trails around the lake and to the tops of mountains. Rent a boat at the Big Bear Marina and go for an adventure.
Two Ski Resorts
Strap on your boots and board and hit the slopes. Big Bear ski resorts offer unique trails and parks for all skill levels.
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A global community of explorers! You will be connected with upcoming events, exclusive offers, and the best travel tips from locals at your favorite destinations all delivered right to your inbox!

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HOSTEL FAQ’S

Is the Hostel pet-friendly?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your pet as long as your are staying in a Private Room.

What is the weather like in Big Bear?

Big Bear offers an amazing climate consisting of four seasons! Temperatures range from around -5 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter to 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. When traveling in the winter, be sure to brings tire chains in case of snow fall.

What can you do for free in Big Bear?

1. Hike to Castle Rock