Holcomb Valley Ranch is a 400-acre private retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains, located four miles from the town of Big Bear Lake, California. Complete with boutique camping and a future home to modern cabins, it’s a four-season basecamp for modern explorers who value nature and good design.

Holcomb Valley was named in the winter of 1860, when a prospector named William Holcomb stumbled upon a new valley where he found a quartz ledge laced with gold. The area became a gold rush town populated with 1,500 prospectors. It later became a cattle ranch and eventually a Scout camp. Vestiges of this history are visible today—an archery range, dining pavilion, swimming pool, and handful of rustic buildings. 

Around two hours’ drive from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs, Holcomb Valley Ranch is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who value proximity to a variety of active amenities. The property is four miles from Big Bear Lake, a popular destination for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, boating, and waterskiing. A network of local hiking trails links to the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada. Holcomb Valley Pinnacles offer more than 500 rock-climbing routes on heavily featured granite. Big Bear Mountain Resort features year-round activities, from downhill skiing and snowboarding in the winter to a lift-served downhill mountain bike park in the summer.