Big Bear Lake
San Bernadino National Forest

       Location filming at Big Bear Lake region was utilized for the main run of the series. It rests in the San Bernadino National Forest, 160 miles east of Los Angeles. Its elevation is 6,750 feet above sea level. The region was more accessable and closer for outdoor filming than Lake Tahoe. The first location shoot at Big Bear was for "The Newcomers" in July of 1959.

       The second episode filmed at the lake was "The Truckee Strip" in September of 1959. Shay Ranch and vicinity was used for the filming of the episode with Michael Landon and James Coburn. The ride-up shots of the cast were filmed on the east shore of the lake that summer. They were used for the main title and cast credits in various episodes the first two years of the series.

       The outdoor segments for "The Hanging Posse" were filmed immediately after the above episode into early October of 1959. Locales include Cedar Lake, which starts off the story, and then proceeds to Grandview Point. This region is at the top of Skyline Drive, which offers spectacular views of the national forest. The desert terrain seen in the later part of the story was filmed just outside Baldwin Lake, south of Big Bear. It's located some miles from the dry lake in the desert zone, where the Pinyon pines and Joshua trees are plentiful.

       In November of 1959, the cast and crew returned to Big Bear to film segments for "The Last Hunt". Filming locales such as Cedar Lake, Grandview Point and the east shore of the lake were used for the story. The outdoor segments for "Feet of Clay" were filmed immediately after the above episode. The scenes of Dan Blocker and David Ladd were filmed on the south shore of the lake that year.

       The cast and crew returned several years later to film cuts for "The Debt" in May of 1965. Cedar Lake was used once again for most of the shots. Just up the trail a little ways is a spectacular vista that overlooks the lake. The climax of the episode was shot atop the vista. It starts off as Wiley is looking for his outlaw father, just as Joe is looking to stop Wiley from harming him.

       They have a conversation atop the vista, which results in a fist fight, and Joe beats him. He winds up capturing his father and finds Annie safe and sound. Wiley recovers from the fight and returns to kill his father at the vista. Joe and Annie argue with Wiley that killing his father isn't going to accomplish anything. Joe takes custody of their father. He and Annie decide to start a new life and they say goodbye to Joe.

       Filmed outdoor segments of "The Other Son" were shot at Big Bear in June of 1965. The story opens up with Ben riding out of Cedar Lake and then cuts to Baldwin Lake. This locale is where he and Sheriff Walker converse about the explosives and Ben is forced to take them back into Nevada. The segments of Watson's pack trip hauling the explosives on the ridgetrail is above Cedar Lake. It leads up to the scenes of Ben safely containing the leaking jar of nitroglycerin. The other half of the outdoor shots in the story were filmed at Lake Tahoe the next week.

       The cast and crew returned in January of 1969 to film the outdoor segments for "The Fence" with guest stars John Anderson and J. D. Cannon. The shoot was in the dead of winter and it went smoothly at Cedar Lake. In July of 1970, the cast and crew returned to film outdoor segments for "Thornton's Account" at Cedar Lake. This story is the most colorful of all the episodes filmed at the region. The cast and crew returned to Cedar Lake in January of 1971 to film the majority of "Winter Kill". The guest stars were Glenn Corbett, Clifton James and Sheilah Wells. The snow was abound in all directions and well past the knees.

       "Second Sight" was the last episode filmed at Big Bear in October of 1971. Locales such as Cedar Lake and the vista directly above it were filmed. The other half of the story was filmed at Franklin Lake. This beautifiul and pristine region has served for a lovely backdrop in film history since 1914.

DIRECTIONS (from Los Angeles): Take the 10 east to the Running Springs exit (junction of Hwy 30 and Hwy 330), and drive on the Hwy 30 until you turn off onto Hwy 330, and proceed until you reach Hwy 18 and see the dam of the lake, and you are there.

(From the High Desert): Take Hwy 18 from Cajon Pass, along this route, will take you into the back side of Big Bear Lake, and Hwy 18 runs along the West side of the lake and Hwy 38 runs on the East side of the lake.

To see photos, visit the Movie Making Locations Website!

Welcome to the Big Bear Lake Film Office!

Back    [Locations List]    Next

Home | Locations | Opening Scenes | Forum | Cast Bios | Episode Guide | Links
Calendar | Bonanza Lyrics | Horse Bios | Gallery | eCards

Photographs and content copyright ©2000-2006 RM & Bonanza: Scenery of the Ponderosa, all rights reserved.