Paddle Lakefest 2025: Paddle Around Paradise
Experience Paddle LakeFest 2025 at Big Bear Lake, Southern California’s top paddling event. Enjoy stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoe races, scenic tours, expert workshops, and live entertainment. Join outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend of races and adventure amid stunning waters and mountains. Improve your skills, connect with the community, and create lasting memories. Register now to celebrate nature, adventure, and community at Paddle LakeFest 2025—where passion meets the paddle.
Big Bear Lake is calling paddlers back to its pristine waters—Saturday, August 23, 2025, to be exact—for a full morning of sunrise paddling, fellowship, and fun at Paddle Lakefest. As part of the second annual Lakefest—Big Bear’s end-of-summer celebration—Paddle Lakefest invites every level of paddler to take on distances that span from jostling for speed in the 5K “OG” Paddlefest, to cruising the shoreline in the 10K Lakefest Classic, to tackling the epic 20K Dooley Cup circumnavigating the entire lake
You don’t need your own gear to join in—our Paddle, Paddle, Pass 1-mile relay is designed with friends and families in mind, providing a fun, fully accessible way to get out on the water together.
A Weekend of Paddle Play—and More
Friday night (August 22) kicks off with an Athlete Welcome Night at Lakefest HQ in Ski Beach Park. From 4 PM onward, you can check in early, drop your boat securely, meet your fellow athletes, and even ask the Race Director your burning questions—live and in person.
And stick around for top notch live music from original bands.
Then, early Saturday morning, it’s on:
7:00 AM – 20K Dooley Cup
8:30 AM – 10K Lakefest Classic
10:00 AM – 5K Paddlefest
11:00 AM – 1-mile Relay
12:00 PM – Awards Ceremony celebrates your efforts on the lake Elevated SoCal.
Paddle Lakefest Meets Lakefest
This isn’t just a paddle race—it’s part of something bigger. Paddle Lakefest flows seamlessly into Big Bear’s Lakefest, the three-day lakeside festival with free live music, craft vendors, a BMX stunt show, comedy, demo presentations, bike valet, shuttle service, and a beer garden under mountain skies.
Ride your bike, catch the shuttle from nearby satellite lots, or park responsibly—Lakefest is designed to be low-impact, high-fun. Make memories all weekend long!
Why Paddle Big Bear?
Training at altitude is tough. Racing at altitude is tougher. But paddling Big Bear Lake at elevation isn’t just a workout—it’s an experience.
Altitude Advantage: The 6,700 ft elevation creates a real aerobic challenge. Every stroke is a win.
Epic Scenery: Big Bear Lake is surrounded by tall pines, mirrored water, and crisp mountain air.
For Everyone: Sea-level pros and first-time paddlers alike can find their fit—from 20K looping the whole lake to the one-mile relay for friends and family.
Come for the race—stay for the festival. Paddle in the morning, rock out in the afternoon, and leave with a mountain-fresh memory you’ll paddle back to all year long.
Insider Tip: Bring your paddler pals and make it a racecation. Paddle, explore Big Bear, enjoy Lakefest’s live music and food vendors, and maybe even sneak in a post-race beer under the mountain sunset.
Registration Details
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Venue: Ski Beach Park, Big Bear Lake, CA
Distances: 1-mile relay, 5K, 10K, 20K
Friday’s Athlete Welcome Night: 4 PM – boat drop, check-in & briefing, party
Race Starts: 7 AM (20K), 8:30 AM (10K), 10 AM (5K), 11 AM (Relay)
Awards Ceremony: 12 PM
