Residential Retreats
Retreats in Nature, Gathered in Community. Big Bear Retreat Center is a restorative space for healing and creativity. We humbly offer a supportive environment to gather in community for movement, stillness and practice, trusting in the power of embodied mindfulness and authentic connection.
Just 2 hours from Los Angeles, a thousand acres of protected land as your home. We offer nourishment, rest and spacious land to hold you. Our buildings are carefully tended, calm and comfortable. Rooms are simple, single or shared. We cook with foods that nourish. Our tranquil land, originally tended by the Yuhaviatam (“People of the Pines”), is nestled in 1,400 acres of ancient Juniper woodland to help you recollect and realign with what matters most.
We are committed to accessibility, omitting none. We offer several scholarship and financial support. Contact us at any time on how we can be support your retreat at BBRC.
Join us for a retreat in Big Bear
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, a 30 minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport. Majestic views include the skyline of Downtown Los Angeles and the entire Los Angeles basin. Nearby are the rocky cliffs of the Pacific, a prime location for whale watching, and several hiking trails open to the public.
With an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, we provide a refuge for people of all faiths and walks of life.
Read testimonials here.
To offer or join a carpool, click Ride-Share Sign-Up on the retreat's event page.
Big Bear Retreat Center The Direct Path to Freedom: The Foundations of Mindfulness
September 14, 2024
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center Love and Rest
September 25, 2024
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center The Rhythm of Connection: Embracing Quietude and Mindful Communication
October 9, 2024
5 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center The Sure Heart’s Release
October 14, 2024
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center An Exploration of the Four Distortions of Perception (Monastic-led Dana retreat)
October 20, 2024
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center Three Views for Freedom
October 26, 2024
4 days 2:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center The Limitless Heart: Cultivating Metta in Turbulent Times
November 6, 2024
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center The Dharma of Desire: From Longing to Loving Presence
November 13, 2024
5 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Experienced, Introductory
Big Bear Retreat Center Ancestors Welcome Here
December 3, 2024
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center New Year’s Silent Meditation Retreat
December 29, 2024
4 days 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT