Solo Silent Retreat, October 2026

Solo Silent Retreat: open to experienced practitioners

Registration closes on October 15, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.

There is a particular kind of learning that only happens alone. The kind of aloneness where the noise of obligation quiets, where we stop performing our lives for others, and where we finally have the space to simply be with what is. In solitude and silence, we often meet ourselves more honestly than we do anywhere else. The solo silent retreat honors this experience. 

This retreat offers no set schedule, no teacher, no group to lean on—only the invitation to design your own days in service of your own practice. Whether that means long stretches of sitting, walking meditation beneath the trees, movement, rest, or simply unstructured time to reflect, the container is yours to shape. What remains constant is the support of silence, the beauty of the land, and the freedom to meet yourself without distraction.

Guests will have access to the sitting hall for meditation, the council hall for movement, and the general grounds of Big Bear Retreat Center for silent walking, reflection, and practice. Meals are included, and a light staff presence is available during normal business hours to assist with emergencies or important questions. Private rooms are available to support your rest throughout your stay, along with the option to experience one of our rustic A-Frames—complete with composting toilets and outdoor showers—for those seeking an even simpler, more elemental experience.

This retreat is designed for experienced practitioners who already have an established, self-sufficient meditation practice and are comfortable holding their own container without the structure of a teacher or group. If you have a steady sitting practice and are seeking uninterrupted time in silence to deepen it, this is an open invitation to rest in the stillness of your own company, amongst the trees.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS RETREAT

This is a silent mindfulness retreat with whatever you decide works best for you, including, but not limited to, alternating between sitting and walking meditation, deep rest, and more.

Learn more ABOUT RETREAT & SEE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.

GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees

Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation. We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.

SIMPLE YET COMFORTABLE, NESTLED IN NATURE

Accommodations

We offer several lodging choices nestled in nature for each retreat.

Meals

Our meals are freshly prepared to support your retreat experience.

Preparing for your retreat

We offer several resources and information to best help you plan your time on retreat with us.

Getting to BBRC

We have several resources to support your travel. Visit Getting to BBRC & Rideshares and Shuttles for more.

FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED: A PLACE TO BELONG

Our intention is to be as accessible as we can, even in ways that we may not be aware of yet. We hope this is a space of inclusivity where people feel welcome and held. For us, it is a practice of consistent attunement, presence and care to our community. However you identify – race, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, and so on – it is our wish to meet your needs for belonging.

Please consider this about our environment:

– The center is on a hill with outdoor walkways between dining, gathering, and residential spaces.

– We are located at an elevation of 6,500 feet altitude in a ski town in the mountains of Southern California.

– We experience weather of all four seasons.

– We are located about 2 hours from Los Angeles and near 3 major airports. Learn more about getting here.

– We have a commitment to everyone’s mobility needs. Please contact us about ADA accessibility.

Visit our Planning Your Retreat page to learn more about accessibility and other resources. Contact us if we can support ahead of time.

HEAR MORE ABOUT BIG BEAR RETREAT CENTER

Big Bear Retreat Center is exceptional in every way. The accommodations are outstanding, food exceptional, staff very responsive and helpful and the teachers are always so loving and knowledgeable. Just a top notch retreat experience!! – Sheila

I love Big Bear Retreat Center. It’s my dharma home away from home. Everything about it – staff, teachers, food, accommodations, setting – is exceptional. A true gift to the community!!

Big Bear Retreat Center is indeed a refuge. A safe space to open your heart. – Laura