Castle Rock Out and Back
Strenuous - 2 miles
Park at a turnout along Highway 18 1 mile East of the Dam. There is
a small sign marking the Castle Rock Trailhead.
From here its 1/2 mile of steep well-marked trail then it levels out
for another 1/2 mile of less steep trail. Castle Rock is a large 100
ft outcropping from which you will find 360 degree views.
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Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail
Intermediate - Out and back - 1/2 mile roundtrip
(Adventure Pass required for parking)
To get to the trailhead find Mill Creek Road which intersects
Highway 18 across the street from Bear Valley Bikes on the South side
of Big Bear Lake.
Continue up Mill Creek Rd (2N10) which turns to dirt after one mile.
(4x4 recommended but many people do this in their passenger cars)
After 4.5 miles you will take a right on 2N11 and continue 1 mile to the
Champion Lodgepole Trailhead parking lot on the right side of the road.
From here it is a short 1/4 mile hike or bike to the largest known Lodgepole
Pine in the world!
This trail is also a self guided nature walk. Trail Guides are sometimes
available at the trailhead and always available at the Discovery Center.
The Bluff Mesa Trail starts at the Champion Lodgepole
Pine.
It goes North .4 miles to the Bluff Mesa Group Camp. No Bicycles allowed
on the Bluff Mesa Trail.
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Woodland Nature Trail
Beginner - 1.5 mile loop
(Not recommended for bikes)
A self guided nature walk. The Woodland trail parking
lot is 1 mile East of the Discovery Center on Highway 38 on the North
Side of Big Bear Lake. Trail Guide Brochures are available at the Discovery
Center. I recommend hiking this trail with kids and saving the bikes for
the Pedal Path.
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Gray's Peak Trail (1W06)
Intermediate - Out and back - 6 miles total
(Adventure Pass required for parking)
(Please ride considerately, many people hike this trail.)
Park at the Gray's Peak Trailhead off 38 between the damn
and Fawnskin. The trail starts with some steep climbing and flattens out
to a gradual incline after 1/2 mile. Crank up until you get to a fireroad
next to yellpw post campsite number 1 and take a right staying to the
right at the junction with 2N04X until you see a Gray's Peak Trail sign
on the right. From here the trail becomes very secluded and is unbroken
until you reach Gray's Peak. Enjoy the view and the descent. When you
hit the fireroad go right and then stay left and pick up the trail back
to the parking lot.
(NOTE: if you go left 100 yards on the firsroad you can
pick up the sweet 4 mile rolling singletrack to Hanna Flats campground
(water available) Return the way you came.
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Cougar Crest Trail (1E22)
Intermediate - Out and back - 5 miles total
(Adventure Pass required for parking)
(Please ride considerately, many people hike this trail.)
The Cougar Crest Trail starts 1/2 mile west of the Discovery
Center on HWY. 38. If you park at the discovery center you do not need
an Adventure Pass, but note what time the parking lot closes so you don't
get your car locked in overnight. This also adds 1/2 mile of paved trail
in each direction. The Cougar Crest Trail winds up the hillside offering
spectaculat views of the lake and ski resorts on the opposite mountainside.
The trail ends at the junction of the 2600 mile long Pacific Crest Trail
(PCT) which runs from Mexico to Canada. Just North of this junction on
the PCT you will find a fireroad that takes you to Bertha Peak. Here you
will find radio towers and great views in every direction. Return the
way you came.
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Wildhorse Mountain Trail (2N93
and 2N93A)
Intermediate - Out and back - 5 miles total
(Adventure Pass required for parking)
(Please ride cautiously, many people drive on this trail.)
Drive East on Highway 38 towards Redlands. Just past State/Mitchell
Ln. take the first right and park near the end of the pavement. Ride up
2N93 fireroad or take the narrower more fun 2N93A trail. 2N93A will end
in a clearing with a stump in the middle of it. Take the singletrack that
starts just to the right of the barbed wire fence. This will take you
back to 2N93. Go left for more climbing and great views or go down the
way you came or on 2N93 back to your car.
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Alpine Pedal Path
Beginner - Out and Back - 2.5 miles one way
The Alpine Pedal Path is a multi-use (Walking, biking,
skating, strollers, wheelchairs) trail which runs from the Discovery Center
on Highway 38 on the North side of Big Bear Lake to the intersection of
Highway 38 and Stansfield Cutoff Rd. It is 2.5 miles of meandering blacktop
trail that follows the shoreline and passes through forest and meadows.
The trail has aged a bit and you will find big cracks where the asphault
is uneven causing small bumps every 20-30 feet. The trail also passes
by the Serrano Campground. Parking is available at either end of the trail.
(Note what time the Discovery Center Parking lot closes)
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Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail
Intermediate - Out and back - 1/2 mile roundtrip
(Adventure Pass required for parking)
(Please ride considerately, many people hike this trail.) To get to the trailhead find Mill Creek Road which intersects
Highway 18 across the street from Bear Valley Bikes on the South side
of Big Bear Lake.
Continue up Mill Creek Rd (2N10) which turns to dirt after one mile.
(4x4 recommended but many people do this in their passenger cars)
After 4.5 miles you will take a right on 2N11 and continue 1 mile to the
Champion Lodgepole Trailhead parking lot on the right side of the road.
From here it is a short 1/4 mile hike or bike to the largest Lodgepole
Pine in the world!
This trail is also a self guided nature walk. Trail Guides are sometimes
available at the trailhead and always available at the Discovery Center.
The Bluff Mesa Trail starts at the Champion Lodgepole
Pine.
It goes North .4 miles to the Bluff Mesa Group Camp. No Bicycles allowed
on the Bluff Mesa Trail.
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The Pacific Crest Trail
For 2,658 miles the PCT winds its way through California, Oregon and
Washington. 193 of those miles are in the Big Bear area. The PCT crosses
many dirt and paved roads in the Big Bear area so you can do nice day
hikes along different sections instead of walking all 2658 miles in
one trip as many die-hards do every summer.
PCT Access Points in Big Bear
2N02 - Just east of Baldwin Lake Rd.
Highway 18 - Just before it drops down to Apple Valley
Van Dusen Canyon Rd. - 4 miles northwest of Highway 18
Cougar Crest Trail - Cougar Crest Trail ends at PCT
Polique Canyon Rd. - 3 miles North of Highway 18
3N12 - Delamar Mountain Rd. ( fireroad ) - 2 miles north of 3N14
3N14 - 5 miles northwest of Fawnskin
Big Bear Information for Pacific
Crest Trail Hikers
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Deep Creek Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs are really neat but it takes quite a drive and
a hike to get to them from Big Bear. Take Highway 18 down the backside
into the desert all the way to Apple Valley. Take a left on Kiowa Rd.
a right on Rock Springs Rd. and a left on Deep Creek Rd. Drive until
the pavement ends. Park at the southeast side of the dam. On top of
the dam you will find a trailhead and its 6 miles one way to the hot
springs.
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Grout Bay / Hanna Flats Trail
Park at Gray's peak trailhead ( Adventure Pass Required ) or in the
triangle at the intersection of Highway 38 and 3N14 ( No Pass required
).
You can do this trail as an out and back from Gray's Peak trailhead
( 10 miles of Singletrack ) or
as a loop from Fawnskin. ( 5 miles singletrack, 4 dirt rd.1 highway
)
Out and Back
Ride up Gray's Peak Trail. After one mile take a right on fireroad.
Stay left at fireroad junction in 1/4 mile. After 1/4 mile more you
will see Gray's Peak trail continue on the left. 100 yards farther you
will see the Hanna Flats Trail on the right. Take it and enjoy 4 miles
of singletrack to the campground. Here you can find water and toilets
in the warm season. Go back the way you came.
Grout Bay Loop
Park in Fawnskin. Ride up 3N14 for 3 miles to Hanna Flats campground.
Go left into the campground. Toward the back of the campground you will
find a trail marked with painted red wood. This is the start of 4 miles
of singletrack to the junction with Gray's Peak trail on 2N68. The trail
crosses fireroads several times. Follow tire tracks and look for marked
trail on the other side of the fireroad. After 4 miles you will hit
a fireroad, go left and in 100 yards see Gray's Peak trail sign on the
right. Continue on fireroad 1/4 mile to junction 2N04X. Stay left and
in 1/4 mile more you will see singletrack on your left. Take singletrack
1 mile, great downhill, to Gray's peak parking lot. Exit parking lot
and ride one mile on the Highway to Fawnskin.
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