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Welcome to breathtaking Big Bear Lake and San Bernardino National Forest. Before heading out to hike or mountain bike, use this guide to some of the best Big Bear Lake Hiking Trails in the area.
San Bernadino National Forest is an incredible place to stay and play and is only a short drive from anywhere in Southern California. Once you arrive at Big Bear Lake, we recommend purchasing an Adventure pass which allows you to use designated trail parking lots along Woodland Trail, Cougar Crest Trail, Grey’s Peak Trail and Pine Knot Trail.
Cougar Crest Trail
Located on North Shore Drive, the Cougar Crest Trail is a popular hike amongst visitors. Although it’s an easy to moderate hike, it’s pretty rocky with quite a few jagged rocks, so make sure you have appropriate footwear. Once you reach the summit, you will be treated to a gorgeous 360-degree view of Bear Valley, the Mojave Desert, and Holcomb Valley – totally making it worth the climb. Unfortunately, this hike is not suitable for mountain bikes.
Also good to note is that free parking is made available until 6 pm at the Big Bear Discovery Centre, where you can make your way up to the trailhead. You can also purchase an adventure pass that will grant you access to the trail parking lot.
Round Trip: 8.5km
Elevation Gain: 274 m
Pine Knot Trail
Pine Knot Trail is another popular trail that also welcomes mountain bikers and horseback riders, making it quite busy. This hike leads you to Grand View Point and also provides nice views of Big Bear Lake. Don’t hesitate to bring the kids along as this trail is family-friendly and quite a bit less steep than Cougar Crest Trail. For the most part, this hiking trail is dirt and has wildflowers that are only indigenous to the Southern California area along the way. If you keep an eye out, you may even spot a bear or snake, making your climb even more exciting.
Some of the additional perks of hiking Pine Knot Trail are that it’s close to Aspen Glen Picnic Area, has bathroom facilities, and has parking available.
Round Trip: 5.7km
Elevation Gain: 274 m
Castle Rock Trail
Castle Rock Trail is a favourite among seasoned and novice hikers. While it is listed as a moderate hike due to its steepness, it isn’t very long and is dog-friendly. It is recommended to make sure you bring along lots of water in the hotter months and plan to take shade along the way amongst the pine trees. Although the climb can be challenging for some, the payoff is more than worth it, with spectacular views of Big Bear Lake and the San Bernadino Mountains at its summit.
Round Trip: 4.3km
Elevation Gain: 250 m
Grays Peak Trail
Grays Peak Trail is located approximately half a mile west of Fawnskin and is a less travelled trail than some of the others in this guide. It’s rated a moderate hike and is similar to the hike from Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak, with arguably better views of the lake. Dogs are welcome to come along but must be kept on leash. This is also a known spot among locals for bird watching, and due to the hard-packed dirt trail, mountain biking is also welcomed. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds at Cougar Crest, this is a great option. This trail is closed from November to April for the bald eagle nesting season, so be sure to be on the lookout for Bald Eagles as you go.
Round Trip: 10.3km
Elevation Gain: 269m
Champion Lodgepole Trail
This trail is another family favourite located on the south side of Big Bear Lake and is considered some of the best hiking because of its rich, dense forest and lots of wildflowers during the early summer months. There are also benches placed along the trail in shady areas for you and your family or friends to sit and breathe in the moment. We recommend bringing along a blanket and some snacks and spending some time along the creek. There’s a good chance this trail will end up being a highlight of your trip.
Round Trip: 6.9km
Elevation Gain: 258m
Woodland Interpretive Trail
Woodland Interpretive Trail has its starting point on North Shore Drive and is only a 1.5-mile loop making it a fun and easy trail for hikers with small children or people with physical considerations.
Hikers would consider this trek more of a nature walk which is the perfect way to spend an hour or two in the morning or an afternoon with the whole family. Some of the things you’ll be able to see along the way are beautiful vibrant scarlet penstemon wildflowers that will be found growing amongst the Juniper leaves.
Round Trip: 2.6km
Elevation Gain: 71m
Alpine Pedal Path
This path is located along the North Shore of Big Bear Lake, just west of the Big Bear Solar Observatory and is recommended for hikers of all skill levels due to its well-maintained and partially paved path. It’s a fantastic trail for strolling or biking. No worries, if you don’t have a bicycle, you can rent one from Paddles and Peddles, the only bike rental service with direct access to the Alpine Pedal Path.
A fun fact about the San Bernardino Mountains is that it has the largest population of Bald Eagles nesting over the winter months, which means depending on when you visit here, there’s a chance you might catch a glimpse of one of these majestic birds.
Round Trip: 8.2km
Elevation Gain: 8.6m
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail, also known as PCT, is for adventure hikers only. It is the second-longest trail in the USA, with the starting point in a tiny town called Campo along the US-Mexican border and winding its brave travelers all the way up to Manning Park, British Columbia, on the Canadian border. This trail is open to hikers on foot and equestrian riders but is not suitable for biking or vehicles. Not everyone who hikes the Pacific Crest Trail intends to make the entire trek, but many of the ones who do plan a stop off in Big Bear (mile 266) to rest and pick up supplies. The entire trip is about a 4-6 month hike for an average hiker.
Needless to say, if you intend to hike the Pacific Trail, there’ll have to be a lot of planning and training ahead of time to ensure you’re prepared for all the different elements that will be thrown at you. This would undoubtedly be an adventure of a lifetime.
Round Trip: 4265 km long
Towne Trail
This trail offers easy access from town, hence the name Towne Trail. There is ample parking available on Knickerbocker St or at Snow Summit Mountain Resort. During the winter months, it becomes a popular trail for cross country skiers, and when the warmer months hit, it becomes a hive of activity with tourists hiking, running and mountain biking. This heavily forested path allows for some beautiful views of the lake and is dog-friendly as long as you keep your fur baby on a leash.
Round Trip: 4.5km
Elevation Gain: 102m
Final Thoughts
Whether a relaxing mountain vacation has brought you to the San Bernardino Mountains or the thrill of mountain biking and hiking, the Big Bear Lake region will not disappoint. For decades this gem in Southern California has proven to be the perfect fix to those looking to escape the smog and grind of living in the big city. We hope this guide to the best Big Bear Lake hiking trails helps you make the absolute most of your time and that you return home refreshed and recharged….until the next time.
