Kid-friendly trails
On the Trails
Scenic hiking and biking trails for all levels ig Bear is a haven for hiking and biking. The hills and meadows around Big Bear Lake are peppered with paths, from short strolls to challenging treks. And thanks to Big Bear’s strong mountain sunshine, many of these paths dry out as early as March. Big Bear has a rich cycling heritage dating back to the 1980s, when the region broke ground in the sport of mountain biking. Today, a variety of biking routes traverse summits and meadows around the lake, while lifts at Snow Summit grant cyclists access to 1,200 feet of vertical at Summit Bike Park. Adding to the two-wheeler cred, pro athletes flock to Big Bear to train at altitude, and the Valley has hosted major international cycling events.
LUNCH WITH A VIEW Snow Summit’s Bobsled Trail winds past a creek and traverses meadows. This two-mile trail is only open to hikers, so you could have it to yourself as you trek through forests of ponderosa pine and white fir. Open June through October, this path climbs 1,200 feet to the top of Snow Summit, where you can extend your hike by tacking on the onemile Mountain Top Loop. Or grab a picnic table outside the resort’s Skyline Taphouse, and refuel with sandwiches or a bowl of chili as you savor the top-of-the world panorama of the lake and the surrounding San Bernardino Mountains.
VISIT BIG BEAR/LEE STOCKWELL
HIKE IT: Trail Guide
PEAK EXPERIENCE On the way to the top of 8,201-foot Bertha Peak, the Cougar Crest Trail climbs through a cedar and pine forest to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,650-mile route travels between Mexico and Canada and, by taking this trail, you’ll have the chance to say, “I hiked the PCT!” (You’re really only on PCT for a few hundred yards before following the fire road that ascends to Bertha Peak, but don’t worry—we won’t tell!) At eight miles with a 1,300foot elevation gain, this hike isn’t for the faint of heart. But it delivers a big payoff: an epic view of Big Bear Lake and all the way to Mount Baldy.
CLOSE TO TOWN The paths in the Maple Hill Trail System combine high desert and high country scenery. The classic 3.2-mile School Loop winds through pines and manzanita. With about 300 feet of elevation gain, the climbing is modest, but still challenging enough to draw mountain bikers for training. WALK IN THE WOODS Introduce your kids to the wonders of the mountains on the 1.5-mile Woodland Trail, a gentle loop that passes a giant, gnarled western juniper. Catch glimpses of the summit of 11,502-foot Mount San Gorgonio, SoCal’s highest peak.
GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF THESE SCENIC SPOTS. ALPINE PEDAL PATH Sunset Selfies Slung along the north shore of Big Bear Lake, follow an access trail to a tranquil beach just off the path for sunset selfies. BOULDER BAY PARK Lake and Mountain Views Make a stop at this pocket park on your way into Big Bear. Walk out on the long dock to take photos on the water. WOODLAND TRAIL Fall Foliage Hike this one in the fall to capture leaves in their fiery scarlet, orange, and golden glory.
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