3 min
Overview
A 6+ mile partial loop on a mostly-gently graded trail just south of Big Bear Lake. This trail offers secluded woodlands and great views of the southern San Bernardinos. There is also a trail to the named peak “Grand View Point,” which is a great moderate day hike that will get you away from the crowds of Big Bear. Despite crowds during the summer months, each season offers something on this trail — in the summer, wildflower blooms hit the high elevations. In the fall, changing leaves are visible all around the mountain, and in the winter and spring, snowshoers will have a secluded hiking spot to themselves. When a friend invited me on an overnight to Big Bear with a group in celebration of his birthday, I jumped at the chance — not only for the birthday and requisite partying with good people, but also for the chance to hit the trails around Big Bear while staying in a decent cabin overnight. Everyone else in the group brought or rented snowboards. I rented snowshoes, layered up, geared up, and parked near the Aspen Glen Picnic area. The picnic area was packed solid with cars, families cooking on barbecues, and kids sledding down the small slopes nearby. I had to park a bit further down the road, and at first didn’t see the trailhead … but after I peeked around a double-parked van, managed to find the enormous reflective sign that marks it. The first 0.2 miles or so of the trail was muddy, but didn’t have enough snow for the snowshoes — but eventually the white stuff filled in, and a 4-5 inch layer of icy snowpack took over the trail. At about 0.6 miles, the trail continues around a small creekbed, but there is an option to cross the creek and skip a few switchbacks on a fairly established use trail. This is the first major elevation gain on the trail, and afterward, you will continue on a slow incline along a few ridges as the trail travels to the east. You’ll also get your first views of Big Bear Lake through the tree cover.
Trail Stats
10.2 km
275 m
2366 m
2088 m
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