Explore Big Bear Lake

Sugarlump/Bear Peak Trail

equada — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:18:11 +0000

Sugarlump/ Bear Peak

HIKING * SNOWSHOEING * SKIThis peak is summited all winter long, but almost everyone gets there the easy way via the chairlift to Bear Peak on the Bear Mountain ski area! It is also a popular snowshoe route in the winter as it leads to some great canyon skiing to the east of the resort.

Trail Basics

Length:

7 miles

Duration:

3-4 Hours

Elevation:

7300′, 8805′

Gain/Loss:

1495’

Difficulty:

Moderate

Trail Type:

Out-and-back, Fire Road

Other Uses:

Equestrian

Adventure Pass:

Adventure Pass is recommended

Trail Directions

Begin hiking up fire road 2N10, pass through access gate. Stay on this road for 1.2 miles, You will then come to junction with a sign that points towards Converse Station / Barton Flats. Make LEFT at this intersection on road 2N06. After ¾ mile you will come to another intersection with a sign pointing south and downhill toward Converse Station / Barton Flats. Stay on the road by using the left fork going east on fire road 2N21. Continue for ¼ mile, you’ll come to an access gate of Bear Mountain Ski Area that will be closed. The sign looks intimidating, but you can walk the fire road. You will then cross the first ski run, continue on the road crossing the ski runs. A few hundred yards you will approach more ski runs. Cross directly over the runs by following the road. Stay RIGHT at the split in the road it is a bit easier to climb. Keep following the road, within ½ mile you will reach the summit of Sugarlump/Bear Peak. As well as, Chairlift #8 and the ski patrol station.

Directions to Trailhead

Take Moonridge Road toward Bear Mountain, Right on Clubview Dr, go all the way to the top. Drive past Bear Mountain Ski area on the left, up to where the pavements ends and dirt road starts. Park in small parking lot before heading up fire road 2N10.

Gray’s Peak Trail 1W05

equada — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:50:20 +0000

Grays Peak Trail 1W05

HIKING * MNT. BIKING * EQUINE

The trail up to Grays Peak is one of Big Bear’s favorites for hikers. Located near Fawnskin, on the north shores side of Big Bear Lake. The trail travels along the south side of Grays Peak offering unique views of the lake, Big Bear Valley, the High Desert and more. The trail is a steady 3 mile climb with about 1,000 vertical feet of climbing to the top and ventures through portions of the burn area from the Butler #2 Fire of 2007. You will be treated to seeing the circle of life in action with re-growth sprouting up amongst the burned remains of trees and bushes.

The trail begins by climbing up and away from the lake, eventually wrapping around the backside of the mountain. The water views that begin to open up abruptly disappear, but so does the sound of cars, boats and any other noises. Open vistas lead beyond Fawnskin Valley into Holcomb Valley and farther into the high desert, which more than make up for the missed opportunities to look at the lake.

Trail Details

Length:

6.5 mile

Duration:

2-3 hours

Elevation:

6750′, 7920′

Gain/Loss:

1170’/

Difficulty:

Moderate

Type Trail:

Out-and-back

Other Uses:

Mountain Bikes, Snowshoe, Dogs

Adventure Pass:

Adventure Pass is required

Trail Directions

The Grays Peak Trail (1W05) climbs northwest for about .5 miles until it merges with forest road 2N04X. Follow large arrows made of rock that point you to the right. In .25 miles this road joins with Forest Road 2N70, stay right. 200 yards down you will come to the Grays Peak Trail sign on the left. .

From the sign, it is 2.5 miles to the summit on the Grays Peak Trail (1W06) Trail will take up onto the western face of the summit where you will find a yellow post.

NOTE! The lower portion of the this trail, known as “Grout Bay Trail”, is part of a popular mountain bike trail, so be aware of multi-use traffic.

Directions to the Trailhead

From the town of Big Bear, head north across Stanfield Cutoff and head left or west on Hwy38/North Shore Drive. Go west and pass through the town of Fawnskin and then 0.6 miles west of Fawnskin on Hwy 38 you will come to a parking area on the right hand side of the road, which is across from the Grout Bay Picnic area located on the right hand side of the road. This lot has restrooms and the trailhead is located on the north side of the parking lot.

Castle Rock Trail 1W03

equada — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:19:14 +0000

Gold Mountain Trail

equada — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:49:26 +0000

Length: 8.5 miles (round trip; 3-4 hours )

Elevation: Start at 6870′, peak at 8235′

Difficulty: Moderate

What to bring: Good trail shoes, water, snack/lunch, sunscreen, camera

Gold Mountain is a prominant mound overlooking the east end of Big Bear Valley. It offers an uncommon view of the lake, a panoramic of Lucerne Valley, and a beautiful trail that is appropriate for most hikers. In total, you’ll ascend about 1350′ in about 4.2 miles. While the end is somewhat steep, the approach is a mild incline that spands more than 2 miles, with nice views of Baldwin Lake along the way.

Trailhead

Enter onto PCT trail headed southwest past the white PCT post and the Seven Summits of Big Bear sign. You will be staying on the PCT while it heads SW and then switchbacks a few times crossing over scree fields. As you ascend this section, there are some great views of Baldwin Lake and the high desert. At about 2 ¾ miles you will come to a dirt road. Turning LEFT on this road (which is forest road 3N69- but it is not marked) points you south and leads you up toward the summit.

Directions to Trailhead

Drive east on Hwy 18 toward Lucerne Valley. Turn onto Holcomb Valley Rd/Doble Dump Rd that heads up to Dump/Transfer Station. At about ¾ of a mile up the PCT crosses the road, this is indicated by 2 white posts on either side of the road. Park anywhere around here, off the road with your adventure pass clearly visible! Trial is on left or west side of the road.

Cougar Crest Trail 1E22

equada — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:37:09 +0000

Cougar Crest/ Bertha Peak 1E22

HIKING * EQUINE * MNT. BIKING

Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak is a classic Big Bear hike. This trail route, which rises above the lake’s serene north shore, takes you to a high point where your gaze encompasses the rounded peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains, and the vast Mojave Desert. The first 2 miles (Cougar Crest Trail portion) of the route lies on a south-facing slope that often becomes snow-free in March or April. Beyond this point, on north-facing slopes, hard-packed, slippery snow banks may cover the trail until sometime in May. Late spring through late fall is usually the best time. Snowshoes are recommended for the winter season. The trail is moderately steep and semi-rugged, ascending almost 1,500 feet in 2.4 miles.

Trail Detail

Length:

5.4 miles RT

Duration:

3-4 hours

Elevation:

Start at 6804′, peak at 8201′

Gain/Loss:

1395’/

Difficulty:

Moderate

Trail Type:

Out-and -back, (loop variations)

Other Uses:

Mountain Bike, Snowshoe, Running, Dogs, Equestrian

Adventure Pass:

Adventure Pass is required

Trail Directions

Start up paved path which will change to dirt at the TH sign. If you walk the pavement, it will be ¼ mile back to the Discovery Center. The trail starts out wide and then will narrow. You will be hiking on the south side of the ridge slowly rising in elevation and noticing great views of the lake and ridges of the highest peak in Southern California, San Gorgonio Mountain. You will ascend over the ridge which will layout views of Holcomb Valley for about 1/8 mile. At 2.2 miles you will intersect with the PCT, make RIGHT to the lake side of the ridge. You will be on the PCT more than ¼ mile. Then RIGHT at the dirt road which is an access road to the towers. Look for white post marked BERTHA PEAK. You will follow this steep access road ¾ mile to the peak. You will be able to see the radio towers at the top of the peak.

Directions to the Trailhead

From the town of Big Bear, you’ll need to find Stanfield Cutoff and go across (North) then left (West) at the intersection of Stanfield and North Shore Dr. / Hwy 38. Go west about 1.6 miles. Passed the Discovery Center about ¼ mile, you’ll see the sign for Cougar Crest and the parking area on the right.Adventure Pass is required.

Equada Yoga

equada — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:43:46 +0000

663 Pine Knot Ave. Big Bear Lake, Ca 92315 909.866.6186

Located in the Big Bear Lake Village.

http://equadayoga.com

Bistro at the Mansion

equada — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:32:19 +0000

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. 869 Knickerbocker Road, P.O. Box 1907, Big Bear Lake, CA

For reservations call 909-878-9190 or 800-388-4179

“Bistro at the Mansion” is open for Friday and Saturday evening dining from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Reservations are required. The menu will please the most discriminating palette. The wine list is the most extensive in the valley. Here’s a quote from one of our recent guests. “the coffee, food & music greeting us at breakfast was a delicious combination. Could you top it? You did! Dinner on Saturday night was ‘to-die-for’ (& I almost did. Five courses….& we enjoyed every last bite.!)”

Nottingham’s Restaurant

equada — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:00:13 +0000

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. 40797 Lakeview Drive, Big Bear Lake Ca. 92315 909.866-4644

The Nottinghams staff hopes you enjoy your time with us. Nottinghams offers the best California Cuisine in the Big Bear Valley. The selection of wines, spirits, and beers, along with the carefully selected ingredients for your menu choices, will exceed everyone’s expectations.

As you enter, you’ll pass the Nottingham Room, a cozy dining area. The hostess station, originally built in 1890, was used as the entrance to a reported gangster’s house in New Jersey. A revolving door set, once part of Marshall Fields in New York, has been used in parts to create a circular divide. A 1920 North Tonawanda “146″ Band Organ, presumably the most original and pristine of its kind, was housed in a skating rink in Up-state New York for 50 years. It took 5 years to rebuild, was played once, broke, and in disgust, was encased in redwood and put outside for 20 years.

Gallery of the American Landscape

Monster — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:22:36 +0000

40700 Village Dr Big Bear Lake, CA 909.878-9214

Visit the green gallery of master landscape photographer, Timothy Wolcott. His photographs have the passion of the great photographers who have traveled before him and currently being showcased in the Smithsonian Institute.

Mallard Bay Resort

Monster — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:50:41 +0000

Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. 214 Lagunita Ave. Big Bear Lake, CA 877.866-3970 / 909.866-2526

Peaceful, relaxing resort on Mallard Bay with large heated pool (seasonal), large lakeview sundeck, outdoor fireplace, guest barbeque, private guest boat dock and dock fishing. Stress-free family getaway for everyone who wants to est and relax. We’re close to the village, and a couple of miles from the ski slopes.