Big Bear Hiking Trails

Explore 15 amazing trails around Big Bear Lake. Click any trail for detailed information, maps, and directions.

Castle Rock Trail

Moderate

Distance: 2.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 500 ft

Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

Castle Rock Trail stands as one of Big Bear Lake's most beloved hiking destinations, offering spectacular panoramic views of the lake and surrounding ...

Pine Knot Trail

Moderate

Distance: 7.1 miles roundtrip to Grand View Point

Elevation: 1,167 ft

Time: 3.5-4 hours

Pine Knot Trail offers one of Big Bear's most rewarding hiking experiences, climbing through serene pine forests and wildflower-dotted meadows to reac...

Alpine Pedal Path

Easy

Distance: 3.2 miles one-way (6.4 miles roundtrip)

Elevation: 50 ft

Time: 1.5-2 hours

The Alpine Pedal Path is Big Bear's premier accessible trail, featuring a smooth, paved asphalt surface that makes it perfect for walkers, runners, cy...

Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail

Easy

Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip

Elevation: Minimal

Time: 20-30 minutes

The Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail is a short, easy hike that leads to one of California's most impressive natural wonders - the largest recorded lodge...

Woodland Interpretive Trail

Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles loop

Elevation: 300 ft

Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour

The Woodland Interpretive Trail offers an educational journey through Big Bear's diverse mountain ecosystem on an easy 1.5-mile loop that's perfect fo...

Cougar Crest Trail

Moderate

Distance: 4.8 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 720 ft

Time: 2-3 hours

Cougar Crest Trail is one of Big Bear's most popular and rewarding hikes, offering stunning panoramic vistas of Big Bear Lake and the surrounding San ...

Bertha Peak via Cougar Crest Trail

Moderate

Distance: 7.2 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 1,348 ft

Time: 3.5-4.5 hours

Bertha Peak stands as one of Big Bear's premier summit hikes, offering unparalleled 360-degree views of Big Bear Lake, the Mojave Desert, and the San ...

Grays Peak Trail

Moderate

Distance: 6.9 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 1,187 ft

Time: 3-4 hours

Grays Peak Trail offers a quieter, less-crowded alternative to some of Big Bear's more popular hikes, with equally stunning views of Big Bear Lake fro...

Sugarloaf National Recreation Trail

Hard

Distance: 10 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 3,000 ft

Time: 5-7 hours

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail is Big Bear's ultimate summit challenge, climbing to 9,952 feet - the highest point in the Big Bear Valley and one of the tal...

Bluff Lake Reserve Loop

Easy

Distance: 2.5 miles loop

Elevation: 200 ft

Time: 1-2 hours

Bluff Lake Reserve Loop offers a unique hiking experience through one of Southern California's finest intact mountain marsh and meadow complexes, mana...

Skyline Trail

Moderate

Distance: 8.5 miles one-way (17 miles roundtrip)

Elevation: 160 ft

Time: 4-6 hours one-way

Skyline Trail is Big Bear's signature long-distance hiking and mountain biking trail, offering 15 miles of scenic singletrack that traverses the mount...

Butler Peak Trail

Moderate

Distance: 9.7 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 1,630 ft

Time: 4-5 hours

Butler Peak Trail leads to one of Big Bear's most spectacular summits at 8,535 feet, crowned by the historic Butler Peak Fire Lookout tower. This mode...

Delamar Mountain via Pacific Crest Trail

Hard

Distance: 12.2 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 1,850 ft

Time: 6-7 hours

Delamar Mountain stands as one of Big Bear's most challenging and rewarding summit hikes, offering intrepid hikers a true wilderness experience on a l...

Aspen Grove Trail

Easy

Distance: 4 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 672 ft

Time: 2-2.5 hours

Aspen Grove Trail offers hikers a rare glimpse of one of only two aspen groves in Southern California, making it a truly unique destination in the San...

Hanna Flat Trail

Moderate

Distance: 7.8 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 50 ft (minimal)

Time: 3-4 hours

Hanna Flat Trail offers a unique Big Bear hiking experience - a long, gentle forest walk with minimal elevation gain that focuses on peaceful solitude...

Trail Safety Tips