Big Bear Hiking Trails
Explore 19 amazing trails around Big Bear Lake with detailed trail guides, GPS coordinates, parking info, and difficulty ratings. From easy lakeside walks to challenging mountain summits - find your perfect Big Bear hiking adventure.
🥾 New to Big Bear hiking? Start here:
Browse Trails by Difficulty
Choose trails based on your fitness level and experience. Each difficulty level offers unique rewards - from peaceful forest walks to summit views.
🥾 Easy Trails
Perfect for beginners, families, and casual hikers. Minimal elevation gain, well-maintained paths.
- Alpine Pedal Path (paved)
- Champion Lodgepole Pine (0.5 mi)
- Woodland Interpretive Trail
⛰️ Moderate Trails
Some elevation gain, good workout, rewarding views. Best for regular hikers with moderate fitness.
- Castle Rock Trail (★ Most Popular)
- Cougar Crest Trail
- Siberia Creek Trail
🏔️ Hard Trails
Challenging climbs, significant elevation gain, experienced hikers only. Summit views worth the effort.
- Pine Knot Trail (7.1 mi, 1,700 ft gain)
- Bertha Peak via PCT
- Delamar Mountain
Castle Rock Trail
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Distance: 6.9 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 1,187 ft
Time: 3-4 hours
IMPORTANT: Grays Peak Trail is closed November 1st through April 1st each year to protect critical wintering habitat for bald eagles, which nest in th...
Sugarloaf National Recreation Trail
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
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, care...
Skyline Trail
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
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
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
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
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...
San Bernardino Peak Trail
Distance: 15.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 4,691 ft
Time: 9-10 hours
San Bernardino Peak Trail is one of the most challenging and rewarding hikes in the San Bernardino Mountains, summiting at 10,649 feet - one of the ta...
Jenks Lake Trail
Distance: 3.1 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 485 ft
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Jenks Lake Trail is a delightful family-friendly hike that leads to one of the San Bernardino National Forest's most charming woodland lakes. This eas...
Maple Hills Trail System
Distance: 18+ miles of trails (32 named routes)
Elevation: Varies by route
Time: 1-3 hours depending on route
The Maple Hills Trail System offers an extensive network of 18+ miles of multi-use trails featuring 32 named routes spread across Big Bear City's nort...
Eye of God Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 259 ft
Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
The Eye of God Trail offers a short, easy hike to one of Big Bear's most culturally and geologically significant landmarks - a massive white quartz do...
📚 Helpful Hiking Guides
Explore our comprehensive hiking guides with expert tips, seasonal recommendations, and insider advice for making the most of your Big Bear adventures.
Top 10 Big Bear Hikes
Our definitive guide to the best trails, from Castle Rock to Pine Knot. Updated for 2025.
5 Easy Beginner Hikes
Perfect for first-time hikers and families with kids. All under 3 miles.
Fall Colors Guide
Best trails for golden aspens and autumn foliage (peak: Oct 10-25).
Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing
Complete winter trails guide with snowshoe routes (Nov-Apr).
Free Parking Guide
Save $5-15/day with our complete trailhead parking tips.
Best Pre-Hike Breakfast
Fuel up at these local breakfast spots before hitting the trails.
Essential Big Bear Hiking Tips
🅿️ Parking & Adventure Pass
Most National Forest trailheads require a $5 daily or $30 annual Adventure Pass. Some notable exceptions:
📅 When to Hike
Best months: May through October
Peak season: July-August (warmest, most crowded)
Our favorite: September-October (fall colors, fewer crowds, perfect temps)
Winter: November-April (snow hiking/snowshoeing, many trails inaccessible)
⚠️ Safety Essentials
- Water: At least 1 liter per 2 hours - altitude increases dehydration
- Sunscreen & hat: Less ozone protection at 6,750+ ft elevation
- Tell someone: Share hiking plans and expected return time
- Wildlife: Black bears active - make noise, store food properly
- Check conditions: Call Big Bear Discovery Center (909) 382-2790
Browse by Category
Find the perfect trail for your adventure. Browse our curated trail categories and winter activities guide.
Trail Safety Tips
- Always check weather and trail conditions before heading out
- Bring plenty of water - Big Bear's high altitude increases dehydration risk
- Wear sunscreen and a hat - less ozone protection at elevation
- Display an Adventure Pass for National Forest parking areas
- Tell someone your hiking plans and expected return time
- Watch for wildlife - black bears are active in the area