This was a great trail to hike. Parking was easily accessible. No pass was required to park…read more The weather was nice and there was a breeze when we went a couple weeks ago. We did nearly nine miles. The trail connects to different trails which is how we covered that distance. The views were great and my puppy enjoyed running parts of the trail with me. It's a definitely a place where you can bring a light lunch to picnic with. I would come again and do different parts of the trail.

Nice moderate hike right outside the village. Some more strenuous switchbacks at the start, and…read morethen turns into more of a gradual uphill the rest of the way. Downhill almost the whole way back except for a few small stretches. Intermittent sunny and shaded areas. Some viewpoints of the lake and mountains but no real showstopper. Not much in the way of interesting vegetation in August, but lots of chipmunks, squirrels, birds, and lizards. Clearly marked with official trail signs, spray paint, and neon ties.

For camping... There are 12 free campsites spread out over a few miles... quite far apart, and…read moreprivate. Not all sites are conducive to RVs (I have no trouble in my campervan ). Closed in winter. This is the mountains... be prepared for bears, raccoons, coyotes etc. There are fire rings, but no toilets, picnic tables, or water. However, there are bathrooms at the children's Forest (which you pass halfway up) and you are close enough to town to get a pizza (or supplies). Drive (or hike) to the top, take your time, and climb the fire tower. Read about the history of the tower and enjoy the amazing view from up there.

If you're looking for a more strenuous trail, look no further than the Mill Peak Trail along Keller…read morePeak. You'll definitely want to follow along on the All Trails app. Though keep in mind that cell service is pretty limited on most of the trails around Lake Arrowhead. Parking is pretty limited at the trailhead with tiny parking spaces located on both sides of the main road. So arrive early for the best parking options. We hit the trail going clockwise and felt the burn as we headed up the mountainside. It's listed as "moderate" on the All Trails app but we both felt it edged much more into the "hard" category. There is one section where we literally were scaling the steep trail -- taking 3 steps forward and slipping 2 steps back (or so it felt like!). The trail eventually takes you up to the top where you'll get views of the lowlands below. It's truly beautiful. It's also one of the less popular trails so you won't likely see many people along your trek. After wrapping up your hike, head back to the car and make the side trip to Keller Peak Fire Lookout. During our visit, the lookout tower interior was closed due to COVID-19. But it's still worth making the journey to chat with the lookout ranger and hear what it takes to be a volunteer. In one word: peaceful. Though our ranger volunteer was very chatty. Clearly, he didn't see many people this weekend besides us! It was well worth the journey!

My #1 all time best favorite area in all these here hills. Pro tip#1: park at the secret area off…read more2N86 next to the log cabin (movie prop) and rock fireplace cabin foundation n. Shore bluff lake parking area. Look for sign that reads "locked gate ahead" and you'll know you're in the right area. The trail along the North Shore of Bluff Lake continue West to the champion. Lodgepole pine and meadow. This is one of the great walks of the world. You're welcome. Sure, I've been exploring, pioneering, prospecting, and checking out the best spots in Big Bear for over 25 years so yeah it's good.

This was the most beautiful hike I have ever done. The wildflowers and rock formations were…read morespectacular! The trail was safe, relatively flat and interesting. Our kids enjoyed bouldering, nature journaling and observing the wildlife. There were plenty of places to stop and explore. The first part of the trail hugs a small creak that winds around boulders and underneath fallen trees. The second part of the hike leads you to a pine tree that is over 400 years old. It was very impressive. Behind the giant tree is the most gorgeous meadow I have ever seen. It was like something out if a movie!!! I highly recommend this hike. The slow and bumpy drive is totally worth it. FYI- the directions that yelp offers are inaccurate. You are better off googling them yourself.

First, on a Sunday afternoon at the end of October, no parking by noon. My second reason for…read moreremoving a star is that the "female" restroom was out of order, the "male" restroom didn't have a trash can (which I understand, partly, being in the forest). But why have a girls and boys restroom, why not just two bathrooms. And the last reason I kept a star, only one trash reciprocal in the entire parking lot. I believe we should continue to encourage Visitors to "pack it in, pack it out" plus some. How do we do that if we expect then to put it in their car and take it with them? Trailhead has a very descriptive sign, provides lots of good information. Trail is 6.4 miles, 1,174 altitude gain (out/back), dogs allowed on lead, near Fawnskin. This trail offers AMAZING views of Big Bear Lake, bikes also share the trail. (Dog bags provided at trailhead, pls pick up after yourself, and your doggie;) There's so much to explore, get up, and get out there.

A nice escape, I think it's probably less-trafficked because it's on the North Shore (away from the…read moremain crowds) and a bit away from the Discovery Center. At the top is a rock outcropping where you can get a good view of the lake, albeit partially obstructed. I saw a cinnamon-furred black bear near the top the last time I hiked (June 27, 2017 around 6:15pm), so be on the lookout, keep your distance, and make your presence know (I stomped my feet, and he took notice and slowly went about his business in a different direction than where I was). July 13, 2017: did an evening hike and saw 2 deer, along with a pair of yellow eyes and green eyes (more deer?) at night, and three scorpions along the trail. You will need an Adventure Pass to park in the lot, but alternatively you can park along the road (a good spot is by the Eagle habitat warning sign).

Awesome scenic trail overlooking Big Bear Lake. About an hour loop at an easy difficulty, this was…read morethe perfect way to start our Saturday morning. Views were stunning and was super low traffic for a holiday weekend. Definitely recommend.

Woodland interpretive trail is a beautiful scenic hike right next to the Big Bear Lake. It's free…read moreadmission which is a big plus. I would say it's an immediate level of hiking difficulty as there are several hills going up and down. The trail takes about an hour to loop around. There are breathtaking viewpoints to admire and take pictures. We went during the winter when there was some snow. I recommend you wear good hiking or snow boots with good grip as it can get slippery and muddy. There is a parking lot at the entrance but you have to pay for a parking pass at the kiosk. We ended up parking on the street before the entrance which was free. Definitely recommend this for all visitors looking for great views and to connect with nature.

Amazing hike about 2 hours if you have small kids. Beautiful trees really woody…read more It's a round trip loop with the map posted in the middle

Great short hike, about 2 miles round trip, easy to moderate trail, beautiful trees, serene views,…read morepeaceful, and not busy. Stayed at an Airbnb close by and my kids wanted to explore the outdoors. Found this trail and it was prefect for what we were looking for. My 8 year olds enjoyed the view from the top, saw squirrels and birds, and only got tired towards the end. There is a dirt path and signs posted making it easy to follow. There were lots of trees providing shade and a cool feel. There were a few areas (stumps/down trees/rocks) to sit and rest at and some inclines, but nothing too strenuous or steep. It was very quiet and peaceful, and it felt like we were the only ones out there. Although we ran into 3 couples during our hike, we had the trail pretty much to ourselves. There is limited parking, but we were able to park along the curb and didn't have an issue. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

Good, short trail near the city. Online reviews suggest that the trail has fall colors, but it does…read morenot. One end is on Clubview. The other end is at Poplar and Willow in a residential area with no parking; park on Clubview and walk along Willow to the trailhead

Trail is easy to access and easy to walk, no steep inclines, surroundings of course are beautiful.read more

Definitely a better view of Big Bear Lake at Cougar Crest Trail than at Castle Rock Trail…read more Bertha Peak was about 7 miles round trip and took me a little over 3 hours to complete. The trail gets very rocky and there are some steep inclines in the last mile to the top. I personally wouldn't recommend Bertha Peak and would suggest doing the Cougar Crest Trail instead which was around 5.3 miles round trip (same exact trail to the peak). There was not a view at the peak that was any different from what you could see at lower elevation. If you want to torture yourself, go for that extra mileage to the peak.

I reach Bertha Peak by starting at the Cougar Crest Trail head then connect to the Pacific Crest…read moretrail! The view from up there is amazing! Bring a warm jacket because it gets cold up here along with plenty of water and snacks for the much needed pick-me-up. I came up here during March and it was still fairly cold up there. Don't forget to pay for parking at the bottom of the mountain! You can buy a day pass for $5 at the discovery center. OR if you're cheap like me, you can park at the center for free and walk the extra 0.5 miles to the cougar crest trail head. But remember the center closes around 4:30 so be back before then to get your car! Be safe and have fun! :]