This was approximately a 5 mile round trip hike (+0.5 miles if you're walking from the Big Bear Discovery Center parking lot). I wouldn't say it's an easy hike, but more moderate/intermediate with slight incline. Just my personal opinion, I don't think you have to walk further up to Bertha Peak for "better" views. The views at the top of Cougar Crest Trail are already quite spectacular. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

Cougar? My kind of trail. We brought our bikes and did a nice route on here. You can tell who are the novice bikers on the road. Trail isnt that hard and was a nice treat while in town. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Waiting for my honey to do the dirt trail then come back down lol - Hiking Near Me

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Wow! 3 hours, 4 miles, 800 foot elevation climb. It was intense. For me. I went slow and we had 4 couples out pace us . I found it pretty steep incline. It was a pretty intense trail for me, I hike a few times a year, and am in relatively decent shape, although I've had 2 knee surgeries so that affects me. It took us 2 hours to get the the top, 1 hour down. We rested a lot on the way up and took pictures. I'm sure someone in better physical shape could make it up in 1 hour and down 1 hour. I mean kids were doing it. So unless you're in your 70's or have real health issues, you can do it! The top ends at the pacific coast trail. It was worth the beautiful views!! You could see the full lake at several different rest benches on the way up. Bring water and snacks. It was about 78 degrees today in Sept read more

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Great hiking spot with a gradual incline. I'd consider it a moderately difficult hike, but the high starting elevation can be challenging. read more

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A great hike with moderate elevation gain. It faces south so can be hot on a summer afternoon. I imagine that it would have less snow and ice than other hikes in the winter and spring. It took me 65 minutes to reach the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I liked using iNaturalist to identify plants on the hike. In summer, the Fremontodendron shrub offers spectacular yellow flowers. read more

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Cougar Crest Trail is a 5.6 mile round trip that takes about 2.5 hours to complete. The best view of Big Bear Lake would be at the area with 3 benches. Walking further to complete the AllTrail's route was somewhat anticlimactic. Though you could hike further in to reach Bertha Peak. Limited parking spots. Trail was a steady incline to the top and mostly exposed to the sun. Short video of the hike: https://youtu.be/nBkKLX4vJF4 read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

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Such an awesome hike! I'm thoroughly impressed at what an scenic & spectacular views we had once we got to the point of Big Bear Lake. We ended up parking off Hwy 38 as the parking lot was full. There's not too many spots so on Memorial Day weekend, we figured it would be busy. We got there around 9:30am and we're back at the car a little after 2pm. We took a lot of breaks as & had many photo op's. My favorite pictures were from the random benches on the hike! I didn't realize how big/long the lake is until we were at the top. Wow!! You can see boats on the lake and unfortunately, seems the lake has less water or has receded. Darn drought. My favorite part, other than the views, was that at the end you intersect with the Pacific Crest Trail. How cool is that? It would've been great to see some PCT hikers. I feel like this hike was a nice workout too. Lots of rocks you are walking on & it's a gradual incline. I feel refreshed & happy to do this hike. Totally worth it if you're in Big Bear & have time for a 3-5 hour hike. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

On my birthday went for a hike here with a friend, she actually showed me this trail. We went in a Sunday and it was practically empty, peaceful and full of fresh air. Ok when you get there as usual there is parking and porter Johns at the trailhead. And then it's off to the hills. There is an easy assent, which would make this friendly for all family members. There are plenty of spots to relax and pull your munchies and have a snack and enjoy the moment. Well we only went in a mile and a half. And had a great view of the lake. Oh and did I say we did run into a couple with two pretty huskies. They where ahead of us and actually we didn't catch up. Well to get to the point this is an easy trail fur a slow walk to enjoy the fresh air and magnificent trees. Ya might see a tree down, take a seat and look around. read more

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A nice 3hr hike with a moderate incline all the way up then a moderate decline all the way down. Our group included a 38yo female, 47yo male, and 12yo girl. It was a bit hot. Definitely wear a hat and sunscreen. You're at high elevation so the sun will get you if you don't take preventative measures. Definitely bring plenty of water. Loved the view of Big Bear Lake! read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Sign near the crossroads where it intersects PCT - Hiking Near Me

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I'm tempted to give a 2-star rating but how dare I rate Mother Nature that low? But if you believe the description in the Discovery Center and think this is a moderate well-maintained 2-mile one way trail, you may be in for some surprise. The road condition is very ROCKY -- people with knee/ankle/hip issues might have a hard time. People with soft shoes will definitely suffer. We met a guy with light weight walking shoes and he seemed miserable. Very few signs along the way so unless you use GPS you won't know where you are in the trip. The views are very nice indeed. No questions. A key factor in the enjoyment of the hike is your physical condition. Be sure to take that into consideration when you read all the happy reviews as you don't know what their physical conditions were as compared to your own. read more

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Good placed to go sledding. Super fun spot. Just walk your butt up that hill #YouCanDoIt #MerryChristmas #FreeSledding read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Free sledding you just have to walk your butt up the hill - Hiking Near Me

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Great place to sled with the family. Walk about a 1 mile in and you'll find some pretty cool sledding areas. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

We parked at the Discovery Center and walked to the Cougar Crest Trail head, which it said was about 0.6 miles away. Free parking at the Discovery Center until 5 pm. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. It's a pretty busy trail. There are a few good lookout spots and 3 benches scattered along the way. Coolest part of the hike, I thought, was it crosses paths with the Pacific Crest Trail. If you just go round trip on the Cougar Crest Trail I think it's about 4 miles. We kept on going up to Bertha Peak which is another 1.5 miles from the Cougar and PCT junction, total round trip was 7 miles. You go right on the PCT and then there's a sign pointing you towards Bertha Peak. There's nothing marking the top of Bertha Peak, and views are better along the Cougar Crest Trail... read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

You want FREE sledding fun???? This is the place to go. We opt out of playing 30 bucks for 2 hours of tubing. (Which literally saved us $240.) This place had bunny slope for kids, intermediate and semi advance slopes. You just have to be safe and go up thro the dirt path so that you have more levage/balancing going up. We spent the whole day here and had a blast. There's beautiful trees, lots of snow, beautiful scenery, fun slopes, benches to sit/admire mother earth, and hiking trails. This is a must hit up spot when you go to Big Bear. I'm so glad that we stopped at the snowboard store to ask the locals. You won't be disappointed. Free snow play and free parking. It's a WIN WIN SITUATION! read more

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If you are looking to scale mountains or rummage through wilderness or nearly die, this is NOT the hike for you. Cougar Crest trail is a calm 4 mile roundtrip hike with gorgeous panoramic views that overlook Big Bear Lake. Easy for kids 10+, moderate for ages 6-9. So all you need is a little water bottle sunglasses and clothing pending the weather (gets cold in the shade!) The coolest thing is that this crosses the Pacific Crest Trail (going from Mexico to Canada), a pretty cool landmark! Dog friendly and people friendly, love this hike and would love to come back. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

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This trail was amazing!!!! We went around 2 pm on a Sunday and there wasn't too many people. Pick up a day pass at the discovery center to park in the parking lot assigned to the trail (only $5). It took us 3 hours round trip. It started sprinkling while we were hiking, it was awesome! Due to the rain, it smelled a lot like pine trees and flowers :) Take comfortable shoes, as it is a long hike. We will definitely be back! Seeing a deer at the end of our hike was definitely a highlight! :) read more

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Limited parking with Discovery Pass and a few portable toilets near the parking lot. Great experience walking the trail. Lucky to see snow this late in the year, April 1st. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - April 1st, 2023 - Hiking Near Me

Great view of the lake! Hike wasn't too strenuous but due to the altitude I was huffing and puffing. Parking was available with restrooms. Would return. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - View of lake from one of the viewpoints - Hiking Near Me

3.5 stars. We came on a sunny day. Parking lot was full but luckily we found a spot after someone left. Get the $5 adventure pass at 7-eleven. The trail was mostly sunny/not shaded. 4.6 miles round trip Easy - moderate level with some View points of the Lake Big Bear. read more

#1 technical Mountain bike trail in San Bernardino National Forest! Continuios rock rarden with roots, ledges and rocks! read more

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Great hike at Big Bear. Some technical sections and an almost constant climb, but well worth it for the view! Small parking lot with a gender-neutral bathroom, sans sink. read more

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This is my favorite trail in Big Bear! It's considered moderate to intense but if you're fairly active, this hike shouldn't be too hard. I always continue past the end of this trail, and follow the pacific crest trail up to Bertha Peak for the best view of the lake. You know you've made it once you see the radio tower. Parking at the trail head is $5 so remember to swing by the Discovery Center for pick up a day pass. But if you're a penny pincher like myself, you can park for free at the center and walk the extra 0.5 miles to the trail head. Bring water, snacks, and a JACKET! It get chilly and windy up there, especially during the winter months. Have fun! read more

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Spent the weekend in Big Bear for my birthday and decided to do a bday hike. We went on a Saturday morning in February. We purchased an Adventure day pass from 7eleven before heading to the trailhead, so we were able to park in the parking lot. The passes are 5$ per vehicle, but if you don't want to buy one, there is also parking available along the main road. We got there around 845-9am and the parking lot was a little over 1/2 full. Despite the parking lot being almost full, we only encountered two other hikers on our way up the mountain, so it was pretty peaceful. We made it all the way to Bertha Peak. The view up there is absolutely amazing. It took us about 2.5hrs to make it to the top, but we stopped multiple times for photos and were moving at a rather slow pace. We were able to sit and have a few snacks at the peak, since it was only us and the other two hikers up there with us. We headed back down around 12pm and began to encounter A LOT more people that were heading up. By the looks of how many people we were passing on our way down, I can confidently say this trail gets crowded. I definitely recommend to get out early (at least by or before 9am). I can't speak for how busy it is in the Spring, Summer or Fall months, but I would assume you may want to get out even earlier, since it's warmer and no snow. We finished the hike around 1:45pm. Overall, this was a great hike, with some pretty awesome views. Be sure to bring plenty of water and a few snacks (or lunch) to have at the top! read more

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We were looking for a nice hike to take the dogs on (one chihuahua and a yorkie) and we chose the Cougar Trail in Big Bear. The trail is located on the north side of the lake right past the ranger station and the discovery center. The hike was not easy to do, but not a difficult one either. We didn't go the full 2.5 miles up, but still managed to see a lot of great views of Big Bear. This hike is mostly uphill, so be prepared. The views going up were spectacular! You get a great view of the mountains and entire lake below! The dogs handled the trek up and down well, although the chihuahua had to be carried most of the way! I'm sure a larger dog would be fine! There was patches of snow and a lot pine cones around! Also, there are benches set up along the way to have lunch or rest and enjoy the sights. Don't forget to pick up an adventure pass at the discovery center, it's only $5.00 for one day. You will need it for pretty much any hiking trail in Big Bear. Just place it in your car before your hike. read more

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Easiest way to get here is by following the address of the Discovery Center. There are tons of parking spaces and it's free. As you parked, there is a bike path and you will see a sign of all the trails you can choose from. If you want to enter the correct path, from N. Shore, pass the Discovery Center less than a mile, and you will actually see the entrance and parking for Cougar Crest Trail. We started the trail from the bike path and climbed the little hills and we finally saw the actual trail. It's actually a fun trail, especially with the weather that day. Lots of greenery and you can see the mountain with a little scrape of man-made snow. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

I loved this hike. Don't forget to get your 5 dollar parking permit. Aside from that bring plenty of water for you and your dog(my German Shepard went through a gallon) and enjoy the natured filled hike! Keep going to the top for the BEAUTIFUL view! read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

Boring and easy hike. It's mostly a dirt path and there isn't a good view. We hiked 1.5 miles in but after the same view it was not worth. Decent and safe parking but they did not Maxime the space. They can easily add more spots. read more

The perfect hike for those wanting some middle ground between "easy" and "hard." It's about 3 miles to Pacific Crest Trail, which is where it starts to get tough apparently. We didn't make it that far. But you get some beautiful views of the lake when you get near the PCT. And we took our little 10 pound dog. He had a blast for about 2 miles and then threw in the towel. Bring sunscreen. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me

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There were no cougars on this trail. There were some great views though. Not too exposed and not strenuous. Lots of pups taking their owners on a hike. read more

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This was the first official hike of my life. A good friend of mine is all into hiking and was looking forward to this hike when we decided on camping in Big Bear. According to him it was an intermediate hike (skilled beginner) I was like whatever, I'll go for as far as I can. Let me tell you, one of the greatest experiences of my life, challenging yet forgiving. The right amount of shade, but definitely use sun block. We started our hike at 730am and reached Bertha's Peak around 1030am. Only because I had to stop a few times due to my respiratory issues. The whole trail is covered in beauty, I fell in love with the scenery and would definitely do this hike again. Maybe train a little prior.. lol.. I think I was dehydrated after and it took me about an hour to get back to feeling normal after. Take plenty of water and snacks to boast your energy. read more

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Great hike with amazing views. What makes this hike so pleasant is how easily accessible it is. No dirt road or 4WD vehicle needed. Beginners can do this hike with no problem if you take it slow. We went up Bertha's Peak via Cougar Crest Trail during a Spring weekday, did not see a single person along the way. Like any other hike in SoCal bringing plenty of water, sunscreen, and layering are a must if you plan to enjoy your time outdoors. read more

Cougar Crest Trail - View from Cougar Crest Trail looking towards Big Bear Valley and Lake. - Hiking Near Me

Overall, this was a great hike! Fairly easy, you can bring your children with you as well! During the beginning the trail is wide, but once you start to get farther it becomes very rocky...so where really good hiking shoes!! This trail is roughly around 5 mile round trip and the view is beautiful. I went in late May of 2015 and did not see much wildlife, except for some little lizards and butterfly's. I very much recommend this trail! You will have fun. P.S. Once you hit the end of cougar crest trail..you will hit the entrance to Bertha Peak trail...DO IT! You won't regret it! It's a bit steep, but the end view is worth it! read more

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The discovery center is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays so we parked off of N Shore Ln and took the bike path that takes you through a tunnel so we could park. You need a recreational pass to park in the parking lot & can only get it at the discovery center (closed, unfortunately). Extremely muddy so don't wear any nice shoes! Also, plenty of sledding opportunities. read more

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Free parking at the Discovery Center and easy access to the Cougar Creat Trail (.6 miles walk). Very well maintained trail, path was cleared after recent snowfall and we didn't need snowshoes. The beginning of the hike is relatively easy with little uphill. After the first mile there is a steady uphill. We hiked up with caution as there were sections where snow was slushy. This was my first hike in the snow and Cougar Crest seemed like the perfect moderate trail for a fist experience. We did a total of 5.2 miles round trip (including the .6 from the Discovery Center parking lot) read more

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We used the Cougar Crest Trail to reach Bertha Peak. The hike is 7.2 miles roundtrip with 1400' elevation difference. Another Yelp listing also exists for this hike (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/bertha-peak-through-cougar-crest-trail-fawnskin). The parking lot is clearly marked on Highway 38 by large brown signs. The lot has a pit toilet but no bear lockers despite being next to Big Bear Lake. The trailhead sign (and local residents) warned of a wide variety of dangerous snakes. Thankfully, we didn't run into any. A $5 Adventure Pass is needed to park in the lot. More groups of hikers on the trail than vehicles in the parking lot suggested that people are starting at the Big Bear Discovery Center (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/big-bear-discovery-center-fawnskin) that is half-a-mile away via paved trail as noted by the Forest Service (see https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sbnf/recarea/?recid=26375). The trail is flattest at the beginning and steepest at the end. The hike finishes on a rocky service road for the transmission towers located on Bertha's summit. Power lines and trees interfere with views but Big Bear Lake, airport, ski runs, San Gorgonio Mountain, Keller Peak, and the Mojave Desert are visible. Going to the top is not necessary to enjoy a nice view. If short on time, physically unable, or prevented by the elements like bad weather or snow, turn-back at a vista point that is marked by four benches. The benches are 2.15 miles one-way with 700' elevation gain from the trailhead. read more

Came to the big bear lake at 10am-1pm on a Friday morning. When we got here, I couldn't even recognize this was the big bear lake; it was so foggy, dusty, dry/droughty, hot and humid. It was like, uncomfortable. I brought my family here and thought it would be a refreshing hiking session... My dad and my brother were like "what is this place that you took us to?" Apparently. After the lake fire burning in the mountain and Forrest took place in the area, the air quality here became so dried up that we couldn't even open our eyes hiking on the rocky dull trail; my mouth was constantly dehydrated and my skin started peeling off too? The mountain air wasn't as fresh and the view didn't look as impressively great like the other time I came here. The lake and the environment looked so dry and colorless.. Sadly. read more

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This is a great hike but definitely tiring due to the incline. Trail is a bit rocky but the views are well worth it. As you progress up the trail, there will be a few seating areas where you can take a break and enjoy the view of Big Bear Lake. It's a good length hike, not too long not too short. Parking lot is not difficult to find and the parking pass was only about $5. I would definitely go back. read more

One of my favorite hikes up in big bear. Not a difficult trail what so ever! You can even go off the path and onto the sides and get great pictures. Everyone passing by was very kind and polite. I went around 4 pm and was such a perfect timing. Not too hot and not too many people. Loved all the trees and some had even called down. Quite a sight to see! read more

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Free trail with a small parking lot you can park for free at!! We were looking to find a place to go sledding, and didnt want to dish out 30 dollars per person, and the aspen gardens were full! So we headed here and had a blast! People come here to sled and play in the snow. Be warned! Park in the provided spaces only or you'll be getting ticketed! (Only a five dollar fee but still) read more

Moderate trail. Love the view. Just bring plenty of water coz you will need it. Some steep and rocky path. its a total of 8.17 miles 16,416 steps Don't forget to get your daily pass fro $5 either at Discovery Center (which is close on Tues and Wed) or any 7-11 stores read more

Cougar Crest Trail - Hiking Near Me