6.5 miles
1100 feet gain
5/10
Big Bear Lake ,CA (92315) 79.58 miles from you Weather Map
Drive East on the 18 to Big Bear City, about a mile past the bridge over the dam the trail will begin on your left. It is signed, but there is no parking. you have to park about 150 feet away on the left. Look for the first place to park and that is it.
Take the trail up to Castle Rock where you should scramble to the top and get the amazing view of the lake - see my other hike posted for this.
Get a good map because the trail and roads are many and difficult to intuit unless you have GPS or a good topo.
This trail gains all it's elevation in the first 3/4 of a mile. It is steep, but after that it is all flat and the area look amazing.
If you have more than an hour and at least a half a day - this is the hike to take in Big Bear.
Be sure before crossing into Bluff Lake Preserve you contact and get permission from The Wildlands Conservancy (909) 797-8507, there are rare plants and meadows here, be careful where you tread. I would suggest getting permission, because this area is beautiful and worth your trip through.
Otherwise you have to follow the road a little farther, but not much. It is really easy to get to the Champion Lodgepole this way. It is over 450 years old and 110 feet tall, a real rarity for this variety of pine.
You will be amazed at how much this entire area feels and looks like the Sierras, you will want to come back. And, please stay out of the fragile meadows.