Take the 330 North to the 38 and follow it to Big Bear Dam, continue along the North Shore on the 38. Just before the town of Fawnskin, you will see the trailhead parking lot. Parking here is limited, but you can park at Grout's Bay picnic area across the highway if you need to.
If you are traveling along the 38 westbound, the trail parking is just after the town of Fawnskin.
The trail is well graded and maintained. Only the last 150 feet to the top is unmaintained.
The trail is closed during spring and winter due to Bald Eagles nesting in the area, please do not disturb their habitat.
The route to the top is easy to find, take the right fork at both road intersections on the trail. You follow the first road for a bit, and the second only for a moment.
Description
Big Bear is awesome! I can't say that enough. The sheer number of small to moderate size hikes in the area is amazing. The scenery is very Sierra-like with the towering lodgepoles and granite boulders. When you spy the far reaching vistas of the San Gorgonios, you can almost imagine yourself away from the hustle and bustle of So Cal.
This hike has it all, wonderful forest, medium altitude, a peak, lake views, and opportunities for spotting wildlife.
It is a pretty easy hike, and if you take it slow, you will find it very enjoyable as an all day outing, or if you are like me and get up here after work - you can have the trail all to yourself in the middle of the week, and make it a two hour jaunt.
The bummer side of the trail is that there are no sweeping views of the lake, this is also its silver lining; you are on the backside of the lake and you do not hear the cars or the boaters. You are steeped in the silence of the wild.
It thundered and rained on me.
Map / Directions:
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