Big Bear Lake, a region in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, is characterized by its high-altitude alpine environment within the San Bernardino National Forest. This area features an expansive freshwater lake surrounded by towering peaks and extensive Ponderosa pine forests, offering diverse terrain for outdoor pursuits. The landscape provides varied opportunities for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more.
Big Bear Lake offers more than 50…
61
Routes
4.8
(71)
Average rating
1090
People visited

5
hikers
2.05km
00:47
230m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
hikers
1.24km
00:19
0m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
5.30km
01:38
250m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.06km
01:12
190m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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54
riders
46.5km
01:54
270m
270m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
111
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

51
riders
106km
05:01
1,300m
1,300m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.5
(2)
46
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.0
(1)
6
riders
49.8km
02:55
300m
300m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
35
riders
29.0km
01:45
230m
230m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(8)
47
riders
17.4km
01:03
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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1
riders
44.0km
03:55
1,370m
1,370m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(1)
35
riders
39.1km
03:41
790m
790m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

30
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

16
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(2)
49
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
23.1km
02:44
530m
530m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
16
runners
21.4km
02:39
540m
540m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
25
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Big Bear Lake offers a wide range of outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, and Jogging. The region features diverse terrain within the San Bernardino National Forest, catering to various skill levels.
Popular hiking trails include Castle Rock Trail, known for panoramic views, Pine Knot Trail offering scenic vistas, and Cougar Crest Trail. The Grandview Trail provides expansive views, accessible after a sky chair ride. More details can be found in the Hiking around Big Bear Lake guide.
Yes, Big Bear Lake offers trails suitable for beginners. The Alpine Pedal Path is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) paved path along the northern shoreline, ideal for a relaxing walk. For additional options, consult the Easy hikes around Big Bear Lake guide.
Big Bear Lake is recognized for its extensive mountain biking network. Snow Summit Bike Park offers lift-served downhill trails. Other popular options include the Skyline Ridge Trail (2N10) and Hanna Flats. Explore more in the MTB Trails around Big Bear Lake guide.
Yes, the region features various road cycling routes. The Big Bear Lake Loop is a 17-mile (27 km) scenic ride around the lake. An intermediate 32-mile (51 km) route extends this to include Baldwin Lake. More options are available in the Road Cycling Routes around Big Bear Lake guide.
Key natural features include Big Bear Lake itself, Castle Rock for scenic views, and Bluff Lake Reserve, a pristine mountain marsh. Grand Viewpoint in the San Bernardino National Forest offers panoramic vistas, and Stanfield Marsh provides a wildlife habitat.
Big Bear Lake is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 3,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The region features 87 routes across various sports, holding an average rating of 4.72 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Big Bear Lake, including Hiking around Big Bear Lake, Easy hikes around Big Bear Lake, Road Cycling Routes around Big Bear Lake, Cycling around Big Bear Lake, MTB Trails around Big Bear Lake, and Running Trails around Big Bear Lake.
Official travel and tourism information for Big Bear Lake is available on their website. Visitor information can also be obtained by calling +1-800-424-4232.
Big Bear Lake is known as a 'Sky Island Forest' due to its high altitude in Southern California, providing a distinct alpine environment. It offers year-round activities and diverse terrain, from tranquil lakeside paths to rugged mountain trails, within the San Bernardino National Forest.
Yes, Big Bear Lake offers routes suitable for touring cyclists. The Big Bear Lake Loop provides a scenic 17-mile (27 km) ride around the lake. For more options, refer to the Cycling around Big Bear Lake guide.

