Best of Big Bear

Best hikes in Big Bear

Trails around Big Bear Lake, ranked by our score out of 10: views and payoff 40%, trail quality, access and parking, and crowds 20% each.

Lengths, elevation gain and closures come from the US Forest Service where it publishes them; where it does not, the number comes from a trail database we name in our notes. Checked September 21, 2026.

See the list How we score

Checked September 21, 2026
Scores out of 10
No paid placements

Hiking trail through a mountain pine forest

The short answer

Top of our list: Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak, a steady climb with valley views and a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Easiest: the paved Alpine Pedal Path along the north shore, good for strollers and wheelchairs.
Short with a big view: Castle Rock Trail.
Seasonal: Grays Peak Trail closes from November 1 to April 1 to protect wintering bald eagles.
Closed now: the Champion Lodgepole Pine, Siberia Creek and Glory Ridge trails, under the Line Fire closure order through September 30, 2026.

The list

Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak

A well-graded climb to real valley and high-desert views, popular enough that you will not be alone.

Round trip, miles:

7.3

Difficulty:

Moderate to difficult

7.6 /10
Alpine Pedal Path

An easy paved lakeside path for strollers, wheelchairs and bikes — more a lakeside stroll than a hike.

Round trip, miles:

5.3

Difficulty:

Easy, paved

7.2 /10
Grays Peak Trail

A steady, well-liked climb to lake views, closed from November 1 to April 1 for wintering bald eagles.

Round trip, miles:

6.9

Difficulty:

Moderate to difficult

7 /10
Pineknot Trail to Grand View Point

A long, easy-grade forest walk to one of the best lake panoramas, shared with mountain bikes and horses.

Round trip, miles:

7.5

Difficulty:

Moderate

6.8 /10
Sugarloaf Trail

The long, hard option: a full day to the highest summit around the valley.

Round trip, miles:

12.1

Difficulty:

Difficult

6.6 /10
Castle Rock Trail

A short, steep climb to a big rock and a wide lake view; carry a downloaded map, because the upper junctions are confusing.

Round trip, miles:

2.4

Difficulty:

Moderate to difficult

6.2 /10
Bluff Lake Reserve Loop

A quiet loop through old-growth forest around a small lake, reached by a rough road that can close in bad weather.

Round trip, miles:

1.9

Difficulty:

Easy

6.2 /10
Woodland Trail

A flat, easy interpretive loop for families or a quick stop, not a view hike.

Round trip, miles:

1.5

Difficulty:

Easy

5.4 /10

The list
Rank	Name	Round trip, miles	Difficulty	Score	Summary
01	Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak	7.3	Moderate to difficult	7.6 /10	A well-graded climb to real valley and high-desert views, popular enough that you will not be alone.
02	Alpine Pedal Path	5.3	Easy, paved	7.2 /10	An easy paved lakeside path for strollers, wheelchairs and bikes — more a lakeside stroll than a hike.
03	Grays Peak Trail	6.9	Moderate to difficult	7 /10	A steady, well-liked climb to lake views, closed from November 1 to April 1 for wintering bald eagles.
04	Pineknot Trail to Grand View Point	7.5	Moderate	6.8 /10	A long, easy-grade forest walk to one of the best lake panoramas, shared with mountain bikes and horses.
05	Sugarloaf Trail	12.1	Difficult	6.6 /10	The long, hard option: a full day to the highest summit around the valley.
06	Castle Rock Trail	2.4	Moderate to difficult	6.2 /10	A short, steep climb to a big rock and a wide lake view; carry a downloaded map, because the upper junctions are confusing.
07	Bluff Lake Reserve Loop	1.9	Easy	6.2 /10	A quiet loop through old-growth forest around a small lake, reached by a rough road that can close in bad weather.
08	Woodland Trail	1.5	Easy	5.4 /10	A flat, easy interpretive loop for families or a quick stop, not a view hike.

Side by side

Name	Round trip, miles	Elevation gain, ft	Difficulty	Best for	Our score
Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak	7.3	1348	Moderate to difficult	A real climb with summit views	7.6
Alpine Pedal Path	5.3	298	Easy, paved	Strollers and wheelchairs	7.2
Grays Peak Trail	6.9	1187	Moderate to difficult	Lake views, April to October	7
Pineknot Trail to Grand View Point	7.5	1200	Moderate	Forest walk with a panorama	6.8
Sugarloaf Trail	12.1	3228	Difficult	A full-day summit climb	6.6
Castle Rock Trail	2.4	500	Moderate to difficult	Short hike, big lake view	6.2
Bluff Lake Reserve Loop	1.9	52	Easy	Quiet old-growth forest	6.2
Woodland Trail	1.5	230	Easy	Short family walk	5.4

Each trail in a few lines

Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak

Starts on Highway 38 near the Big Bear Discovery Center and climbs to the Pacific Crest Trail and on to Bertha Peak, about 7.3 miles round trip with roughly 1,350 feet of gain. The tread is wide and well kept; expect company. An Adventure Pass is required to park.

Alpine Pedal Path

A paved, flat path along the north shore with lake views the whole way, open to walkers, bikes, strollers and wheelchairs. It can be done in short pieces from several access points.

Grays Peak Trail

A steady climb from across the Grout Bay Picnic Area near Fawnskin to lake views, about 6.9 miles round trip. Open April to October only. There is little shade, so start early in summer. An Adventure Pass is required.

Pineknot Trail to Grand View Point

A long, easy-grade forest walk from the Aspen Glen Picnic Area to a wide view over the valley, about 7.5 miles round trip, shared with mountain bikes and horses. An Adventure Pass is required.

Sugarloaf Trail

The long, hard option: about 12 miles round trip and more than 3,000 feet of climbing to the highest summit around the valley, with a long dirt-road approach and few people.

Castle Rock Trail

Short and steep: about 2.4 miles round trip and 500 feet up to a big granite rock with a wide lake view. Parking is a small roadside turnout on Highway 18, and the upper junctions are confusing, so carry a map.

Bluff Lake Reserve Loop

A quiet, nearly flat loop through old-growth forest around a small lake, in a reserve run by The Wildlands Conservancy and open roughly from May to November. The forest road in can close in bad weather.

Woodland Trail

A flat interpretive loop of about 1.5 miles off Highway 38, with numbered posts rather than views — a short walk for young kids.

How we score trails

Every place on this list gets a score out of 10. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 10 and weighted as below.

Views and payoff — 40%
Trail quality — 20%
Access and parking — 20%
Crowds — 20%

Lengths, elevation gain, closures and parking passes come from the US Forest Service where it publishes them. Public trail reviews are read for what repeats and never copied.

Questions about this list

What is the best hike in Big Bear?

On our list Cougar Crest Trail to Bertha Peak scores highest, followed by the Alpine Pedal Path and Grays Peak Trail.

Which hikes are easy enough for families?

The Alpine Pedal Path is paved and flat, the Woodland Trail is a short, flat interpretive loop, and the Bluff Lake Reserve Loop is nearly flat when its road is open.

Do I need a parking pass?

Many Forest Service trailheads need an Adventure Pass, including Cougar Crest, Grays Peak and Pineknot. The Castle Rock roadside turnout does not. Check the trail's Forest Service page before you go.

Which trails are closed?

The Champion Lodgepole Pine, Siberia Creek and Glory Ridge trails are closed under the Line Fire order through September 30, 2026. Grays Peak Trail closes every year from November 1 to April 1.