Big Bear Lake & Cougar Crest Trail

Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernadino National Forest and is a large all-season resort for the residents of Southern California,  There is boating and swimming in the lake, ski resorts in the winter and numerous hiking trails. Today we chose to do a 4 mile hike on the Cougar Crest Trail with Mike & San near Big Bear Lake.  Since we walk a 2 mile loop around our neighborhood daily we figured 4 miles couldn't be that bad.  Plus we walked 4 miles on the Santa Rosa Plateau back in March.   You can read about the trail here.

There are no highways to get to Big Bear lake, just two roads, both wind through the mountains with many "switchbacks" or hairpin turns.  We were told that often during the winter the roads are closed due to snow, and the people living there cannot get out until the roads are cleared.  If you happen to be away from your house off the mountain, you would have to have some place to stay until the road clears and you can get back home.  Snow can get to be 5 feet high!.  Sounds more difficult than living in New England.

We stopped to view the scenery on the way. We are obscuring the lake.

With us out of the way you can see the lake in the distance

After some more treacherous driving, we get to the base of the lake

Big Bear Trails.  The above photo was take where the red arrow points. Clickto make bigger

The elevation of the lake and town is about 6,800 feet high.  That is over 1 mile high and the air is a little thin.

Starting the hike.

  We didn't think about the thin air until we reached the trail head and started our hike. Breathing was a little arduous in the beginning and we had to take it slow.  Then we started the climb.  OMG!, I never anticipated the effect of both the altitude and the elevation climb.  But it seemed that after about 1/2 hour we got used to it and got our "second wind" after stopping at the well placed benches along the trail at the scenic overlooks.

Mike & Elly Resting & enjoying the scenery.  Arrow is where we started!

    We continued on to the summit taking many scenic photos.  We also saw a few other hikers either coming or going including a large contingent of well outfitted Japanese hikers,  mountain bikers going up & down the trail, people hiking with their dogs, and some very in-shape athletes actually running UP the trail!

Panorama view from the Trail.  Click to make bigger

View across the lake from the trail.

 Or you can just watch the video

After a little over 2 hours of hiking uphill, we finally reached the summit of the Cougar Crest Trail where it connects with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). You can read more about the PCT here and here.

Here is proof that we made it to the top

After we reached the PCT intersection, we stopped on the benches so graciously provided by the Park Service, ate the sandwiches that San made, ate the snacks and chatted with the other hikers and mountain bikers that passed by.  My pedometer read 5000 steps (approx 2.1 miles) before we turned around and headed down.

The trip down was less strenuous and only took a little over 1 hour, but we were tired and glad we had reached the parking lot.  We took the long way back to Redlands through the San Bernadino National Forest.  We had a great dinner and great conversation at Mike & San's house before leaving for home.  We were exhausted and decided that we would not get up early for Estate sales tomorrow.