Big Bear · Trails & routes
Holcomb Valley Pinnacles
Granite climbing & outdoor recreation area north of Big Bear Lake
Managed by San Bernardino National Forest (Holcomb Valley)
A granite outcrop area in Holcomb Valley, in the San Bernardino National Forest north of Big Bear Lake. It is known for sport and traditional rock climbing and bouldering, with hiking and scrambling between the formations.
This is Holcomb Valley Pinnacles in the San Bernardino Mountains — it is not Pinnacles National Park, which is a separate park hundreds of miles away in central California.
Getting there
- Approached from the Big Bear north shore through the Holcomb Valley forest road network; the last miles are unpaved Forest Service roads.
- Forest roads in Holcomb Valley close seasonally and after storms, and some segments are street-legal-vehicle only. Read the Forest Service road information and alerts before driving in.
- Adventure Pass / recreation pass rules and any staging restrictions are set by the Forest Service — check their passes and permits page.
Safety & etiquette
- Climbing here is unsupervised and unpatrolled: bring your own gear, judgment and partners, and inspect all fixed hardware yourself.
- High desert-edge climate at elevation — strong sun, sudden wind and cold, and no water sources.
- Cell coverage is unreliable. Tell someone your plan and expected return time.
Keep exploring nearby
- Gold Mountain & Holcomb Valley 4x4 / OHV →
The historic gold-rush valley north of the lake, by vehicle
- Pacific Crest Trail access near Big Bear →
How to walk a piece of the PCT in an afternoon
- Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve →
Pebble plains and wintering bald eagles east of the lake
What we don't publish
Route counts, grades, approach distances, road conditions and closures are not published here. Grades and route beta come from climber-maintained guides; road status comes from the Forest Service.