Big Bear · Trails & routes
Cougar Crest Trail 1E22
North-shore climb that meets the Pacific Crest Trail
Managed by San Bernardino National Forest
The Forest Service's Cougar Crest Trail 1E22 climbs from the north shore of Big Bear Lake through pinyon pine and juniper, and the agency page confirms it connects to the Pacific Crest Trail.
That connection is what makes it the practical way for a day visitor to stand on the PCT near Big Bear without committing to a multi-day section hike.
Getting there
- The trailhead is off Highway 38 on the north shore, near the Big Bear Discovery Center.
- Pick up trail information at the Discovery Center on your way past — the Forest Service lists it as the place where trail brochures are available.
- Distances beyond what the agency publishes are not restated here; read the Forest Service trail page.
Safety & etiquette
- Exposed, dry and sun-baked for most of the climb — carry more water than the mileage suggests.
- Dogs and bikes are not allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail section; check the rules on the agency page before continuing past the junction.
- Snow lingers on the upper trail into spring. We do not publish snow conditions.
Keep exploring nearby
- Pacific Crest Trail access near Big Bear →
How to walk a piece of the PCT in an afternoon
- Big Bear Discovery Center →
The forest's visitor information hub on the north shore
- Castle Rock Trail 1W03 →
Short, steep climb to a granite outcrop above the south shore
What we don't publish
Mileage, elevation gain, current conditions and the exact PCT junction location come from the Forest Service page and PCTA, not from us. Bertha Peak is often described as a spur off this trail, but we found no agency page confirming it, so we don't publish it as fact.