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Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake

Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake are mountain communities accessed from the Pacific Crest Trail near Highway 18 around mile 266. They form one of the major full resupply and rest hubs in Southern California.

Key points

  • Trail access occurs near Highway 18 around mile ~266 for northbound hikers.
  • Hikers typically hitch a short distance (about 5–10 road miles) into either Big Bear City or Big Bear Lake.
  • Both communities provide grocery stores, restaurants, lodging, and outfitting options.
  • Common location for zero days due to the range of services and accommodations.
  • Strategically situated between the I-10 corridor and the Angeles National Forest segments.

Details

The Big Bear area is a significant logistical waypoint on the PCT. After climbing from lower desert elevations, hikers reach a high-elevation basin where Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake offer extensive services compared with many smaller trail towns. The presence of multiple grocery options, restaurants, lodging, and gear outlets makes this area well suited for a thorough resupply and rest.

Because of the town size and amenities, many hikers schedule a zero day here to recover and plan upcoming segments through the San Bernardino and San Gabriel ranges. The nearby trail access via Highway 18 and other local roads makes entering and leaving the Big Bear area relatively straightforward.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.