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    Castle Rock Trail

    4.6 (248 reviews)

    Castle Rock Trail Photos

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    Ed T.

    This review is for Champion Lodgepole via Castle Rock Trail which was a ~4.8 miles round trip that took ~3 hours to complete. This was another stunning forest hike near Big Bear Lake, California. With the new parking lot, the beginning of the trail has changed. The first mile or so was a steep incline on dirt and some rocks. This part of the trail could be tricky to follow so try looking for the stack of rocks! After exiting Castle Rock Trail, it was mostly a flat dirt path that takes you to the Bluff Mesa Trail and then towards the Bluff Lake! On the way back down on Castle Rock Trail will reward you with some views of Big Bear Lake! There is now a new parking lot with at least 25 parking spaces available. No more street parking. Restroom available at the parking lot. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/4a_Q0hZUk7k

    Felix B.

    I like to think of myself as an avid hiker, like, actual hiking, not just throwing "outdoorsy" on my Tinder profile to reel in some hunnies. Castle Rock Trail is the real deal. Real dirt. Real trees. Real cardio. None of those fake hikes I'm used to back home in Las Vegas where you're basically just walking on a a road wondering if you should've brought a shopping cart. This trail makes you feel like you've earned it. Every step gets you closer to that I might have lungs of steel or I might need an inhaler moment. Just when you think, that's it, I'm turning back, five more minutes and boom: you're at the top with a view of the lake that makes all the huffing, puffing, and questionable life choices totally worth it. Pro tip: don't let the word "castle" fool you. There's no medieval banquet at the top, but there is a throne worthy view that'll make you feel like the King (or Queen) of Big Bear. Bring water, bring snacks, bring your sense of humor... and maybe bring proof for your dating profile that you didn't just walk around a park and call it a hike.

    Trail map
    Tony L.

    If you're making a trip to Big Bear and looking for a quick hike this is exactly what you're looking for! The trail head is right off the Big Bear Blvd. Look for the trail sign off the curve. Parking is either off the side of the road or there is very limited parking, less than 10 spots in a small turn off area. The trail itself is a beginner/intermediate level with a total length of about 0.5mi but has steep incline all the way up! The trail itself is pretty obvious since you just follow the steps, markings along the path. Total it will take about 15-30 minutes to get to the summit, depending how fast you walk and if you take breaks. The summit is a rock formation with beautiful panoramic view of Big Bear Lake. Overall a very easy walk for all age groups!

    Another top pic of castle rock trail ..
    Dome G.

    Castle rock trail a very beautiful trail gorgeous to say the least from the vibrant trees and lake surrounding body of water as well . My first impression of big bear was amazing just the Christmas looking trees and forest not to mention the temperature was low seventies .

    Cindy Y.

    Wonderful trail! This made the drive worth to big bear because the trails have different scenery than LA. The beginning is a steep hike and it feels like you're running out of breath because it's at a high altitude. After 30 min or so it's not as steep and we saw lots of tall pine trees, rocks you can climb on, and of course the big bear lake view!

    Toby B.

    We went a little farther than expected but being lost and making our own Castle Rock Peak is always memorable. ^-^ Go and find yours. ^-^

    Sign & map at the top of the trail
    Janelle O.

    There are a number of things I wish I had known before doing this hike, so let me highlight those. 1. Castle Rock itself is located a little more than halfway up the trail. If you only want to see the view from there, you need not continue farther up. 2. It's easy to miss the right-hand path that takes you towards Castle Rock (or at least it was for me, lol). Although there is a small sign, I completely missed it while concentrating on staying on the most-traveled path. The best marker I can give is that it is at the point of a switchback where the most-traveled path makes a hard left. Also, if you turn around at some point and notice a rock formation that looks larger than all the others you've noticed, that's probably Castle Rock lol. 3. I could not find a discernable "top" or "best view" but I also was not willing to scramble up very far. Even without doing so, I did reach the point of finding some nice views anyway. 4. This hike is short, so we decided to continue to Bluff Lake Reserve. I highly recommend doing this, because it is so close and so worth it! At the end of this trail is a dirt road. If you follow it towards your right and take the first left, you're golden. We also saw a deer on the dirt road which was a nice surprise. Regarding parking, and as others have mentioned, it's limited. Since we knew that beforehand, we got there a lot earlier than we needed to, i.e., around 8 a.m. At that time there was only 1 other car parked before us. The largest turnout to park on is on the main road going west, just before the trailhead.

    Krajicek K.

    We enjoyed this moderate hike if one stay on the trail. We went off the trail slightly and had to climb through some boulders. The first 30 minutes of elevation gain was probably the strenuous section. The most difficult part was climbing up the Castle Rock with bare hands. Parking on the side of the road is limited, especially in the morning. Be very careful about car traffic. Overall, a great hike for the physical fit.

    Melissa F.

    The hike every guide/blog recommends you to do in Big Bear! I really enjoyed this hike, I would say is definitely challenging with snow on the ground- trail markers are present but kind of camouflaged with everything. Even with a group of friends and the AllTrails route downloaded on our phones, we still went off trail a few times. But also, the main trail was covered in ice so it was better to go around in the snow at some points. Parking is also kind of confusing because there is virtually none- there's a small turnoff point after the Trail head on Big Bear Blvd, that's where we parked but it was not labeled as parking. Overall, great hike, beautiful views!

    Little cabin near Bluff Lake
    Jason R.

    I have done this hike three times. The first two times it was just to Castle Rock and back and is only 2 miles RT. This last time I hiked it in March, we hiked a few miles past Castle Rock to Lookout Point. There were parts of the trail that still had snow (some parts were pretty deep) and there were parts of the trail that had no snow at all. The worst part was the first half a mile because it was the steepest and it was icy in parts. Parking- we always get there early(before 7 am) and don't have trouble finding parking; however there isn't a lot of parking and this place is pretty popular and gets busy later in the day Trail- it is a well-defined out and back trail and you don't have to worry about getting lost, however, if you go past Castle Rock like we did last time it was a bit hard to stay on trail especially because of the snow; if you do continue south past Castle Rock you will come upon Bluff Lake on your way to Lookout Point; now Lookout Point didn't have any sign or marker indicating the location but based on the AllTrails map I was using it was about 2 miles beyond Bluff Lake at an elevation of about 7,900 ft which is about 600 ft higher than Castle Rock...both places, Castle Rock and Lookout Point, reward you with great views

    Tina H.

    Absolutely breathtaking especially during the winter months! It's a moderate hike, but during the snow it's a lot harder. Make sure you have proper gear. Snow boots, gloves and don't forget your water.

    Trail just to left of Castle Rock
    Martin L.

    Good intermediate hike. We went with four little kids. So not terribly tough by any means. But it was steep. Nice thing about the trail, it didn't have too many switch backs. So overall hike was scenic and interesting. Good family hike. Though it did take us two hours to get there and back...... kids :-)

    Beginning of trail
    David Keith C.

    It was a very short trail if you're coming from the main road and a decent amount of parking space. I hiked in mid May, so the weather was perfect for me. The trail was a little steep with an elevation of about 1,300 feet I think. The trail leading to castle rock had plenty of signs and trail markings and it was really helpful. There's a lot of flowing water (creeks) all around and with the birds chirping, it was really peaceful. But when you reach the top of castle rock, that's where the beauty nature at its best. The views are breathtaking and so worth the trip!

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Castle Rock Trail

    Could you take a stroller?

    I won't lie to you, might be difficult for that. Pretty bumpy ride up. Just a lot of debris, branches, rocks etc.

    Im trying to find an easy hike that has an amazing view and a waterfall or no waterfall as long as it has an amazing view so it won't be to much on my friend?

    It's a pretty intense beginning, 10-20 minutes of it then after that, there different paths you guys can take that are fairly easy. I would for sure say pack some water though. What I thought was going to be an hour maybe 2, turned into 4. Just such… Read more

    I read on Google Maps that this trail is temporarily closed. Is this true? Has anyone hiked it recently?

    I also hiked in late August and it was open. That was on a Friday

    Is it much inclined/ uphill , asking as my husband has knee pain and he wants to do?

    It is a pretty steep trail. 580' of elevation gain in about 0.65 miles

    This seems a pretty easy hike for first timers, as I assume it's a public post (not a guided tour), is it easy for new timers to get lost?

    There is good signage and it gets pretty crowded after 11AM so I would worry about getting lost. It's a beautiful view and easy hike!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Castle Rock Trail

    The trail was really slippery and icy so make sure you wear some boots and gloves and hike with caution.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Alpine Meadows Retreat Center

    Alpine Meadows Retreat Center

    4.5(12 reviews)
    8.2 mi

    Camping in the summertime is absolutely a must! And with Alpine Meadows Retreat Center in Angelus…read moreOaks, California near the city of Big Bear Lake it's a place I trust! Alpine Meadows Retreat Center which borders Camp Mountain Chai (pronounced Hi) is a larger spacious multi-level and terrain center as well as site has several bunk cabins, buildings and a main lodge center with tons of ammentinities including soccer field, basketball court, fire circles, mini amphitheater, ropes courses, swimming pool, gathering spot cabin filled with board games, sound system, tv monitors, snacks, popcorn machine, etc. There's a main theater for announcements, shows, classes, etc which is connected to the kitchen and dinning areas not to mention several other facilities. Water areas for refilling bottles or jugs and usually cold water and beverages filled by staff daily. Vending machines with mainly soft drinks only. Plenty of restrooms throughout the entire space in cabins or various rooms and buildings. I was able to attend 9 day event for 4 days with an organization that rented out the area for the duration of 10 days (including set-up and clean-up/breakdown) with the Community of Men enjoying Naturism group and had probably the best vacation getaway gathering retreat camp experience ever especially as an adult lol The group organized some many great events, contest, activities (both in and outdoors), daily hikes, sporting, classes (including zumba and hip hop line dancing - I did both!) and much much more. The meals were amazing including the vegan and vegetarian options that were made available. Tons of BYOB/D made for a huge supply for any and all during social hours and throughout the evening. Everyone at Alpine Meadows, Camp Mt Chai and the C.M.E.N. group did such an amazing job accommodating and providing services through the duration that I can't thank every enough. I'm pretty sure I attended this site in my early teens for a youth leadership and development camp with the Red Cross of America back in 2001/2002 as I had such a sense of nostalgia the entire time including climbing up those massive steps on both the "treacherous" O.O and not so treacherous inclines from the bunk level up to the recreation and rope course areas. Unloading and loading vehicles can be easy as the paths and roads are wide enough for most vehicles to maneuver around, just try not to block the main road for the parking area so vehicles can pass going in or out simultaneously. Enjoy this retreat experience with your group to the fullest, soak of the stars, memories, human interactions and connections and cherish you semi-vacay. Looking up at the stars, spotting beautiful blue jays and breathing in fresh mountain air... It's easy for me to say... 7000+ ft up and away is the way!

    Nestled in the mountains, this is a decent retreat center…read more There are a lot of cabins and meeting halls to accommodate multiple groups. The cabins can sleep up to 20 people, but it's not the most comfortable. It's very bare bones and feels old, but everything works. All the beds are bunk beds with a basic sleeping pad; make sure you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. The bathrooms run on a septic system, so be judicious about what you flush. All the cabins are left unlocked for the duration of your stay, and that's a bit unsettling. We spent 2 nights here, with 30 people across 3 cabins, and didn't have any issues with theft. The meeting rooms come with coffee machines, a giant cooler of water, a fridge, a microwave, and as many chairs as you'll need. There's also a projector, speakers, and a control panel to hook up instruments and microphones. Microphones and accessories are provided by the staff. A wide range of activities are available to help with team building or alleviate cabin fever. There's a basketball court with a bunch of balls, but a vast majority of them are deflated and/or have no grip left. Tackle the rock-climbing wall or the ropes course to overcome your fear of heights. Work on your aim and hunting skills in the archery range, or run around the synthetic turf ball field to improve your conditioning. There's also a pool, some swings, a small jungle gym, and a life-sized foosball table. Meals are buffet style and offered 3 times a day. Breakfast has a cereal bar, instant oatmeal, packaged yogurts, and fresh fruits. The kitchen whips up some scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, soy based sausage, and potatoes. Lunch has some pasta, salad, and veggies. Dinner was roast beef and mashed potatoes one night, and rotisserie chicken with rice the other. A full salad bar is offered during lunch and dinner. The food is decent, and I appreciate the effort the staff puts into it, but it's not going to win any cooking awards. Out of everything I ate, the chicken was easily the best. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. A walkie-talkie is provided to your group leader for communication with the staff, and there's someone available at all times. Basic first aid is offered, but anything more serious is 45 minutes away, or 75 minutes to the nearest emergency room. The grounds and facilities are well maintained, but the facilities are in major need of a renovation. The location has very little, if any, cellular service, so communication with friends and loved ones who aren't on site with you can be challenging.

    Photos
    Alpine Meadows Retreat Center
    Alpine Meadows Retreat Center
    Alpine Meadows Retreat Center

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    Rock Climb Every Day - Rocking it...

    Rock Climb Every Day

    4.9(63 reviews)
    37.4 mi

    Wow - just WOW! Last Sunday (November 22, 2020) I finally got to check Rock Climbing off my bucket…read morelist, thanks to "Rock Climb Every Day" (yes, they are taking reservations during COVID and implementing all the necessary COVID protocols). Last year I successfully climbed to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome - without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable + accomplishment-filled outdoorsy adventures I've ever experienced. My first rock climbing adventure is definitely up there. In fact, my Half Dome adventure is what sparked my interest in Rock Climbing. By the way, if you're looking for an amazing Half Dome experience, I highly recommend REI Adventures and book with Scott - be sure to check out my 5-star "Half Dome Day Hike" Yelp review. Scott is an avid Rock Climber and he knows all the cool and underground rock climbing spots :) I've found that it's challenging to find people who love outdoorsy adventures like me. So, I usually end up doing these type of activities solo. I book directly through adventure companies to help ensure I have a safe, education and of course a FUN experience. Booking through "Rock Climb Every Day" couldn't have been more perfect from start to finish. In fact, I'm looking forward to booking another adventure with them. They cater to all levels of rock climbing from beginners to experienced. Most of all, they know how to make outdoor rock climbing easy and fun. They offer beginner rock climbing classes, rock climbing adventures, rappelling adventures, private instruction, family climbing packages, multi-day packages, parties + groups, climbing anchor class, sport climbing, trad climbing and much more! I consider myself a complete novice rock climber. Absolutely no experience - not even indoor climbing. Crazy, right? But I do consider myself athletic as I competed as a pro-Am Muay Thai fighter for almost a decade. Even with that kind of experience, I found the climb to challenging, scary, but most of all, FUN. Our instructor Jim was knowledgeable, timely, communicative and fun! Without his guidance, I don't think I could have made it to the top of the 5.7 climb. He was there every step (literally every inch) of the way. It was truly a "team" effort. We completed 6 climbs ranging from 5.4 to 5.7 (level of difficulty). There were a total of 4 people in our group. 2 had some indoor experience and the other 2 (including myself) had zero experience. And let me tell you - I'm scared to death of heights. Scared AF!!! But isn't it amazing how the BEST things that ever happen in LIFE are the ones we were resistant to get involved with because of fear?? Trust me, it's not easy but stop running away from fear, run towards it! If you don't take action now, you likely never will. Your fears will win + will continue to win until you break the pattern. Start saying YES to fear. The scarier something is, the more you need to do it. I couldn't have overcome my fear of rock climbing without the help + guidance of "Rock Climb Every Day." What are you scared of right now? Rock climbing? What are you telling yourself you can't have, not yet? Rock Climbing? What are you trying to "figure out first"? Rock Climbing? My advice. STOP thinking. STOP trying to figure it out. Say yes to fear; yes to uncertainty. Say YES to Rock Climbing. Overall, an amazing 5-star experience with Rock Climb Every Day. Book your adventure at https://rockclimbeveryday.com - maybe I'll see you on my next adventure? :)

    Is this a bogus service? No one ever answers emails, messages, nor voice messages. Submitted…read morepayment for a class, but no confirmation receipt.

    Photos
    Rock Climb Every Day
    Rock Climb Every Day
    Rock Climb Every Day

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    Gray's Peak Trail - The lush side of the forest

    Gray's Peak Trail

    4.7(20 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    First, on a Sunday afternoon at the end of October, no parking by noon. My second reason for…read moreremoving a star is that the "female" restroom was out of order, the "male" restroom didn't have a trash can (which I understand, partly, being in the forest). But why have a girls and boys restroom, why not just two bathrooms. And the last reason I kept a star, only one trash reciprocal in the entire parking lot. I believe we should continue to encourage Visitors to "pack it in, pack it out" plus some. How do we do that if we expect then to put it in their car and take it with them? Trailhead has a very descriptive sign, provides lots of good information. Trail is 6.4 miles, 1,174 altitude gain (out/back), dogs allowed on lead, near Fawnskin. This trail offers AMAZING views of Big Bear Lake, bikes also share the trail. (Dog bags provided at trailhead, pls pick up after yourself, and your doggie;) There's so much to explore, get up, and get out there.

    A nice escape, I think it's probably less-trafficked because it's on the North Shore (away from the…read moremain crowds) and a bit away from the Discovery Center. At the top is a rock outcropping where you can get a good view of the lake, albeit partially obstructed. I saw a cinnamon-furred black bear near the top the last time I hiked (June 27, 2017 around 6:15pm), so be on the lookout, keep your distance, and make your presence know (I stomped my feet, and he took notice and slowly went about his business in a different direction than where I was). July 13, 2017: did an evening hike and saw 2 deer, along with a pair of yellow eyes and green eyes (more deer?) at night, and three scorpions along the trail. You will need an Adventure Pass to park in the lot, but alternatively you can park along the road (a good spot is by the Eagle habitat warning sign).

    Photos
    Gray's Peak Trail - Only a few nice views in the begining and the end of the hike.

    Only a few nice views in the begining and the end of the hike.

    Gray's Peak Trail - Hanna Rocks at sunset, seen about 2/3 of the way up the trail.

    Hanna Rocks at sunset, seen about 2/3 of the way up the trail.

    Gray's Peak Trail

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    Castle Rock Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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