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    Pine Knot Trail

    4.6 (68 reviews)

    Pine Knot Trail Photos

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    Francine H.

    One of my favorite hikes in the area. We parked in the picnic area parking lot. There are plenty of spaces to park and restrooms to use. We were here in mid October and many of the leaves were changing to a beautiful yellow gold. It's my favorite time of year... still warm enough during the day and the air is so crisp. The pine cones have started to fall off many of the trees. This hike if you do the full trail, will take about 3 to 3.5 hours round trip. The trail is well manicured and easy to walk on. However, there are a few steep parts. (huff and puff) Be sure to take water with you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Happy trails!

    Julia D.

    Park in the aspen glen picnic area but make sure to have a parking permit in your car! When we were leaving a bunch of cars had tickets, so make sure to prevent that by getting the adventure parking pass. It's only $5.50 and you can get it at a handful of stores around town. The trail is marked well with signage and blue indicators on trees as you go. You get beautiful views of the lake as you go higher through the trail. I wore regular athletic shoes and felt fine on the hike. Would definitely recommend for a quick hike in big bear!

    Sideways tree top
    Brian U.

    A trail that highlights NOT Big Bear Lake but the San Bernardino National Forest. Step 1: Purchase a $5 Adventure Pass or other pass like the National Park Service annual pass. Step 2: Park in the Aspen Glen Picnic Area lot on Mill Creek Road. Step 3: Use one of multiple trailheads in the picnic area. Keep wandering uphill as the trails eventually converge into one - the Pine Knot Trail as marked by signs with maps. A dirt road also goes to the top, but a trail is more interesting, safer, and less dusty. Sporadic views of Big Bear Lake appear between the trees. Step 4: At 2.2 miles is a junction with the road and when things get good. Look up for a tree top growing at a 90-degree angle (see pic). Perhaps the knot in this pine is what gives the trail its name? Look down for red ant hills made with pine needles that are knee high (see pic). Pass through the Deer Group Campground with meadow which was dried out on our drought visit but likely gorgeous when green. Step 5: Cross Grand View Junction where seven pathways intersect including the Skyline Trail. The first view of the valley south of Big Bear appears. Step 6: At 3.3 miles and 900' elevation change, arrive at Grand View Point with view of the valley, the peak of San Gorgonio, and a small chunk of the Inland Empire. Not entirely "grand", the views are partially obscured by trees.

    Laura B.

    Really enjoyed this trail. It was a moderate hike that was doable for our kids and dogs. The trail offers plenty of shade and is dog friendly. We didn't make it all the way to the top (because kids), but did make it up to an area that had big rocks and a great view of the lake. Can't wait to come back and do the entire trail with the dogs!

    Lush greenery along shaded trail
    Crisha O.

    Beautiful moderate trail with breathtaking views and plenty of lush greenery! Total of 7-8 miles round trip (depending on if you get lost or not) for a 3-4 hr hike. Despite plenty of shade along the trail, be prepared for bright/sunny patches and some steep inclines. Bring lots of water and good shoes! - Limited parking in the Aspen Glen Picnic Area Lot, but there's additional parking along the street a little bit down the road. Make sure to purchase an Adventure Pass beforehand! (You can purchase a day pass for $5 at any store along the way- bought mine at 7/11) - Very clean trail with little to no trash. - Trail markings throughout. We got a bit lost at the fork and near the end because we didn't realize the blue markings on trees were directional! To get to Grand View, carry on straight through "Adopt a Trail" and you'll pass Deer Campground. Keep following the trail straight until you see signs that veer off to Grand View. Note that Knickerbocker Rd will also loop you to View Point, but this is mostly a bike trail. - Views at the top were great and there was a shaded rocky area perfect for a picnic. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone willing to get a bit sweaty and dehydrated!

    Info C.

    Just love this hike in BB. Go early to miss the crowds and bring lots of water and snacks. Jodie views of the lake Nd surrounding areas. Highly recommend

    Lake view...not even at the top yet!
    Mari B.

    Loved this trail. You're in the middle of the forest but the trail is perfectly clear. Lots of great views and shade for resting. It is a tough hike, but a great workout. And it's dog friendly! We went without a parking pass and so we didn't use the picnic area parking. Instead we parked along the road...and no ticket. Other vehicles did the same. Will be returning, but next time we'll make the most of the nice picnic area as well.

    View from the peak
    Stacie M.

    Hands down, my favorite hike I've done since I moved to San Diego 7 years ago. Big Bear always seemed like a little to far for a day trip from downtown San Diego, but during COVID when I'm not driving the rest of the week, and I have no big weekend plans, the 2 1/2 hour drive each way really wasn't a big deal. And the last 50 minutes of that drive is BEAUTIFUL. Mountain views, lake views, wildflowers etc! Purchased an annual adventure pass at a liquor store on the way up (I have no idea if it's required these days or not, but figured I'd grab one so I don't have to worry about the parking). There's a small lot at the trailhead, we arrived around 10:30am on a Sunday and grabbed the second the last spot. I'd imagine the lot can fill up quickly at peak times. The trail is also SUPER well marked. At any turn or split off, there was a sign of which way to go. I also had service for the majority of the hike, and checked our route on All Trails a few times. 3.5 miles to the peak, there's a place where a bunch of trails converge at about 3.3 miles where a lot of people stopped, but continue following the signs to Grand View Point another quarter of a mile, it's worth it!! The view was stunning. Sat on a rock and enjoyed my lunch, and then we hiked back, making it a little bit of a loop, which extends the trail to 8 miles instead of 6.6. I like the idea of not doing an out and back, and we got to see some different sites, but it also made the last 2 miles of the hike along a road where there were some cars driving. It definitely was a moderate to difficult hike, and it's at altitude, I was pretty much thirsty the entire time, so bring a lot of water!

    Leanna W.

    Yay! Excellent! We followed the trail directions from this site: http://nobodyhikesinla.com/2010/08/16/grandview-pointpine-knot-trail/ The trip up to the point is beautiful - pine trees, fairly well-shaded, gorgeous boulders. It was not at all crowded and my husband and I made it to the point without feeling very winded at all, even though it is a gentle incline for the most part. There are a few parts that will make you work a little more, but they are interspersed throughout. The trail, while still beautiful (and very well-maintained; directions from the aforementioned website really weren't that needed), started to get slightly monotonous a few hours in, which was also the point at which we saw signs saying that Grandview Point was near... Oh my gosh - it was an incredible view. A solid 180 degree view of San Gorgonio and the surrounding mountains and river valley; we were totally surprised and blown away by how picturesque it was. Although it's the middle of April, and CA is still in a dought - there was tons of snow on the mountains (the ones we saw from Grandview Point, not on the actual hike). Just gorgeous and totally worth any slight bit of monotony you might feel along the way. Cons: a few reckless mountain bikers, one of which was speeding around a blind corner and almost hit my husband. Parking requires a $5 adventure pass; you can get it at Bear Valley Bikes, which is at the intersection of Mill Valley Road and Hwy 18.

    Kaylene P.

    The trail is about 3 miles to the top and it's a great hike if you're a beginner hiker. Not too mountainous and there's plenty of places to rest. If you're not use to elevation change I'd bring plenty of water. I'm from San Diego and I did notice it was a little harder to breathe and I got dehydrated faster. The trail is also dog friendly as long as your dog is on a leash.

    My family and I
    Yonique C.

    This trail was moderate... but filled with tons of shade. Dogs are allowed on the trail and even allowed off leash... the picnic area is still closed... but it's all good ...the view and scenery was just breathtaking

    Jennifer A.

    We walked this trail today and while the views were beautiful I guess I should have taken a map with me. We parked at aspen park, got an adventure pass from the little green building by the road. I took my daughters with me ( age 4 and 11) and it was hard for them but it was beautiful. It's mid July and it was not hot at all. Lots of up hills and you caught views of big bear lake as you walk. But BEWARE of the mountain bikers, they come barreling down towards you and just randomly yell how many more bikes are coming. Kinda disappointing because the visitors center said there were waterfalls and there wasn't. But, it was a nice hike. The trail got thin on some spots kinda scary for my kids with the huge hills they could fall down but it was beautiful.

    Owen L.

    For parking, go down Mill Creek Road, directly across from a bike shop and next to Hillcrest Lodge. There is a lot at Aspen Glen camp ground. I picked up an adventure pass for five bucks at 7-11 on big bear Blvd about two miles from the trail. It's good for a day. Head through there ground and the trail starts on your right. You need to walk about five minutes to get to the trailhead. There are many switchbacks on mostly sandy trail. The colors in October is mostly green with some yellow and orange. If you want to stay on Pineknot and head to the grand view point, once you see the first map sign of the whole trail system, head through the trail that has a sign for adopt a trail. It will pass deer group campground and you will see the posts for Pineknot. You can still hit it through knickerbocker road but I only saw bike tracks. It took about 80 minutes to reach grandview point at a brisk walk. But the best view was of Big Bear Lake. A pine cone fell down and many of the petals spiraled down to the trail. They are littered everywhere. Saw a huge falcon like bird, many squirrels, and lizards. The trail is very clean without a single piece of trash anywhere. And there are blue, white and pink ribbons to guide the trail. There are also blue spray paint around tree trunks. You do need to bring an extra layer as the shaded parts can get chilly in the morning when I hiked it.

    Sassafrass in his element!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pine Knot Trail

    Review Highlights - Pine Knot Trail

    That is the end of the trail, but I highly recommend crossing the road and taking the Grand View Trail to Grand View Point.

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    Forest Bathing

    Forest Bathing

    5.0(1 review)
    1.1 mi

    This was one of the most unique and incredible experiences…read more I found Selena on AirBnB Experiences and after reading the reviews knew I had to participate in Forest Bathing. We met at a public parking lot and she drove us in her SUV up into the mountains, to her secret spot in the forest. She provided lots of interesting, educational info along the 15 minute drive. Once we arrived, the experience started. She guided a moderate hike into the forest, showing us all of her favorite things. Fresh water brooks, waterfalls, unique, bold, and beautiful trees. The hike was fairly moderate, Indian Jones-esq at times, nothing too crazy, but not easy. As a plus size/not very active girl, I was able to do it. My 62 year old mom kept up fairly well too! Selena took lots of short breaks for us to catch our breath (elevation for flatlanders is rough!), gave us lots of educational info about what we were seeing, smelling, and hearing. She even provided us with a few edible plants along the way. The hike up to the fresh water source was truly spectacular. Once there we emptied our water bottles and filled them with the ice cold fresh water and guzzled it down. So crisp and clean and YUM! The hike back was just as refreshing. We then spent some time wind bathing, cutting chords, and energy healing, followed by 35 minutes of quiet time meandering the forest on our own. Afterwards we drank a fresh brewed tea Selena had made using ingredients she collected along our hike, and some healthy snacks and more fresh water, which she provided. It was 3 hours of really amazing, energizing, active, relaxing, healing Forest Bathing and for $40pp it was well worth it!

    Photos
    Forest Bathing
    Forest Bathing
    Forest Bathing - This book was suggested by the tour/hike guide, Selena - Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li

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    This book was suggested by the tour/hike guide, Selena - Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li

    Boulder Bay Park - Boulder Bay Paddle Boarding!

    Boulder Bay Park

    4.4(107 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    Walk-ins welcome
    Discounts available

    Boulder Bay Park is one of Big Bear Lake's most picturesque (and busy) spots, offering stunning…read moreviews of the lake, towering boulders, and plenty of open space for you and your dog to enjoy. Located on the western side of Big Bear Lake, this park is a popular destination for both locals and visitors, particularly those looking to enjoy a peaceful and leisurely walk with their pets, a picnic, or just some quiet time by the water. There is a free parking lot adjacent to the park, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. If the lot is full, there is additional street parking available nearby. The park is open year-round, but the best times to visit are during the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is mild, and the lake is at its most beautiful.

    This is a PACKED and very busy Park that attracts people coming into Big Bear Lake or leaving Big…read moreBear. We came in at night, so we hit this park leaving Big Bear Lake. Many people taking pictures or selfies, some people fishing off the small pier, while others were walking their dogs. It was very clean, there is restrooms available (yes there was a line) and plenty of parking, although you may need to wait for a spot. It is a cool park to check out, I've seen pictures of people kayaking, however there are signs that say to stay on the path and not cross over the railing. A nice picnic place perhaps or family photos with the bear. The boulders in the area/park make it a cool photographic area.

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    Boulder Bay Park
    Boulder Bay Park
    Boulder Bay Park

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

    Gray's Peak Trail

    4.7(20 reviews)
    2.2 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).

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    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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    Town Trail

    Town Trail

    4.8(4 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    We have a place at Snow Summit that backs right up to the trail. It's a beautiful way you can start…read morethe day and go into town for breakfast. At 8am on a Saturday in July it was very quiet and gorgeous views, not too hot yet. I saw just a handful of hikers. I had been warned about the number of bikers whizzing by. On my way back at 10:30 there were indeed loads of bikers headed to snow summit. I have to say though, without exception, they all were gracious and said good morning and alerted me they were approaching. In turn I politely stepped to the side. It's all about sharing the road or trail and maybe go out early to avoid bikes. On another visit my husband and I took our French Mastiff for an evening walk and had him off leash. BAD idea! First of all evening is feeding time for lots of wildlife. Second, we didn't have him on leash. At one point we couldn't see him and called out. From around a bush comes our dog flanked by two female wolves three inches taller than him. We were able to coerce him away and get him on leash but it was a super scary situation. If he had been a small dog I'm not sure what would have happened.

    Easy access to this trail. We went from the end of Summit…read moreBlvd passing by the back of Snow Summit Townhouse Rentals. But from the other direction trailhead is at the junction of Forest Ranger Rd and 2N08 2.8 mile out and back. 300+ ft elevation. So little up/down hills. You can see Big Bear Lake at one point of the trail. Came during the fall after a small snowfall. Note: there may be some bikers on this trail as it converges with the bottom of a mountain biking only path.

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    Town Trail
    Town Trail - Groomed trails with stepping blocks over water areas.

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    Groomed trails with stepping blocks over water areas.

    Pine Knot Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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