Hike From Camp Series · Article 28
Five hikes in the San Bernardino range — alpine lakes, granite summits, and old-growth forests — all accessible from free National Forest dispersed camping near Big Bear Lake, 90 miles from LA.
The San Bernardino Mountains are the most underrated alpine hiking destination within striking distance of Los Angeles. At 6,750–11,499 ft elevation, they sit an entire climate zone above the Inland Empire sprawl below — forested ridges, snow-fed streams, granite peaks, and a genuine alpine lake in Big Bear. The surrounding San Bernardino National Forest has millions of acres of dispersed camping land where you can park a van for free, within a short drive of exceptional trails.
Most Angelenos make day trips here. Van lifers have the better option: camp at the trailhead, start hiking at dawn, and be back in camp before the day-trippers have found parking.
North of Big Bear Lake, Holcomb Valley Road (Forest Road 3N09) runs through open San Bernardino National Forest land with dozens of dispersed sites. Flat, pine-forested, and accessible to 2WD vehicles on dry roads. About 4 miles from Big Bear Lake village. This is the main van life base camp for the north-side trails.
Access: From Big Bear Lake, head north on Hwy 18 to Holcomb Valley Road turnoff. High-clearance 2WD in dry conditions. Many pull-offs large enough for extended vans.
East of Big Bear along Highway 38, Heart Bar and Barton Flats are fee campgrounds — but dispersed camping is allowed on NF land in the surrounding area off forest roads. Use Gaia GPS or CalTopo to identify public forest land away from the campground proper. Good base for south-side trails including San Gorgonio.
Adventure Pass: Day-use parking at most San Bernardino NF trailheads requires a National Forest Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year). Overnight dispersed camping does not require a pass — only day parking. Buy one at the Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin, or at any REI/outdoor store before the drive up.
At 11,499 ft, San Gorgonio is the highest peak in Southern California — higher than anything in the Sierra Nevada south of the Kings Canyon area. The most popular route starts from South Fork Trailhead on Highway 38: 16 miles round-trip with 4,600 ft of gain, traversing subalpine meadows, old-growth lodgepole forest, and a final ridge walk above treeline to the broad summit plateau.
The 360° view from the top encompasses the Salton Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the San Andreas Fault valley, the Mojave Desert, and on the clearest days, the Sierra Nevada. There is nothing like it in Southern California.
Permit required: A San Gorgonio Wilderness Permit is required year-round — $15/person, reserved online at recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. Weekend permits in summer sell out. Go on a Tuesday if you can.
One of the most beautiful alpine destinations in the San Bernardino range — a clear subalpine lake at 10,200 ft ringed by granite and lodgepole pine. The Forsee Creek Trail from Highway 18 near Big Bear is less trafficked than the San Gorgonio routes, gaining 3,000 ft through fern meadows and creek crossings before reaching the lake basin.
A San Gorgonio Wilderness Permit is also required for this trail (same permit system as the peak route), but permits are easier to get on weekdays.
The best no-permit hike with views on this side of the mountains. Castle Rock Trail (Hwy 18 trailhead, just west of Big Bear Dam) climbs 1.5 miles to a granite outcrop at 8,100 ft with direct views down to Big Bear Lake and across to the San Gorgonio massif. The bouldering at the top is accessible to anyone comfortable scrambling on granite.
This is the go-to for an evening hike from camp — 3 miles RT, 700 ft gain, done in 90 minutes with time to watch the sunset over the lake.
Not in the mountains proper, but at the base of the San Bernardinos where the Whitewater River emerges from its canyon — one of the most dramatic canyon exits in Southern California. A 6-mile out-and-back through the canyon follows the river upstream to a series of cascades past the confluence with the Pacific Crest Trail.
Water runs year-round from snowmelt and springs. The canyon narrows dramatically in the upper section with towering white granite walls. No permit required. A Wildlands Conservancy preserve — free to enter.
An often-overlooked trail through one of the finest limber pine forests in Southern California — these ancient, wind-sculpted trees grow only above 8,500 ft and nowhere else in the range outside this bench. The 5-mile loop from Holcomb Valley Campground passes through open meadows, the Holcomb Valley gold rush sites (ruins, old shafts), and the pine grove itself.
The proximity to Holcomb Valley Road dispersed camping makes this the most walkable hike from your van — you could camp 200 yards from the trailhead. Low foot traffic even on weekends.
Snow chains may be required on Hwy 18 and Hwy 38 from November through April. Check Caltrans conditions before departure. Rear-wheel-drive vans (most Transit and Sprinter cargo configurations) struggle on snow without chains — high-roof weight distribution on a RWD van on an icy mountain road is genuinely dangerous. If you're not equipped for snow, plan San Bernardino trips for May–October.
Fire restrictions: The San Bernardino National Forest frequently issues Stage 1 or Stage 2 fire restrictions during summer and fall, prohibiting campfires and sometimes charcoal. Check current restrictions at fs.usda.gov/sbnf before any dispersed camping trip. Fines are significant.
Big Bear Lake village: good Verizon and AT&T. Holcomb Valley dispersed camping: weak-to-no signal from all carriers. Highway 38 corridor: intermittent Verizon. Most trailheads: no reliable service. Download topo maps in Gaia GPS before you leave the valley.
Yes. The San Bernardino National Forest allows dispersed camping throughout most of its land — free with no reservation, 14-day limit. The most van-accessible free areas are along Holcomb Valley Road north of Big Bear Lake. A National Forest Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year) is required for day-use trailhead parking, but not for dispersed overnight camping.
May through October is ideal. Spring brings wildflowers and running creeks; fall brings golden color in the high basins. Snow closes many high-elevation trails from December through March — check Caltrans road conditions before driving up in late fall or early spring. Chains may be required on Hwy 18 and 38 from November through April.
No permit is required for most trails. San Gorgonio Wilderness trails (including the peak and Dollar Lake) require a San Gorgonio Wilderness Permit — $15/person, reserved at recreation.gov. Weekend summer permits sell out months in advance; weekday permits are much easier to get. An Adventure Pass ($5/day) is required for trailhead parking at most sites.