The steep 5.6 mile out-and-back (2.8 miles one-way) Cougar Crest Trail is located on the north end of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains and National Forest. You’ll gain about 900 feet of elevation which puts the summit of the hike at about 7,650 feet. Towards the top it offers spectacular views of the lake, Big Bear Lake the town, and San Bernardino Peak, which was still covered in snow on Memorial Day Weekend of 2023.

An adventure pass is required to be displayed in vehicles when using the National Forest around Big Bear Lake. You can buy one online or at many locations around the lake. Thankfully, your America The Beautiful Pass is accepted! Just hang it from your windshield.

The Trail starts just .6 miles west of the Big Bear Discovery Center on State Highway 38. There’s a loop parking lot which is rather small. If it’s full, you can park across the highway at the Meadows Edge Picnic Area or at the Discovery Center. There are restrooms at the trailhead.

It’s a steep hike but it provides quite a few benches towards the top that let you enjoy the view or catch your breath. The tall Ponderosa Pine trees were large and beautiful and reminded me of Sequoias except so much smaller. It is a popular trail but less popular than the ones across the lake in the town proper. Trails such as Castle Rock.

The trail actually links up with the 2,653 mile Pacific Crest Trail which begins at the Mexican Border and ends at the Canadian Border. Also at the top of the trail, there is the option of adding a steep and rocky spur trail that takes you to Bertha Peak. That’ll add another 1.9 miles, making the entire trail 7.5 miles.