Day Hike to Big Bear Lake of the Trinity Alps

The Bear Lakes are situated on the east side of the Trinity Alps, with trailheads headed westward from Highway 3 north of Trinity Center. The trailhead for this hike requires care in following a good guidebook. You turn off of 3 after crossing a bridge, drive through a private area with a home and lawns and then just keep going as directed.

The hike to Big Bear Lake goes up- and up- and up- and up! In 6 miles you ascent 3000 feet. The trail is good, and dusty. Mostly mixed firs and deciduous gives way to huge cedar and ponderosa. Beautiful ferns and meadows after you reach the flat. Not much opportunity to get to the creek for water until you are almost to the lake, so take plenty.

The granite outlet starts to become visible. You hike around the right side of it. This was a good day-hike preparation outing for the goats. We saw a few fellow hikers, not many.

The outlet creek from Big Bear is a welcome sight to human and quadriped. It cascades over the granite into the canyon. Great views of Mt Shasta can be had at this point (below).

Big Bear is a typical alps lake. Set high in a beautiful circ with crystal clear water - and on this day in July - lots of flying friends looking for blood. A few campsites are around the lake. Wee Bear Lake is off to the left over the hill. We didn't have time to do it, but it would be a worthwhile hike.

Pedro enjoying the lake view

Hike up took about 3 hours for us. Hike down was under 2. It was a warm day with hiking temperatures in the 90's at the lower climes.

On the way down

Reportedly, the largest lumber-volume ponderosa ever recorded is on this trail somewhere. We saw lots of big ones, not sure which was champion.

The End.