http://www.bearmountainresorts.
com; 2-park lift ticket adult/child
$56/46; husually Dec-Apr),
are east of the village off
Hwy 18. During summer,
their chair lifts and
mountain trails swarm
with mountain bikers.54 p329
The Drive » Follow Hwy 18
east of Big Bear Village toward
Big Bear City. Turn left onto
Stanfield Cutoff and drive north
across the bridge over the lake.
Take another left onto North
Shore Dr (Hwy 38), continuing
just over a mile ahead to the
Big Bear Discovery Center on
your right.6 Big Bear
Discovery Center
On the quieter side of
Big Bear Lake, North
Shore Dr (Hwy 38)
passes by shady public
campgrounds, calm
swimming beaches and
myriad forest trails. Just
inland from the lake’snorth shore, the US
Forest Service (USFS) Big
Bear Discovery Center
(%909-382-2790; http://www.
bigbeardiscoverycenter.com;
40971 North Shore Dr/Hwy 38,
Fawnskin; h8:30am-4:30pm
Thu-Mon) is a one-stop
outdoor education
and information
center for help finding
campgrounds, hiking
and mountain-biking
trails, plus self-guided
driving tours of Holcomb
Valley, an 1860s gold-
mining camp. Ask about
ranger-led nature walks
and snowshoe tours on
weekends, or lace up
your hiking boots and
head up the Castle Rock
or Cougar Crest Trail,
both popular routes with
hawk’s-eye views.5 p329
The Drive » After making the
15-mile scenic loop drive around
the lake, turn left on Hwy 18 and
drive back east. About 6 miles
past Big Bear Village, turn right
onto Hwy 38, which switchbacksdown through national forest for
33 miles. At Valley of the Falls Dr,
turn left and slowly drive 5 miles
to the road’s end.7 Valley of the Falls
Beyond the mountain
hamlet of Forest Falls,
the valley road continues
gently rolling up and
down, stealthily gaining
elevation until it dead-
ends at Valley of the
Falls scenic lookout
and picnic area. With
its cliffside waterfalls,
aromatic pine trees and
craggy mountain views,
SoCal denizens call this
spot a ‘little Yosemite
Valley’. Although that’s a
stretch, the San Gorgonio
Wilderness views are
inspiring, and several
hiking trails start nearby.
Even the road here itself
is a treat, following fault-
born Mill Creek Canyon
with its toweringly
steep sides. The road’s
end is closed by snow
in winter,so either visit
from late spring through
early fall or bring
snowshoes.The Drive » Backtrack to
Hwy 38, turning left to continue
downhill and south another 6
miles to the official end of Rim of
the World Scenic Byway at USFS
Miller Creek Ranger Station,
situated beside a meadow off
Mill Creek Rd.TRIP HIGHLIGHTIt’s dangerous to drive Hwy 18 – especially the tricky TRIP HIGHLIGHT
stretch between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear
Lake – during whiteout fog or snowstorms, when
you can’t see the car in front of you or the steep cliff
and canyon drop-offs. In winter, come prepared with
snow tires and tire chains.SAFE DRIVING
TOP TIP:
SOUTHERN.CALIFORNIA.31
(^) BIG BEAR & RIM OF THE WORLD SCENIC BYWAY