Big Bear traffic/road conditions

The 18 is closed, and part of the 38 is closed too. Might reopen tomorrow. Thinking about heading up on Sunday. Was wondering if anyone has made the trip up recently. How long did it take to get up the mountain? Hope it’s not a nightmare. Thanks!

 

i went up about a week ago after the last storm we had and took 3hours. major traffic.

 

I had the same experience. One guy actually stopped in the middle of the 1 lane road (the 18) to put on chains. Completely stopping traffic in my direction up.

 

Best way up that mountain is via the vast network of fire roads, most of which start on the desert side of the mountain. Guaranteed to beat traffic if its on a busy weekend and much more enjoyable drive. But I hear many of them have been closed off in the last couple of weeks, including Coxey Rd. Not sure what it's current status is. Either way you'll definitely need 4WD this time of year

 

Interesting. Might have to give it a try. I'm lifted and have 4wd with snowtires. Any specific fire trails you know of that might be open?

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sbnf/alerts-notices

It's a pretty large list of closures. Including Coxey
^^^^
I believe I am wrong there. Please don't quote me.

 

It was closed last weekend due to being washed out from the rains, but it might be open now...I'm going to check into it as it's one of the better/easier dirt roads to take up into Big Bear. I did it about a month ago and it was covered in snow but still doable, we got from where it started in Hesperia all the up into Fawnskin in about an hour and a half, and that was with a few stops in between to check out the scenery.

Coxey Rd aka 3N14 is probably the best one to take...goes into Big Pine Flats and from there you have a few options to go either straight into Fawnskin or go right/left on 3N16 to go to either Green Valley Lake or the far end of Big Bear Lake. Might have to call the rangers though to see if it's open right now because it was for sure closed last weekend.

Only other one I've taken was the Heartbreak Ridge trail which starts over in Yucca Valley and ends up near Big Bear City, that's a long one and a more technical 4x4 trail

However if you look at a map of the Lucerne Valley (desert side of Big Bear mountain) you can trace a bunch of fire roads that eventually connect to 3N14 and a few others that make their way up into Big Bear. Trailsoffroad.com is a good website for looking that stuff up, they have a good write up on Coxey Rd too

 

yeah I just looked at that link on their page for San Bernardino Mountain road closures and it still says that Coxey Rd is closed, damn. Sometimes they aren't very prudent about updating those though so it would be best to call and talk to a ranger about it

 

If you're looking for something a bit more technical, I think rattlesnake is still open (backside - take 139 towards Silverwood Lake and go up). You WILL need 4x4 and chains, likely recovery gear too. Don't go solo!

No promises

 

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/02/22/highway-38-in-san-bernardino-mountains-reopens-ahead-of-weekend/

Highway 38, which runs from Mentone to Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains, reopened Friday evening, Feb. 22, Caltrans said.

However, snow chains are required on all vehicles, except four-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels. Also, no snow play is allowed along the highway — only in permitted areas, Caltrans said.

Motorists are asked not to block turnouts and to stay off private property.

Highway 18 to Big Bear east of Running Springs is closed from Green Valley Lake Road to Highway 38/North Shore. Big Bear is accessible via Highway 18 from Lucerne Valley in the High Desert.

Road conditions are subject to change. Motorists should follow Caltrans on Twitter at @Caltrans8 or visit Caltrans’ Quickmap at quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Popular areas on the forest are largely inaccessible, including the snow play area in Snow Valley along Highway 18, Bee Canyon, a popular target shooting and off-highway vehicle area off Highway 74 and Idyllwild-area trails into the San Jacinto Wilderness, the San Bernardino National Forest said Friday.

Additionally, the visitor center in Idyllwild at the San Jacinto Ranger Station is closed. The Big Bear Discovery Center is open, but phones and internet are out. More information on U.S. Forest Service closures is available in the alerts and notices area of the USFS website at fs.usda.gov.

SBCO: SR-38 is now open! R2 level chain control in effect. You must have chains! Please drive safely when traveling through the area. No snow play allowed on SR-38, only in permitted areas! Do not block/park in turnouts. Stay off private property. Obey all traffic laws #Caltrans8 pic.twitter.com/NXMnouDYTo

— Caltrans District 8 (@Caltrans8) February 23, 2019​

 

Do I need to go buy chains? I’ve done the drive 5x time but never with this much snow. I have brand new wildpeak at3w and 4wd.

 

Bring them at least, yes. Couple years ago during a big snow storm they let me through with 4wd and good tires but I had to show CHP that I had chains in the truck

 

@DohoTaco

 

I went a few weekends ago while it was dumping snow, could barely even see the road. Caltrans just waved me through

 

Up in Arrowhead today and the highway had a fair amount of ice on it, Big Bear is probably much worse I imagine.

Tried taking some of the easy fire roads up into Arrowhead that we normally take but had to turn around on one...everything is so deeply rutted out and iced over, I was solo with my wife in the truck and didn't want to push my luck