Big Bear Trails with camping?

I am looking to do a big bear trip (or anywhere near socal with tall trees) where I can camp anywhere along the trail or end of trail. Dont want anything too advanced but I do have rear locker, coilovers and 31" tires.

Any suggestions?

 

In for answer.

 

Need one of these bad boys... then u just pick a spot

 

Google some of the "yellow post campsites" in the big bear lake area. They are very close to some good trails.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=...d=214051984147739702694.0004505f2a5934e8be2f9

They are free first come first serve primitive campsites I think they have fire rings.

There's some good trails up there too. Big Pine Flat trail, Jacoby Canyon, Holcomb Creek Road, White Mountain trail, etc...

 

You can go to the visitor center in Big Bear and pick up a map. I was there about a month ago and was able to find a good camp site on the south side of the mountain where no one was with us. I'm going up there on the 7th and gonna try the north side this time. Usually just drive around and have fun until my group finds a good place to camp. As a heads up though its gonna be snow season pretty soon so a lot of the trails is going to get closed down.

 

Was planning to go two weeks out, the 15th, you think most will still be open? Are campfires allowed currently?

 

I know that that is the opening week for snow summit. I dont know about the fires i think they play that week by week depending on the weather conditions. But i highly recommend not lighting any fires if it is prohibited not even a charcoal grill

 

I think a lot of places might require a camp fire permit for a gas stove even... with the drought situation so cal has been in the fire risk is especially high and they're taking everything really seriously....

check out http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/

you can actually print out your permit from that site.

 

Just back from Big Bear, and stayed at the yellow post off of 2N80. There are currently fire restrictions, and no fires at the yellow posts. Even tho it was raining and some snow, the fire restrictions are still in place.

 

Man that's gonna suck when I go out there this weekend. Did you need chains?

 

Is that at the primitive campgrounds as well?

 

You could probably stay at the Holchom camp ground and have a fire, but no fires at the yellow posts. Going back up today for firewood, I'll see if they have lifted them yet. Kevin.

 

Is it easy to get to the Holcomb campground? I looked up Holcomb and it seems to have some difficult rock gardens that I wouldnt want to do. Any campground would do but ideally it would be one with few people.

 

Okay so I decided on going to Grapevine Canyon and camping near there, then it looks like there are other trails nearby. Any reason not to?

 

I don't think its legal, but every time I go up there I just drive 200 yards off a trail and camp.

 

Better off at the yellow post primitive campsites since they have firepits.

Ended up at Horse Springs CG, it was cool but I would recommend Holcomb Valley CG to anyone heading that way, its better.

 

Super easy to get to Holcomb from Big Bear. There was one road that was a dead end, I ended up going through a neighborhood slightly east of the road that takes you between the lake and smaller lake (not sure whats the name of the street but it takes you into Big Bear City where the supermarket is). Stock friendly. Holcomb campground is pretty big and is a good base camp- has fire rings so you can have campfires. Lots of cool mines to explore and lots of dirt roads that are flat to explore on. It would probably help to get a USFS NF map of the area to help out. I drove from Holcomb all the way over to Arrowhead I think on dirt roads and there were lots of campgrounds along the way that were deserted.

 

Sub'd. I live at the base of Big Bear. A little town called Calimesa. I recently got a Taco and would enjoy heading into some of the the more novice OH roads with you all for some camping or just wheeling. Camping and fishing are my languages of choice. New to the off-roading scene.

 

Sub'd Big bear is like a second home for me in the summer months because I live in Joshua Tree and its average temp in the summer is well over 100 degrees. I have only done a few trails in big bear in my truck, but I also have a Jeep on 35s locked front and rear that can do any trial in big bear. I've done Gold Mountain, Little John Bull, Big Jon Bull, Holcomb Creek, and Dish Pan. I honestly don't think my DCLB Taco on 285's and no lockers can do any of those trails. Looking for some less difficult trails for the truck though.

Holcomb Valley is my favorite place to camp and it really easy to get to from the 81. coming up from Johnson Valley you can turn right on to Holcomb Valley road and follow it past the dump and take the fire road strait to Holcomb Valley CG, or continue to follow 81 to Van Dusen Canyon rd. make a right and that takes you straight to HVCG. If there are any planned trips to big Bear for camping or wheeling let me know.