Big Bear Aspen Grove Trail Hike

4.8 miles - Moderate Effort
Or: 1 mile roundtrip to the first grove
2-3 Hours (Total)
770 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 8,000 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Hidden in a remote valley in the mountains around Big Bear, the Aspen Grove Trail offers a rare glimpse into one of the two aspen groves in Southern California. The leaves turn orange and yellow in the fall, and the area feels more like the Sierra Nevada than Big Bear. The Aspen Grove Trail was destroyed in the 2015 Lake Fire, and while the big pine trees are no longer there, the aspens have grown back nicely. If you're looking for fall colors, this hike is a great option.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn by Turn Directions for the Aspen Grove Trail
Permits & Parking Information
What to Expect on the Hike

Quick Links: San Bernardino National Forest - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where Is the Aspen Grove Trail by Big Bear?

Just getting to the remote trailhead for the Aspen Grove Trail is an adventure. Ideally, you'll have a high-clearance vehicle with 4x4 to navigate the last 1.5 miles up a windy and rutted dirt road. If you don't have that option, you can drive to where the road's bad part starts and walk the 1.5 miles (about 30 minutes) to the trailhead. If you do end up walking the last stretch, the good news is that you can see aspen trees at the beginning of the hike; you don't necessarily have to hike the Aspen Grove Trail to the end (more on that later in the guide).

In the winter, the road to Fish Creek can be closed. Check the "alerts" link above before you go.

To get to the trailhead, use this address:
Aspen Grove Trail 2E05, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 1 — The main part of the dirt road is flat and smooth. You can do it with a low-clearance vehicle, just don't go too fast.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 2 — Turn right towards Fish Creek.

Shortly after that last image the road starts to go uphill. If you have a low-clearance vehicle, park around the intersection sign and walk. I've marked the trail map (in a following section) with the alternate parking location.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 7 — The last part of the dirt road to the trailhead is steep and rutted in places.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 3 — The parking lot is small, but given the tough drive to the trailhead, usually has at least some space available.

Permits For the Hike

Occasionally you need a permit to hike the Aspen Grove Trail. Whether you do or not is often dependent on the fire conditions and traffic. Check the San Gorgonio Wilderness Associate website before you go. You can arrange for a permit online and it's free.

Gear Recommendations

Although the hike isn't long, it's definitely in the backcountry, and you should be prepared. Bring at least 1L of water and a satellite communicator if you have it. The trail is overgrown in spots; having long pants and trekking poles will help save your legs.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 6 — This is what happens when you wear shorts on this hike.

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Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
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Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

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Aspen Grove Trail Maps

This trail is very easy to follow from the trailhead to the first aspen grove at Fish Creek, and then it gets a little more challenging as you hike to the end of the trail. Tise area was leveled in the 2015 Lake Fire, and the trail also fell victim. If you have a GPS and know how to load the GPX track (below), it will be helpful. That said, although overgrown in places, there are very well defined sections at regular intervals. If you've been hiking for 10 minutes and you haven't seen a well-defined trail, you've lost the trail.

Also of note is the OSM map track, which shows the trail running on the east side of Fish Creek. If this was the trail at one point, it's not the trail anymore. The GPX file I have available here, along with the images and video, show the current trail.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Elevation Profile

Aspen Grove Elevation — After an initial downhill, the trail gradually climbs until its end. There are no steep climbs, just a gentle uphill.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Lake Fire Aspen Grove — This is what the Aspen Grove Trail area looked like before the Lake Fire of 2015. Today all the big pines are gone, but the aspens have started to grow back. Photo Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Aspens are an "aggressive pioneer species" that often colonize wildfire areas. So on this hike, even after the 2015 fire, you can see new growth aspens.
The aspen is one of the most common trees in North America, but Southern California is generally too hot and dry for them. A few isolated areas like this support groves.
There are several species of aspens, and these are called "quaking aspens," also known as golden aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and mountain aspen. The words "quaking" and "trembling" describes when the wind blows through the leaves; the trees look as if they are shaking. If you want to learn more, the Forest Service has a few pages devoted to aspen trees.
The area to the west of the trail (I'll point it out in the directions) is a popular spot for hunters. If it's hunting season they can be active here, and it's not very fun. And of course, hunting season is in the fall, when the leaves change color. The good news is that most hunters here are used to hikers. Go to Walmart and invest in a cheap orange hat or vest. You can also make lots of noise by talking loudly or singing a song. It helps to scare away animals, and also let hunters know that a human is close. It might also be the only circumstance in which playing music through a Bluetooth speaker is acceptable.
This guide brings you to the end of the Aspen Grove Trail. The area is remote and beautiful, but the aspens fizzle out as you climb up the canyon. If you don't want to go all the way, simply turn around and go back whenever you feel like it.

Aspen Grove Trail Hike Directions

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Aspen Grove Trail Directions 4 — There's a Sand to Snow National Monument trailhead sign at the parking area. The trail starts right behind the sign.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 5 — The trail heads downhill towards Fish Creek.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 8 — As the trail twists around to the east you'll start to see the dead trees and barren hills.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 9 — But look down into the valley and you'll see your first grove of aspen trees!

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 10 — When the trail reaches Fish Creek, cross over.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 11 — On the other side of the creek there's a sign letting you know that you're entering the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Make the left after the sign.

If you just wanted to see that first grove of aspens, you can turn around here. You can also explore the trail to the right at the San Gorgonio Wilderness sign, but note that the area to the right is popular with hunters (in hunting season).

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 12 — From here on out the hike is more primitive than the first part of the trail. Make your way upstream along Fish Creek.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 13 — Keep your eyes open for aspens on the rest of the hike. Generally they can be found closer to Fish Creek, which is on your left.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 14 — Huge mushrooms!

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 15 — When you get to this large burned tree, you're going to have to climb around to continue the trail. Often these large dead trees will fall, decay, and provide nutrients for new growth.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 16 — Keep following the trail as it heads up along Fish Creek.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 17 — When the trail looks like it will cross over the creek, look for the hard right and climb up on the same side.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 18 — Keep hiking up through the burn area. I remember hiking though here before the fire; it was a dark, lush forest.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 19 — When the trail approaches the creek again, look for it to continue as a hard right.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 20 — The trail starts climbing uphill. Although there isn't a lot of climbing on this hike, the rough nature of the trail makes it seem a bit harder than it actually is.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 21 — In the fall, the colors from all the foliage is spectacular. And in the spring and early summer the area is great for wildflowers.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 22 — Some sections of the trail are heavily overgrown. Keep going; there's generally a good section immediately after a tough one. At this point the trail meanders on the side of the hill to the right.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 23 — Be prepared to cross several fallen trees.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 24 — The trail starts to climb up toward the end of the canyon.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 25 — After the climb you'll cross over Fish Creek.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 26 — The trail heads up the left bank of the creek.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 27 — And then crosses back over and heads up to the left.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 28 — You'll definitely know that you're higher up at this point as the trail gently climbs towards its end.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 29 — And soon you reach the end of the Aspen Grove Trail at the Fish Creek Trail. If you were to make a right, you could hike to the highest point in Southern California, San Gorgonio, about 10 miles hike (don't actually do this unless you know what you are doing). To the left is the PCT and the end of the dirt road from the trailhead.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 30 — From here you just turn around and head back the way you came.

Aspen Grove Trail Directions 31 — Enjoy the views on the way back down, which should be an easy cruise after the climb up.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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