Hike the Castle Rock Trail (Big Bear) + Bluff Lake
1.6 miles - Moderate Effort
Or: 3.8 to Bluff Lake
1 Hour (Total)
570 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 7,400 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed
Hiking up the Castle Rock Trail to the viewpoint is tough, but thankfully short. Once you get to Castle Rock, you'll have sweeping views of Big Bear Lake and the mountains surrounding it. Since the whole hike is under two miles, I've included an easy extension to a hidden mountain lake, Bluff Lake, which also features ruins from an 1890s mountain resort. There's a lot to see packed into this short hike, and it's worth the effort.
In this Guide:
Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the Castle Rock Trail
The Castle Rock Trail is located on the south side of Big Bear Lake. Unfortunately parking is tough. There's a small parking lot just east of the trailhead, and a few other turnouts with spaces for a couple of vehicles just west of the trailhead. Use this address: Castle Rock Trail 1W03, Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
The main parking lot is 0.25 miles east of the trailhead. There are limited parking spots. Also, it's best to park head in, not horizontally as people are parked here.About 150 feet west of the trailhead is another small shoulder where people park.And then 0.25 miles west of the trailhead is another small shoulder for parking.The worst part of the parking situation is that you have to walk along the road to get to the start of the trail. Stay as far over as possible. Vehicles often go too fast around the sharp turns here. Assume that you are not seen and walk defensively.The trail starts just off the road, on the side opposite the lake.
Gear For the Hike
This isn't a long or extreme hike, so you don't really need any special gear. Light hiking or fitness clothes are your best bet. Bring at least a water bottle, the climb can be tough and it can get hot in the summer (I bring 1L for this whole hike including the Bluff Lake option). In the winter, the trail is covered in ice and snow, and is not really doable given its steepness.
Osprey Hikelite 26Lightweight, carries all your gear, and your back doesn't get sweaty. Oh yea, it's also one of the most inexpensive packs you can get.
These wire bins filled with rock are your best friend on this hike. They are the trail markers that you will follow on the way up to Castle Rock. You should never be more than a few minutes away from one. If you are, you've gone the wrong way.
Since this is a popular and short hike, there are many unofficial trail cutoffs and use trails. As I just mentioned, you need to follow the big stone markers to stay on the official trail. Some maps show trails cutting off the main trail to the rock. Just follow the markers and you'll be good.
The hike to Castle Rock is pretty much all uphill, but you do get a little breather in the middle.
Elevation Profile To Bluff Lake
If you continue onto Bluff Lake, there's a short uphill past Castle Rock, and then it's an easy and flat hike to the lake.
3D Map
From the lakeside road, you'll climb up and then loop around to Castle Rock. From there you'll do a relatively flat stretch to the lake. As you can see here, most of the hike is shaded.
XX Hike Directions
The trailhead is well-marked. Check out the notice board for any updates before you start your hike.There's a little trail sign at the beginning.Right from the gun, the hike is steep and climbs up the left bank of a (usually dry) stream.And shortly after the start you'll pass your first stone bin trail marker. Keep hiking uphill.At the big clearing, avoid the unofficial trail on the right and continue up to the left.The trail eases up for a little bit.And then it turns back to the right by some benches and gets steep again.Keep climbing up from stone marker to stone marker, avoiding side trails.This middle section, where you first start to get views of Big Bear Lake, has lots of little side trails. Again, look for the stone markers and follow them.You'll go through a level section of forest.And then down through some big boulders.And then you reach a t-junction. To hike to Castle Rock, make the right. If you want to hike to Bluff Lake later, you'll go up to the left.As you do a little downhill dip, you'll see a sign for Castle Rock.Castle Rock is the large boulder formation sticking up about 100 feet on the right. The trail winds around to the left of Castle Rock. Do the hook loop around to the other side of Castle Rock.Here's what the end looks like on a map. Avoid side trails and stay on the trail hooking around.Continue around to the far side of Castle Rock.Another old school sign tells you that you've arrived.Continue straight until you get views of Big Bear Lake. The scramble to the top is back to the right.If you want to scramble to the top of Castle Rock, look for the notch behind the viewpoint area.There's a rope to help you up the first part, and there's another challenging boulder right after that. It's probably not doable for kids, and there are plenty of adults who give it a skip too. If you're not comfortable on this scramble, don't do it, just enjoy the views below.
From here head back to the last junction.
If you want to head back to the start, go down to the left and follow the stone markers back down to the trailhead, following your route up. If you want to hike another mile to Bluff Lake, go straight.The beginning of this section is steep, and also features the stone markers.Eventually the stone markers thin out and there are yellow trail markers on the trees.There's a bench where you can take in the views of Castle Rock.Soon after the bench, the trail levels out and rolls along. The climbing is done.The Castle Rock Trail ends at Kidd Creek Rd. (2N86). Make the right onto the dirt Forest Service road.Kidd Creek Rd. (2N86) is flat and easy to follow.Bear left at the split.And the road dead-ends at a small cabin. Hike toward the cabin.Hike through the gate into Bluff Lake Reserve. The private property signs are meant to keep out vehicles, not hikers.You'll pass the remains of John Healy Williams's cabin. He was a pastor at the resort here, Bluff Lake Resort, which dates back to the 1890s. The cabin burnt down in the 1950s.You'll pass a sign for the park, now owned and protected by the Wildlands Conservancy.Check the lake out and then return the way you came. The lake your looking at was actually drained when the area was protected to kill off invasive species. If the area looks familiar, you might have seen it used as a location in Dr. Doolittle 2.
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