Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Running Springs, California

Starting at the edge of the community of Green Valley Lake, this western approach of FS 3N16 offers a lush, alpine experience markedly different from the eastern desert-transition terrain. The trail winds through dense stands of Jeffrey pine, white fir, and oak, providing a shaded and scenic drive t...
Learn more about Holcomb Valley Road (West) - FS 3N16

Green Valley Bypass (2N54) is a short but scenic forest road that links 3N16 (Holcomb Valley Road) with 2N13 (Snow Slide Road) in the San Bernardino National Forest. At just under 2 miles long, it’s often used as a quick dirt connector, but it’s more than just a shortcut — the trail offers a quiet d...
Learn more about Green Valley Bypass - FS 2N54

A long overland trail with plenty of recreational activities such as site-specific shooting areas, yellow post campsites and creek crossings. This is a well-maintained dirt road with some minor ruts, rocks and shallow creek crossings. It makes for a great day in the mountains South of Big Bear near ...
Learn more about 1N09 City Creek Trail

Rouse Ranch is an easy green-rated trail following a mellow dirt road with gentle, winding turns. Riders are treated to expansive views of rolling green hills and relaxed terrain that make this route a good place to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Expect mostly smooth travel with occasional patches...
Learn more about Rouse Ranch

This is a semi-maintained trail. It is primarily a route through chaparral country with dense Manzanita bushes and evidence of the past Line Fire, which required significant brush clearing. The trail has varying surface conditions with some loose gravel. It requires a high-clearance vehicle and poss...
Learn more about Siberia Creek - FS 2N97

Enter the forest on 2N28Y from the residential neighborhood. The road begins as a street-legal-only vehicle dirt road, but will convert to a green-sticker OHV road where it crosses trail 3W13. The roadbed is hard dirt when dry, but it will become slippery with the clay when wet. You will first desce...
Learn more about Banff OHV Trail - 2N28Y

Devils Hole is an easy, flowy hardpack dirt trail with winding turns and opportunities for natural wall rides. Riders can expect a smooth route with a few shallow puddles, occasionally reaching ankle depth, but no major obstacles. Wildlife is common along the trail, so keep an eye out for snakes and...
Learn more about Devils Hole - FS 3N34D

Crab Flats is a smooth, hardpack dirt road with flowing terrain and minimal technical difficulty. Riders can expect a few shallow water crossings, occasionally reaching shin depth, but otherwise easy travel throughout the route. Most high-clearance vehicles can navigate this trail, with 2WD typicall...
Learn more about Crab Flats

Starting in Highland, 1n16 is a fairly easy dirt road with some parts rutted out, but any 4x4 can make it through the trail easily. Many parts of the trail are single-vehicle wide, but there are plenty of places to pass along the way. Coming from Highland, the trail ends on 1n16, giving you the choi...
Learn more about Alder Creek Road - FSR 1n16

Butler Peak is a beautiful trail that can be completed in about 1 hour and is a minimal difficulty trail. The trail itself is a well-traveled dirt trail that winds its way up the mountain to a fire watchtower. The trail can get narrow in spots, but most places along the way will have places to pass ...
Learn more about Butler Peak Fire Lookout - 2N13B

Kidd Creek - FS 2N86 is a short, scenic forest route winding through dense pine stands in the Big Bear backcountry just south of Big Bear Lake and near Bluff Lake. The trail offers a relaxed drive overall, with a mix of smooth dirt, light rock, and a few uneven sections that keep it interesting. Alo...
Learn more about Kidd Creek - FS 2N86

Santa Ana Divide (FS 2N11) is a scenic forest ridgeline route just outside Big Bear Lake within the San Bernardino National Forest. The trail offers a relaxed dirt drive through tall pines with occasional openings that reveal surrounding mountain views. The route is mostly smooth and easy to follow,...
Learn more about Santa Ana Divide - FS 2N11

The Thomas Hunting Grounds Trail (1N12), often also referred to as the Morton Peak Trail, is an easy dirt road that takes you from the chaparral and shrubs of Mill Creek to the oaks and pines of the San Bernardino National Forest before dropping you in the town of Angelus Oaks. The Thomas Hunting Gr...
Learn more about Thomas Hunting Grounds

Clarks Grade is an off-road trail in the San Bernardino National Forest. Driving this trail is a journey back to the origins of the Big Bear Lake area since this was one of the first roads into Big Bear. It is a narrow shelf road for most of the way, with few spots to pass. The trail starts down at ...
Learn more about Clark's Grade - FS 1N54

This is a point-to-point single-vehicle-width trail that can be combined with nearby trails to form a loop route across a scenic vista area. Occasional turnouts and wider stretches to allow vehicles to pass are present in the southern half of the trail, but the northern half is relatively narrow wit...
Learn more about Grapevine Canyon - FS 4N16

Holcomb Creek Road is a great trail for the new off-roaders in the forest near Big Bear. The trail provides plenty of dense forest scenery and some easy-to-moderate 4x4 challenges. The most notable obstacle on the trail is a rocky hill climb on the east end of the trail. This is also a connector tra...
Learn more about Upper Holcomb Creek Road - 3N08

Delamar Mountain - 3N12 is a short, beautiful trail that provides access to Holcomb Valley and its extensive network of trails. The trail features tree coverage throughout its length, with opportunities for dispersed camping and yellow post sites along the way. At one point, the trail opens up to re...
Learn more about Delamar Mountain - 3N12

Freshly reopened after years of closure for restoration, Snow Slide Trail (FS 2N13) is once again welcoming off-road enthusiasts into one of the most scenic corners of the Big Bear area. Tucked away in the San Bernardino National Forest, this trail has quickly reclaimed its reputation as a quiet esc...
Learn more about Snow Slide - FS2N13

Running along the southern ridgeline above Big Bear Lake, Camp Osito Road (FS 2N17) is part of the broader Skyline Drive trail system, offering some of the most panoramic views in the San Bernardino National Forest. It connects directly with Mill Creek Road (FS 2N10) to the west and Knickerbocker Ro...
Learn more about Camp Osito - FS 2N17

Coxey Road (3N14) is a long Forest Service connector route running from the north side of Big Bear Lake near Fawnskin all the way northwest to Lucerne Valley, where it terminates at Bowen Ranch Road. Starting near the lakeside forest communities, the road climbs through dense pine stands, passing ac...
Learn more about Coxey Road - FS 3N14

Green Valley Bypass (2N54) is a short but scenic forest road that links 3N16 (Holcomb Valley Road) with 2N13 (Snow Slide Road) in the San Bernardino National Forest. At just under 2 miles long, it’s often used as a quick dirt connector, but it’s more than just a shortcut — the trail offers a quiet d...
Learn more about Green Valley Bypass - FS 2N54

Rouse Ranch is an easy green-rated trail following a mellow dirt road with gentle, winding turns. Riders are treated to expansive views of rolling green hills and relaxed terrain that make this route a good place to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Expect mostly smooth travel with occasional patches...
Learn more about Rouse Ranch

Devils Hole is an easy, flowy hardpack dirt trail with winding turns and opportunities for natural wall rides. Riders can expect a smooth route with a few shallow puddles, occasionally reaching ankle depth, but no major obstacles. Wildlife is common along the trail, so keep an eye out for snakes and...
Learn more about Devils Hole - FS 3N34D

Crab Flats is a smooth, hardpack dirt road with flowing terrain and minimal technical difficulty. Riders can expect a few shallow water crossings, occasionally reaching shin depth, but otherwise easy travel throughout the route. Most high-clearance vehicles can navigate this trail, with 2WD typicall...
Learn more about Crab Flats

Green Valley Bypass (2N54) is a short but scenic forest road that links 3N16 (Holcomb Valley Road) with 2N13 (Snow Slide Road) in the San Bernardino National Forest. At just under 2 miles long, it’s often used as a quick dirt connector, but it’s more than just a shortcut — the trail offers a quiet d...
Learn more about Green Valley Bypass - FS 2N54

Rouse Ranch is an easy green-rated trail following a mellow dirt road with gentle, winding turns. Riders are treated to expansive views of rolling green hills and relaxed terrain that make this route a good place to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Expect mostly smooth travel with occasional patches...
Learn more about Rouse Ranch

This is a semi-maintained trail. It is primarily a route through chaparral country with dense Manzanita bushes and evidence of the past Line Fire, which required significant brush clearing. The trail has varying surface conditions with some loose gravel. It requires a high-clearance vehicle and poss...
Learn more about Siberia Creek - FS 2N97

Devils Hole is an easy, flowy hardpack dirt trail with winding turns and opportunities for natural wall rides. Riders can expect a smooth route with a few shallow puddles, occasionally reaching ankle depth, but no major obstacles. Wildlife is common along the trail, so keep an eye out for snakes and...
Learn more about Devils Hole - FS 3N34D