Clarks Summit

Total Miles
29.5

Elevation

2,472.82 ft

Duration

5 Hours

Technical Rating

5

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Fall

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Clarks Summit 4

Trail Overview

Explore the back side of Snow Summit Ski Area in the picturesque San Bernardino National Forest. The upper portion of Clarks Summit offers spectacular scenic lookouts and connects with Skyline Drive (Trail #73), which leads to the Radford Truck Trail. Views of Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in the San Bernardino National Forest, are the reward for reaching this point. This trail is only for street-legal vehicles. There are some narrow sections, but the road is typically well-graded. Be aware of hikers and mountain bikers, as well as other vehicles. The San Gorgonio campground in Big Bear is a great spot for making this an overnight adventure. Reservation are required through recreation.gov.

Photos of Clarks Summit

Clarks Summit
Clarks Summit

Difficulty

Moderate: Steep and narrow in sections, especially on the descent from Clarks Summit. A couple of spots are so narrow there is barely enough room to get out of your vehicle. Tight brush in places for wide vehicles. OK for most stock 4x4 SUVs with skid plates.

Technical Rating

5

Status Reports

Luke Peters
Jul 20, 2024
Open
Normal
Dusty
Clarks Grade is Open (not sure about Radford Truck Trail). Shelf road with steep drop offs. Trail can fit full size vehicle. Some spots to allow people to pass going opposite way.
Liam Vasquez
Jun 15, 2024
Temporarily Closed
Closed Gate
Trail Restoration
Joerg Hallbauer
May 17, 2024
2022 Ford Bronco
Temporarily Closed
Trail Restoration
This guided trail is actually made up of a couple of different trails. The section on the right of the map is Radford Truck Trail (FS- 1N04) and that is currently closed with no open date. On the left side of the map it's Clark's Grade (FS-1N54) which is currently open.
Craig Newton
Jan 05, 2024
4x4
Temporarily Closed

Access Description

Take Highway 38 east from San Bernardino or south from Big Bear Lake to Forest Road 1N04 at mile marker 30.97.

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