Hop a Bike and Explore the best Big Bear Mountain Biking Trails For Beginners!
Big Bear has an abundance of fantastic activities to fill long summer days. One of the top activities on the mountain is mountain biking. With over one hundred miles of trails and forest service roads waiting to be explored, it’s no wonder why.
For those novice mountain bike riders, here are 3 perfect Big Bear mountain biking trails for beginners.
Alpine Pedal Path
This paved path on the north side of the lake is the perfect place to acclimate to both the elevation and adjust to the mountain bike frame.
The trail starts on the west side of North Shore Elementary School. It is about 2.5 miles long and wraps up just before the intersection of North Shore Drive and North Shore Lane. Along the way, you’ll find benches and picnic areas. If you’re up for a day trip, pack a lunch and hang out by the water while you take a break from the trail.
Alpine Offshoots
If you feel comfortable on the mountain bike, there are several offshoot trails following along the Alpine Pedal Path. They will be adjacent to the pedal path, so bikers can switch back and forth between trails.
With so many trails to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones to hit first. It can also be tough to determine which trails are designed for riders, depending on their experience levels. Check out this interactive map of the various trails in Big Bear Lake to figure out which ones are suitable for your riding experience.
Snow Summit
Bikers looking to take their skills to the next level have two great options just behind Snow Summit Mountain Resort’s parking lot. While differing in degrees of difficulty, both are forest service roads. There won’t be any overly technical elements on either trail. Overall, there are 15 riding trails to choose from at Snow Summit. One of the best things about Summit Bike Park is the lift service provided to bikers.
The Town Trail heading directly to the West is a more mild and flat road. If you follow the road for 3 miles, you will intersect with Knickerbocker Road. From here, you can head directly into town.
The other option is to climb towards the top of Snow Summit Mountain. While this 2.2-mile climb isn’t technical, it will be a healthy workout. The stunning views of the lake will be well worth the climb. Not to mention having an easy descent to look forward to. The 2023 calendar year marked a big addition to Snow Summit, with the mountain opening up new jumps for riders.
Off the Map
As we mentioned, Big Bear has over 100 miles of trails and roads. There are countless little trails in the area that don’t always show up on mainstream maps. Stop by Chains Required Bike Shop to have the experts help find the trail that is right for you. They also have a wide range of bike rentals. From full suspension to downhill, to trail bikes; they have something for every style of rider.
Biking Getaway
Once you get a taste of mountain biking, you’ll never want to stop! And Big Bear is the perfect place to learn as they have trails suited for every level. Once you graduate from beginner, you can test out other trails like Castle Rock Trail or Pine Knot Trail.
Make your biking trip the ultimate adventure by choosing the Mountain Adventure Hostel for your getaway accommodations.
We make your adventures memorable by offering a free pancake breakfast every morning. Even more, we plan daily activities for our guests. The hostel is a great place to meet fellow travelers for your adventures, and you might even find a fellow rider who wants to hit the trails with you!
Before booking a night at ITH, make sure to sign up for our Traveler’s Club. This free program will save you money on all future bookings at our hostels, and it’s easy to sign up!
