Climbing Highway 18 northwards from Lucerne Valley offers a long and dramatic ascent, taking you from the stark beauty of the high desert floor up into the cool alpine forests surrounding Big Bear Lake, California. You'll embark on a journey of approximately 18-20 miles, gaining over 4,000 ft to reach altitudes near 7,000 ft on this 'backside' approach to Big Bear. While the overall average gradient is moderate at around 4-5%, be prepared for long, steady, grinding sections mixed with significantly steeper ramps, particularly on switchbacks higher up. On the way up you'll see the striking scenery transition from Joshua trees to tall pines, with views opening up behind you over the Mojave Desert.

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Details

Informations

Distance 17.3 km

Uphill 1,110 m

Downhill 40 m

Weather

Today

Monday 22 December

18°C

5°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Big Bear City, San Bernardino County, California, United States

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