Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
915.00 ft (278.89 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
12.20 mi (19.63 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Grand View is an aptly named overlook on the high country rim that offers a commanding vantage over the Santa Ana and San Bernardino valleys. Though there are ways to get closer by road, the hike from Aspen Picnic area via Pine Knot Trail is a pleasant hike that is worth the trek all on its own. It meanders southward from Big Bear, sharing segments with unpaved forest roads here and there and passing through Deer Group Campground.

Along the way you will explore ponderosa groves, mixed conifer glades, wildflower meadows, and manzanita gardens. You will also get views of Big Bear Lake and surrounding mountains. The last section of the hike parallels the rim and grants glimpses of open skies and distant peaks, but these are really only teasers before the view really opens up at the final destination.

Soon you will see the reason for the name, as the valley spills away below and the treeless summit of San Gorgonio Mountain towers beyond. Take time to enjoy the panorama before retracing your path. This is a fairly long out and back, but it makes a great way to spend a day with family or friends in San Bernardino National Forest.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

California Adventure Pass

Pros

Gradual incline. Well shaded.

Cons

Limited views except for final destination. Crosses motorized roads.

Trailhead Elevation

6,870.00 ft (2,093.98 m)

Features

Big vistas
Old-growth forest
Wildflowers

Suitable for

Biking

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino National Forest

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