Big Bear Jeep Off-Road Tour

Embark on a scenic hike to Hidden Lake Bluff Lake, a hidden gem in Big Bear Lake. Join a local tour guide for a Jeep adventure and explore the beautiful hiking areas of Big Bear Lake.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Bluff Lake Reserve - Bluff Lake is a hidden Big Bear secret. Some locals who have lived in Big Bear for 15 years don’t even know it’s here! It is by far the most gorgeous place in Big Bear to spend a morning in nature.
  • Champion Lodgepole Pine - A morning at Bluff Lake is the best way to spend a day in Big Bear no matter what season it is! Our tour starts with a drive up to Bluff Lake Reserve in my SUV. Spring through fall I lead hikers on tours all over Bluff Lake, the upper portion of Castle Rock and Skyline Trail. The easy version of this hike is about a two-mile hike over the mostly flat ground, not much altitude gain. This is a great hike for kids. We can even stop on the hike and I’ll teach kids a bit about our local butterflies and instruct them on the best technic to photograph butterflies. We will hike over to our Champion Lodgepole Pine; Which is the oldest and largest tree in our national forest. If you want to do the moderate hike to upper Castle Rock (Castle Rock is the most popular trail in the Big Bear Valley), this hike is available the same pricing. Us locals prefer to hike a less traveled trail starting from the top near Bluff Lake to Castle Rock. It’s prettier and not a crowded hike. This hike has a lot more altitude gain and is about 4 miles round trip.
What's Included
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Local Guide
Additional Information

Bluff Lake is a concealed treasure in Big Bear, known for its breathtaking beauty. Surprisingly, numerous Big Bear residents are unaware of its presence, tucked three miles away up a secluded dirt road. Embarking on this secret wilderness lake journey with a local guide is an excellent approach to explore some of Big Bear Lake’s most aesthetically appealing hiking trails. Your group will be gathered in my Jeep and I will chauffeur you up the forest trail, introducing you to the flora we encounter and the fascinating chronicle of the Big Bear Valley. Upon hitting the Bluff Lake Reserve, we will indulge in one of the most picturesque hikes in Big Bear Lake. This trek is amenable to strollers, catering to those who wish to bring along young children.

Location
40101 Mill Creek Rd
Mill Creek Road
Guests will meet me at the junction of Mill Creek Road and Tulip Lane, on the south side of Big Bear Lake. There is room to park your car there on the dirt shoulder of the road. I will drive us up the dirt road through the pine forest in my SUV to where the hike begins.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(40 Ratings)
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Jacobsj13
Aug 25, 2024
Beautiful Lake Hike in Big Bear! - We had a wonderful morning with Amber! She gave great directions for meeting with us, and she catered the hike to our preferences and the ages of people in our group! Amber knows a lot about the area, including the history, plants, and animals. She made it a great experience for all of us, and we will definitely go on a hike with her in the future!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ingridsy7118mb
Jul 23, 2024
Great Family Experience - We did the hike to Bluff Lake over the July 4th weekend and it was so worth it! First, Amber is so knowledgable about the trails, flora, and fauna. She shared so much information and history of the area as we did the hike, which we really appreciated. It really enriched and enhanced the whole experience for us. Second, she was really great with our two kids (10 and 13). I could tell my kids enjoyed the experience because my 10 year old was very chatty and asked many questions. Amber happily obliged, answered my kids' questions, and actively engaged in conversation with both of my kids. And the off rode drive up and back was a highlight for us too. Overall, this was a great adventure for our family. The hike itself is perfect for families (its not too strenuous) and it was really beautiful. The hike ended with some refreshing lemonade which Amber made and really hit the spot on a hot day. I highly recommend this tour with Amber.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S3059otnicolem
Jul 15, 2024
Family friendly hike. - The views were amazing & the hike is family friendly. I took my 10 year old son and he loved every minute of it. Amber was very knowledgeable about the history of the land, plants, trees, & flowers all around us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cesarts6606en
Jul 12, 2024
highly recommend - We had a great time at bluff lake, Amber is very knowledgeable and made the hike so much more enjoyable. We had plenty of time to stop enjoy the scenery and take pictures
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileen_b
Jul 3, 2024
Fun and Informative Tour - Bluff Lake is Gorgeous! - My son and I had a really good time with this tour! We had never been to Bluff Lake (which is so beautiful). But what really made it special (and part of the reason we wanted to do a tour in the first place) was that Amber was so knowledgeable and entertaining. She kept us engaged and asking questions. Nothing is better than getting out and moving in a beautiful place AND learning new stuff. She also took some great pictures of us. Really great time!
Review provided by Viator
Paul_m
Jul 3, 2024
Family trip - Cozy and quiet trail! Spent 2 hours of joyful walk with my family. Recommend for enjoying a short trip.
Review provided by Viator
Pauline
Jun 25, 2024
Well worth it - Amber was really lovely, friendly, knowledgeable …. A beautiful tour comfortable hike , we chatted a lot about everything, she’s dog friendly too
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rickcd2657dr
Jun 20, 2024
Bluff lake hike - Amber was great she knew a lot about the wildlife and showed us around the lake telling us about the history and fun facts about everything around it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tvelasco
Nov 22, 2023
Excellent experience - We had such a fun time with Amber. She was very knowledgeable on Bluff Lake and her hot chocolate was amazing. We were even able to see a pack of wolves. We would definitely come again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joona910
Oct 29, 2023
Definitely returning! 10/10 - Amber was an excellent guide! The views and historical significance were astonishing! She provided us with delicious pumpkin spice coffee after our hike was over. And, she also provided us with delicious apples as gifts!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 4 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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