Name: Cougar Crest Trail
Rating: 3.9

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Family Friendly While the trail is sizable in length for a child, its modest grades make it doable. Plus, they will enjoy great views the whole way.

An Adventure Pass is required to park at the trailhead. Please clearly display your pass inside your vehicle, either on the dash or hanging from the rearview mirror.

Description

The Cougar Crest Trail is a steady but modest climb to Bertha Peak on a wide, smooth trail. After 2.5 miles, join the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) for one quarter mile before making the final 0.8 mile ascent to Bertha Peak, which is steeper than the preceding climb. The peak houses radio equipment and affords panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding area.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - San Bernardino National Forest Office

Shared By:

Matthew Kidd with improvements by Ryan Dunn

Full Details

Trail Ratings

3.9 from 19 votes

#3

in Big Bear Lake

#7163

Overall

3.9 from 19 votes

5 Star		28%
4 Star		44%
3 Star		22%
2 Star		6%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

13 Views Last Month

4,877 Since Apr 7, 2017

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Photos

From the top of Bertha Peak, enjoy a 70-degree panorama of Big Bear Lake and the Big Bear Solar Observatory.

Apr 7, 2017 near Big Bea…, CA

Nov 6, 2017 near Big Bea…, CA

Nov 6, 2017 near Big Bea…, CA

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Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Jun 18, 2022

Su Jin Kim

메이언니 혜주 언니 민우 선배랑 7.2mi

Jul 31, 2020

Brian Repelin

7.4mi — 3h 25m

Jul 1, 2020

Alejandro Aming

Jun 24, 2020

TIPU KHAN

gradual climb

Oct 26, 2019

Il Noh

Aug 24, 2019

Devon Allen

7.4mi — 2h 41m

Aug 7, 2019

Cassie Rivkin

Jun 27, 2019

Zachary Webb

Mar 30, 2019

Agam Tomar

Cougar crest 2 miles + Pacific Crest 1.6 Miles. — 5h 00m

Mar 30, 2019

Samatha Benedict

round trip from 11 to 15 00 hrs. 3.6mi — 11h 00m

Jan 8, 2019

Anusha Avyukt

Completed the trail

Dec 15, 2018

Matt Wooddy

5mi

Nov 10, 2018

Leo Sol

Nov 3, 2018

Steve Abbott

Sep 15, 2018

Cheri Cole

One of my favorites in Big Bear. Not too difficult, but can be mildly challenging. Have done this when there was a 4 feet base of snow- Fantastic

Aug 13, 2018

Steve Ledoux

2.5mi

Jul 22, 2018

Ryan Dunn

Great weather on a great trail! Be advised if anyone continues along the PCT east past the peak there are a couple downed trees on the trail. 12mi — 6h 00m

Jul 4, 2018

Brigida Martinez 1

cougar Crest trail with Bertha peak 7.5mi

May 28, 2018

Marie Medina

May 27, 2018

Marie Medina

Mar 30, 2018

Andrew B

7.2mi

Feb 16, 2018

John DeLoach

Great hike. Hiked from Big Bear Discovery Center to the peak! Had an awesome time. Great hike with the dog 8.5mi

Jan 7, 2018

Bill Sweetman

Dec 31, 2017

Reid Snowden

Nov 4, 2017

Tilman Giese

High traffic on a sunny Saturday morning 7.2mi — 2h 58m

Oct 1, 2017

Ryan Dunn

Great trail with lots of scenery, though moderate / high traffic. views at the top are excellent. 7.2mi — 4h 30m

Aug 5, 2017

Sergio Flores

Jul 24, 2017

Roxanne Hadler

Jul 4, 2017

Lauren Felix

Mar 11, 2017

Erick Prins

3.6mi

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Cougar Crest Trail

“This trail sends you from the shores of Big Bear Lake to Berta Peak with good views along the way. ”

3.6

5.8

Point to Point

8,182' 2,494 m

6,856' 2,090 m

1,326' 404 m

0' 0 m

7%

21%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Family Friendly While the trail is sizable in length for a child, its modest grades make it doable. Plus, they will enjoy great views the whole way.

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#3

#7163

#3

#560

#7,163

Photos

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Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Aspen Glen - Skyline Loop

Big Bear - Champion Lodgepole Pine & Bluff Lake

South Fork of the Santa Ana River via Dollar Lake

San Gorgonio Peak

Keller Peak via Exploration Trail

Pioneertown Mountain Preserve Indian Loop

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