🌲 THE DESERT-TO-SUMMIT 48

Big Bear + Joshua Tree | November's Perfect Escape 🌵

📅 November 10–11, 2025 | 👥 4 Adventurers

Sometimes plans change, and that's okay! Here's what our Big Bear and Joshua Tree trip actually looked like—real times, real challenges, real adventures.

🏔️ DAY 1 - BIG BEAR LAKE

Total Hiking: 2.7 miles (shorter than planned, but still amazing!)

4:45 AM - Left Las Vegas 🌙

We hit the road before sunrise, ready for our mountain adventure!

Route: I-15 N → CA-18 (Rim of the World Highway)
Distance: ~190 miles | Time: ~3.5 hours

⚠️ Important: We planned to use CA-38, but it was closed. CA-18 was our only route—make sure to check road conditions before you go! Call 1-800-427-7623

8:30 AM - Breakfast in the Car 🥐☕

Reality Check: It was too cold to eat outside, and we wanted to save time!

We demolished our pre-made breakfast burritos in the warm car while cruising through the mountains. No regrets—those burritos were fire 🔥 and staying warm was worth it.

💡 Lesson Learned: Mountain mornings are COLD in November. Eat in the car, stay cozy, keep moving!

9:30 AM - Alpine Pedal Path... SKIPPED ❌

What Happened: We couldn't find parking, and it seemed far to walk. Plus, Google said it was temporarily closed.

What We Did Instead: Stopped at a beautiful National Forest pullout and got some incredible scenic photos of Big Bear Lake and the mountains. Honestly? No complaints. The views were stunning and we didn't waste time searching for parking.

📸 Pro Tip: Don't stress if plans change—those spontaneous stops can be just as memorable!

9:40 AM - Castle Rock Trail 🪨⛰️

Distance: 1.4 miles (or so we thought...)
Difficulty: More challenging than expected!
Time: ~1.5 hours

Reality Check: This trail is almost entirely uphill—steep switchbacks through boulders and pines. We thought it would be "moderate," but our legs said otherwise 😅.

We didn't finish the full loop, but we made it far enough to get spectacular views of Big Bear Lake. And honestly? We felt like we conquered enough!

✅ Bonus: The restroom here is clean and well-maintained—a rare mountain luxury!

🥾 What We Learned:

• Wear grippy shoes—those rocks are slippery

• Bring water—you'll be breathing hard on those switchbacks

• It's okay to turn around—enjoy what you can do!

11:00 AM - Boulder Bay (Quick Stop) 🪨📸

A quick photo stop with massive lakeside boulders. Perfect for climbing, posing, and catching our breath after Castle Rock!

Parking: FREE at Boulder Bay
Time spent: 15 minutes

The lake views here are chef's kiss 👌.

12:00 PM - Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain 🎢

Location: 800 Wildrose Lane, Big Bear Lake

This was the highlight of Day 1! We rode:

✅ Alpine Coaster - $20 per person (SO WORTH IT! Fast, twisty, and thrilling!)
✅ Alpine Slide - $10 per person (Classic bobsled fun down the mountain)
✅ Photo Package - $15 (Gotta capture those memories!)

Total cost for our group: Around $180 for all the rides and photos.

🎢 Our Take: The Alpine Coaster (Mineshaft Coaster) was the BEST. Go fast, lean into the turns, and scream your lungs out. The Alpine Slide was more chill but still super fun!

⏰ Hours: Open Monday 10 AM - 6 PM

1:00 PM - 2:20 PM - Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk 🦆🌾

Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy, flat boardwalk
Time: About 1 hour 20 minutes (we took our time!)

A peaceful wooden boardwalk loop through wetlands. We spotted ducks, heard woodpeckers, and soaked in the quiet mountain air 🌲.

Trailhead: Stanfield Cutoff parking area (FREE)

Best for: Wildlife watching, easy stroll, photo ops

This was the perfect cooldown after all the action at Magic Mountain!

2:30 PM - Gas Up & Prep ⛽

Stopped at a gas station on Big Bear Blvd to fill up the tank before heading to our Airbnb.

⛽ Critical Tip: Fill up in Big Bear! The next gas station is 90+ miles away in Twentynine Palms (important for tomorrow's Joshua Tree drive!).

3:00 PM - Check-in at Sugarloaf Airbnb 🏡✨

Address: 244 Los Angeles Ave, Sugarloaf, CA

First Impressions: We were so impressed! The place was:

• Spotlessly clean and cozy 🧼

• Fully stocked with all kinds of facilities

• Had the cutest touch: complimentary white Oreos as a welcome treat! 🍪

We unloaded our bags, freshened up, and just... collapsed.

Evening - Too Tired to Go Out 😴

Real Talk: We were exhausted.

We had planned to go out for dinner in Big Bear Village, but after 10+ hours of driving, hiking, and riding coasters, we were done.

Instead, we:

• Snacked on what we brought

• Relaxed in the cozy Airbnb

• Prepped our cooler and supplies for Day 2

• Went to bed EARLY

💤 No shame in calling it early! Rest = better adventure the next day.

📊 Day 1 Summary

✅ Total Hiking: 2.7 miles (Castle Rock, Stanfield Marsh, Boulder Bay)
✅ Total Driving: ~3.5 hours (Vegas to Big Bear via CA-18)
✅ Highlights: Alpine Coaster, Castle Rock views, cozy Airbnb
✅ Lessons Learned: Plans change, rest matters, those Oreos hit different 🍪

💡 Key Takeaways from Day 1

✅ Check road closures - CA-38 was closed; CA-18 was our only option
✅ Eat breakfast in the car - Save time and stay warm
✅ Don't stress about skipped activities - Sometimes the backup plan is just as good
✅ Castle Rock is harder than it looks - Bring water and pace yourself
✅ Alpine Coaster is a MUST - Worth every penny
✅ Fill up gas in Big Bear - Seriously, do it
✅ Rest when you're tired - No shame in skipping dinner plans
✅ November weather: Cold mornings (layer up!), perfect afternoons

🌵 DAY 2: Mountains to Desert Magic (What Actually Happened!)

Tuesday, November 11 | Desert Exploration

🌄 Early Morning – Desert Drive

Left Big Bear at sunrise 🌅. Three hours through crystal-clear skies, eating packed breakfast burritos in the car 🌯.

Route: CA-38 E → I-10 E → CA-62 N → Park Blvd
Distance: 165 miles | Time: 3 hours

The landscape shifts: pines → scrub → Joshua trees 🌵. You can feel the climate change ☀️.

🎫 West Entrance – Started at the "Wrong" Entrance!

We rolled into the West Entrance instead of the planned North Entrance, but honestly? Best decision ever!

• 🗺️ Grabbed a paper map at the entrance station

• 🚻 Made our only bathroom stop at the visitor center (pro tip: use it when you can!)

• $30 entrance fee 💵 (America the Beautiful pass totally worth it!)

• Temperature jumped 20 degrees instantly ☀️

💧 CRITICAL LESSON LEARNED: That 1 gallon per person rule? REAL. Desert dehydration is no joke.

🗺️ The "Getting Lost" Adventure Begins

Here's the thing about Joshua Tree: getting a little lost is part of the magic ✨

Without cell service and armed only with our paper map, we:

• Navigated by rock formation names 🪨

• Asked friendly hikers for directions 👋

• Discovered spots we never would've planned 🤩

• Learned to embrace the wandering 🧭

📱 NEXT TIME NOTE: Download offline AllTrails maps + NPS audio self-guide BEFORE arriving! Would've been clutch.

🌵 The Hits We Actually Hit

Cholla Cactus Garden ⭐ STILL THE HIGHLIGHT!

🥾 0.2 miles | ⛰️ Easy | ⏱️ 15-20 minutes

🔥 THIS WAS EVERYTHING 🔥

Those "teddy bear cacti" really do GLOW in the midday sun ✨. Walking through that boardwalk felt like another planet. The fiber-optic effect is REAL.

⚠️ PSA: "Jumping cholla" is not a cute nickname. Stay. On. The. Boardwalk.

📸 Photography gold: Midday light = glowing magic. Portrait mode on phone works great!

❤️ Heart Rock (Unexpected Gem!)

Not on our original plan, but SO worth it! A natural heart-shaped opening in the rock formation 💕.

• Perfect for photos 📸

• Moderate scrambling to reach it

• Felt like finding a secret treasure 🗝️

💀 Skull Rock

🥾 0.3 miles | ⛰️ Easy

Exactly what it sounds like! Climbed all around this area—pure playground vibes 🎢.

Fun fact: These giant rock formations are WAY more impressive in person. Photos don't do them justice!

🌳 Hidden Valley

🥾 1 mile loop | ⛰️ Easy | ⏱️ 30-45 minutes

Sandy loop trail surrounded by massive rock walls and twisted Joshua trees 🌵. First time seeing Joshua trees up close = mind blown 🤯.

Feels like walking through an alien garden 👽.

🌅 Keys View

⏱️ 15 minutes

The grand finale 🎬

Entire Coachella Valley spread below, San Andreas Fault visible, 20+ miles of desert stretching forever 🏜️.

• Elevation: 5,185 feet (noticeably cooler and windy!)

• Parking: Large paved lot

• Vibe: Stand in silence and just... wow ✨

📸 Wide-angle essential! Wish we'd had more time here.

🪨 The Rock Formation Revelation

Can we talk about these giant rock formations? 🤯

They're not just big rocks—they're:

• Ancient geological wonders 🌍

• Natural climbing playgrounds 🧗

• Endless photography angles 📸

• Somehow both massive and graceful

Real talk: We kept stopping and just staring. The scale is wild.

🥪 Snacks, Laughs, and Desert Vibes

We ate our packed lunches throughout the day—sometimes at picnic areas, sometimes just sitting on rocks 🪨.

November weather = perfection: 55-75°F. Not too hot, not cold. Chef's kiss 👌.

The best moments? The ones we didn't plan:

• Getting turned around near Jumbo Rocks 😂

• Spotting lizards darting across rocks 🦎

• Watching the light change on the Joshua trees 🌅

• Those quiet moments just taking it all in ✨

🚗 The Journey Home

Left reluctantly as the afternoon sun started dropping 😢.

Route back: Park Blvd → CA-62 S → I-10 W → I-15 N
Distance: 170 miles | Time: 2.5 hours

☕ Skipped the coffee shop stop—we'd already grabbed coffee from the house before leaving! Smart move 👍

🌃 Rolling into Vegas

Pulled into Vegas as the neon lights flickered on 💡. Dusty boots 🥾, tired legs 😴, sun-kissed faces 🌞, and 1,000+ photos to sort through 📸.

Already planning the next trip 🔄.

💭 Final Thoughts: What We Learned

✅ What Worked

• Getting "lost" = the best memories – Don't stress the plan!

• Paper map navigation – Old school but effective 🗺️

• West Entrance start – Totally fine, great flow!

• Coffee from the house – Saved time & money ☕

• Using visitor center restrooms – Only bathroom stop we needed 🚻

• Packed food – Ate at epic spots, saved $

• Early start – Beat the crowds, perfect temps

• November timing – Ideal weather, not too busy ☀️

• Cholla at midday – They literally GLOW ✨

📱 Next Time Essentials

• ⬇️ Download offline AllTrails maps before arriving

• ⬇️ Get NPS audio self-guided tour downloaded

• ☕ Stop at Joshua Tree Coffee Co. in town

• 🗺️ Study the park map before going (or don't—getting lost was fun!)

• ⏰ Allow more time—this park is HUGE

🎯 The Real Magic

This day didn't go as planned. We went in the "wrong" entrance, got a little lost, navigated with a paper map under the desert sun, and discovered spots we never would've found otherwise.

And that's exactly what made it perfect ✨.

Joshua Tree taught us: sometimes the best adventures are the ones you don't script.

📊 Trip Stats

• Total hiking: ~3-4 miles (ish? we lost track 😅)

• Climate zones crossed: 2 (mountain pines → desert cacti)

• Giant rocks marveled at: Countless 🪨

• Times we said "wow": Too many to count 🤩

• Magic level: Off the charts ✨

🌵 Bottom Line: From Big Bear's pine forests to Joshua Tree's glowing cacti, this 48-hour climate flip-book was everything. Even when the plan goes sideways, the memories are always worth it.

Already counting down to next time 🔄

Google map Day1   Day2 (option) Download the GPX file: