🌲 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

Tuesday, November 11 | 🥾 3.8 Miles Hiking

🌄 6:00 AM – Desert Drive

Left Big Bear at sunrise 🌅. Three hours through crystal-clear skies on CA-38, 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 ☀️.

🎫 9:00 AM – Joshua Tree North Entrance

Roll in just as the park wakes up! $30 entrance fee 💵 (or America the Beautiful pass - $80/year).

Temperature jumps 20 degrees ☀️—strip off layers and load up on water 💧.

💧 CRITICAL: Bring 1 gallon of water per person! There's NO water in the park. Dehydration happens FAST.

🌳 9:15 AM – Hidden Valley

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

Your first Joshua tree encounter 🤩! A sandy loop surrounded by rock walls and twisted Joshua trees glowing in morning light 🔥.

Parking: Large lot, rarely full before 10 AM

Feels like walking through an alien garden 👽.

📸 Morning light makes the trees look like they're glowing! Shoot between 9-10 AM.

💧 10:00 AM – Barker Dam

🥾 1.1 miles loop | ⛰️ Easy | ⏱️ 30-40 minutes

Historic water tank surrounded by boulders and Joshua trees 🌵. Spot bighorn sheep tracks 🐏 and ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks!

Parking: Small lot (20 spots), fills by 10:30 AM. You'll be there at perfect timing!

👀 Look for bighorn sheep on the rock faces! They come to drink at dawn and dusk.

🏺 HISTORY TIP: The petroglyphs are on the north side of the loop—subtle but amazing!

🪨 11:00 AM – Skull Rock + Jumbo Rocks

🥾 0.3 miles | ⛰️ Easy | ⏱️ 30 minutes

Skull Rock is exactly what it sounds like 💀. Climb all over the Jumbo Rocks area—easy scrambles, endless photo angles 📸.

Parking: Roadside pullouts along Park Blvd (15+ spots)

Pure playground vibes 🎢!

🧗 CLIMBING TIP: Watch for loose sand on top. Don't climb higher than you're comfortable jumping down from!

🥪 11:45 AM – Picnic Lunch at Jumbo Rocks

YOUR PACKED LUNCH with shaded tables!

Demolish your sandwiches 🥖 at the picnic area. The dry desert heat is perfect—not too hot, not cold ☀️.

🌡️ November temps: 55-75°F during the day. Perfect hiking weather!

🌵 12:45 PM – Cholla Cactus Garden ⭐ HIGHLIGHT!

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

🔥🔥🔥 THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT!

Walk the boardwalk counter-clockwise through a forest of cholla cacti 🌵. At midday, the sun lights them from behind and they GLOW like fiber-optic teddy bears ✨.

Parking: Medium lot (30 spots)

Seriously—they look like something out of a dream 🤯.

⚠️ STAY ON THE BOARDWALK. They're called "jumping cholla" because segments detach easily. If stuck, use a comb or pliers—never bare hands!

📸 Hit this at 12:45 PM—midday sun makes them GLOW! Morning/evening light doesn't create the same effect. Use portrait mode or wide aperture (f/2.8-f/4).

🏜️ 1:15 PM – Keys View

⏱️ 15 minutes

Your grand finale 🎬.

From the viewpoint: entire Coachella Valley spread below, San Andreas Fault visible, and 20 miles of desert stretching to the horizon 🌅.

Parking: Large paved lot at end of Keys View Road
Elevation: 5,185 feet (can be windy and 10°F cooler!)

Stand in silence and soak it in. The perfect ending ✨.

📸 Wide-angle lens essential! 16-35mm range ideal.

☕ 1:45 PM – Road Home

Reluctantly leave the park 😢. Grab coffee at Joshua Tree Coffee Co. ☕ in the town of Joshua Tree, then hit I-10 W → I-15 N back to Vegas 🚗.

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

💡 COFFEE TIP: Joshua Tree Coffee Co. has amazing iced lattes and pastries!

🌃 5:30 PM – Las Vegas

Roll into Vegas as the neon lights flicker on 💡. Dusty boots 🥾, tired legs 😴, and 1,000 photos to sort through 📸.

Already planning the next trip 🔄.

💭 Final Thoughts

📊 Total: 6.5 miles over 2 days
✨ Total climate zones: 2
🎯 Total magic: Off the charts

This wasn't just a road trip 🚙. It was a climate flip-book 📖.

Pine air at 7,000 feet 🌲 → glowing cacti at 3,000 feet 🌵. All in 48 hours ⏱️.

🎯 What We Learned:

✅ Pack ALL your own food – Save time, money ($200+), and eat at scenic spots
✅ Castle Rock is THE PERFECT lunch spot – 360° views while you eat!
✅ Add the Alpine Coaster – Worth the fun detour
✅ Eat dinner AFTER Airbnb check-in – You'll be settled and ready to enjoy
✅ Wake up early – Sunrise drives > everything 🌅
✅ Hike Castle Rock by noon – Sun drops behind ridge by 3:30 PM
✅ Hit Cholla at 12:45 PM – They literally glow ✨
✅ November is perfect – No crowds, perfect temps ☀️
✅ Fill gas in Big Bear – Next station is 90+ miles away ⛽
✅ Bring 1 gallon water per person – Desert dehydration is real 💧

📋 QUICK REFERENCE: YOUR UPDATED ITINERARY

DAY 1 - BIG BEAR (Anti-clockwise route, 2.7 miles hiking):

• 5:00 AM - Leave Vegas

• 8:30 AM - Packed breakfast (CA-18 pullout or Meadow Park)

• 9:30 AM - Alpine Pedal Path (3 mi) - START

• 12:00 PM - Castle Rock Trail (1.4 mi) + LUNCH AT SUMMIT 🎯

• 1:30 PM - Boulder Bay (quick stop)

• 2:00 PM - Alpine Slide/Magic Mountain (Mineshaft Coaster!)

• 3:30 PM - Stanfield Marsh (0.5 mi)

• 4:00 PM - Check-in at Airbnb (244 Los Angeles Ave)

• 6:30 PM - Dinner out (recommended AFTER check-in)

• Evening - Rest, prep for Day 2, fill gas

DAY 2 - JOSHUA TREE (3.8 miles hiking):

• 6:00 AM - Leave Big Bear (eat packed breakfast in car)

• 9:00 AM - Enter Joshua Tree

• 9:15 AM - Hidden Valley (1 mi)

• 10:00 AM - Barker Dam (1.1 mi)

• 11:00 AM - Skull Rock (0.3 mi)

• 11:45 AM - Packed lunch at Jumbo Rocks

• 12:45 PM - Cholla Garden (0.2 mi) ⭐ MUST-SEE!

• 1:15 PM - Keys View

• 2:00 PM - Head back to Vegas

• 5:30 PM - Arrive Vegas

This combo will call you back 📞. We're already listening 👂.

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