champion lodgepole pine

I took a friend over the weekend up to bluff lake, the last time we went we missed the lodgpole pine ,, make sure you look at the maps closely ,, and roads .. there are many converging trails in the area as well as roads and its easy to miss them. The lake was all but dried up, its sad to see the effect of the draught. Im hoping that the winter brings much needed snow to the area. The Ranger is friendly and very knowledgeable. please respect that this is a private preserve. DOGS MUST BE ON LEASH. and leave no trace a MUST !

This is a beautiful and easy trail for families with kids. The walk to the Champion pine tree is pretty short (15 minutes or so) but you can hike beyond that taking Bluff Mesa trail. To get to the trail you have to to drive for about 30 minutes on a rough and bumpy road, I'd suggest taking SUV (like we did) or a truck.

Four of us took this easy hike to see the Champion Lodgepole Pine. The road to get to the 15 minute hike had a lot of twists and turns so drive slowly with your lights on because most of it is only one lane. The tree is something to see and it is right next to a meadow that had white and purple flowers in it. Saw a few chipmunks and several species of birds but no other wildlife. There were a lot of people on the trail and that might of kept the animals in hiding. Maybe take a picnic lunch and make a day of it. Fire danger is high right now.

This is a wonderful trail. It is not at all difficult and has a lot to offer. It has a creek that runs alongside the trail. It was dry for us, but would have been perfection had it been running. The huge 440 year old Pine at the end near the meadow was a sight to see! Also, the drive out to the trail was really fun. Beautiful and an adventure. Allow plenty of time. We picked up a paper map from the Visitor center and it was most helpful to find the place. Enjoy!

We decided to go exploring as we were new to Big Bear. This hike seemed appropriate for smaller children so we gave it a try. So glad we did! As per other reviews, the drive to the trail is bumpy with little markings so we were hoping we were headed in the right direction. The drive was so beautiful though we weren't too concerned. We did find the trail and really felt we were far away from civilization. It was nature at it's best! It was a very easy & incredibly beautiful hike. We only saw one other group the whole time. We did pack some snacks, but I regret not packing a full picnic to further relax & enjoy the day. I highly recommend! I only gave 4 stars as the drive there is difficult, but the advantage is that it keeps the trail less traveled!

Once you get there...its a great family hike. Though getting there is half the adventure with lots of dirt roads that can be very bumpy. I would highly recommend stopping at the Discovery Center first for the trail guide and for a map, and not just a map of the hike, but a map of how to get there. The road signs are just numbers pointing this way and that, so make sure you have a map to know which way to go. Once you reach the trail head (which is one in which you DO NOT need an adventure parking pass) there are a few small info signs to let you know that you are in the right place. The trail guide is super fun to keep the kids entertained along the way and provides some really fun information about the foliage and other things you see along the way. The trail itself is super easy (my 5 year old did it) and you end at the large pine, which is massive. The area is also really flat so we even ventured on a few nearby trails before we headed back. Not many people take the long drive up, so it's very quiet and we only saw one other family on the trail, even more reason to take the drive up for this hike.

You're best to go in an SUV if you can as the ~5 miles of dirt road to the final trailhead are a little tough on the average vehicle (or hike in if you are up for it). The final trail is mostly flat and short and ends in a lovely meadow on the edge of which stands the Champion! A spectacular specimen that is worth the trip. Be sure to circle 3 times clockwise for good luck.

You travel a few miles on a bumpy dirt road to arrive at the start of the Lodgepole Pine Trail. The trail isn't difficult (a fun trail with my mom and 2 children ages 7 & 11.) We only saw one other group in our 2 hours out there exploring. We packed a picnic and ate in a clearing. The scenery was beautiful! Interesting to read about the Champion Lodgepole Pine when we arrived.

The hike was very easy but quite scenic. There was a meadow/pond nearby that was really fantastic. The Champion Lodgepole Pine itself isn't so impressive, but the surroundings were very pleasant. Good walk through the woods for those who may not be able to go on a more strenuous hike. It was difficult to get to, requiring driving very slowly up a windy one-lane dirt road.

We've taken many friends here over the years. It's a very short hike, maybe 1/4 mile? and easy going. Yet you end up deep enough in the forest so that people really experience what it's like. The Lodgepole Pine is huge, a reward at the end of the trail with a meadow right next to it. You need the Adventure Pass to hang in your car which you can get at the Discovery Center and other places. Very nearby is Bluff Lake, which is a small private lake that is another fun place to hike to.

What a gorgeous area. We enjoyed the signposts on the short hike to the Pine. Just past this is also a short hike to Bluff Lake. Gotta see em both!!

Para quem gosta de fazer trilhas e curtir uma linda paisagem vale a pena conferir. A tilha é próxima do lago e no inverno a paisagem é mais bonita ainda.