Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest peak in Big Bear Valley at 9,952.’ With an elevation gain of 2000’Sugarloaf Mountain is no walk in the park, but it is a true walk in the woods.

This hike offers a quality workout, and at the same time offers a genuine experience with nature up close and personal. It is the hike where earthly beauty comes alive. The amount of tromping that happens throughout the 8.5 miles round trip is unrecognizable because the sights and sounds take over and entertains along the way.

One of my favorite sights is the massive Lodgepole Pine grove, which is at the 3-½ mile mark. About 80 – 90% of trees in this vicinity are Lodgepole Pines. The densely wooded area of Lodgepole pines stretches about a half-mile or so. It is a quite treat to see so many of these towering beauties clustered together, especially considering Jeffery Pines are the dominating population of evergreens in Big Bear Valley. 

The slender Lodgepole Pines extend upward to about 70 to 80 feet tall. The forest floor is carpeted with the trees’ miniature cones. It seems Lodgepoles produce more cones than a barn full of bunny rabbits, leaving thousands of cones on the ground for crafty types to gather. The cones make attractive Christmas decorations and cabin decor.

Some other natural features that kept my mind off the elevation gain were lush meadows that line the trail along the way. The meadows present a variety of flora created by a natural spring, and the greenery of the meadows are rather overwhelming. Of course that’s a good thing. In fact, these green patches attract winged beings like butterflies, hummingbirds and finches.  

There are some quality views on this hike as well. There are views of the Mojave Desert, Mount San Gorgonio and Big Bear Lake all within a couple of miles. There is one point on the hike where you get all three of these views at one time.

I also want to mention “Sugarloaf Rocks.” What I mean by that is there are some stretches on the trail that are “infested” with rocks. There are all different shapes and sizes of rocks that could pose a threat to ones ankles and wear down the soles of ones feet. It is the only fallback of the hike, however the amount of nature on this trail by far outweighs the rocks. It is well worth reaching the summit and makes for a great picnic area with plenty of shade. This is a solid hike and should be on any hikers list to accomplish this summer.

It’s natural to hike, 
 
Daniel Pea