Holcomb We Haven't Camped Here?

Holcomb Valley Campground Near Big Bear Lake

Holcomb Valley is just a few miles north of Big Bear Lake, but this broad expanse of meadows and ponderosa pines feels far removed from all the lakeside hubbub. It’s the perfect peaceful camping spot: You can play at the lake all you like and return for a night under the stars.

Holcomb Valley Campground in the San Bernardino National Forest has 19 pine-shaded sites, all of them first-come, first-served. Each site is complete with a picnic table, ample room for several tents, and a large fire pit with removable grill top, perfect for sitting around the fire, roasting hot dogs and s’mores, and enjoying a brilliantly star-filled sky.

The campground has vault toilets and no running water, so be sure to bring in your own water. If you’re looking to enjoy a more secluded experience, pitch your tent on the side opposite the entrance, where the open valley behind you is an added treat.

In the morning, explore the half-mile trail that leads from the northeast corner of the campground into the adjacent meadow. Enjoy the playful calls of the California towhee, smell the blue sage, and find shade underneath the juniper trees as you walk farther into the meadow. The hike is over all too quickly, but you can continue cross-country into the surrounding hills, and get a stunning view of Bertha Peak and Delamar Mountain. As you look over the valley below, imagine the bustling scene 150 years ago when all the hubbub was here, and not at the lake—peaceful Holcomb Valley was once the hottest gold-mining region in Southern California.

EXTRA TREAT: After your weekend in the backcountry, if you’d like a masterfully crafted breakfast with friendly service, head over to Broadway Café in Big Bear City, right on Big Bear Boulevard. The breakfast burger and Sunday’s all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast are two favorites. If your dog is with you, don’t hesitate to ask for water and a biscuit.

To reach Holcomb Valley Campground from Big Bear City, take Big Bear Blvd. (CA-18) and turn north onto Stanfield Cutoff. After 0.4 mile, turn left onto CA-38 for 2.1 miles and then turn right onto Polique Canyon Rd. Follow that road for 1.6 miles and then turn right onto 2N09/Polique Canyon Rd. After 2.4 miles, turn right onto 3N16/Holcomb Valley Rd. and continue 0.9 mile to the campground. The access road is drivable for 2WD vehicles and campers; just proceed slowly. The campground host will collect your fees: $21/night, $23 on holidays. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View