Alpine Pedal Path Hiking Guide
The Alpine Pedal Path is the rare Big Bear trail that asks nothing of you but shows you plenty. A paved multi-use route traces the lake's north shore between the Stanfield Cutoff and the Discovery Center area, running through pine stands and along open shoreline with the water on one side and the forest on the other. For anyone traveling with a stroller, a wheelchair, small kids, or a grandparent who still wants to be outside, this is the answer in a basin full of steep granite.
Access Points and Direction
The path can be joined at several points along State Route 38 on the north shore, with the Stanfield Cutoff area and the stretch near the Big Bear Discovery Center being the most common. Parking varies by access point; some require an Adventure Pass and others are free day-use areas, so read the signage where you park. Because it is a linear path rather than a loop, most people pick a direction, walk as far as suits them, and turn around — there is no obligation to do the full length.
Surface and Accessibility
The path is paved and generally smooth, with gentle grades and no stairs, making it genuinely usable for wheelchairs, strollers, and skateboards as well as bikes and walkers. A few sections have root heave or minor cracking, so wheeled users should expect occasional rough patches rather than perfectly uniform pavement. Benches appear at intervals, and there are restrooms at some of the larger access points. This is the most reliably accessible outdoor route in the Big Bear basin.
Sharing With Cyclists
The name is a clue: this is a shared path and cyclists use it heavily, particularly on summer weekends. Walkers should keep right and stay predictable, and anyone with a dog should keep the leash short rather than letting it stretch across the pavement — a long lead across a bike path is how collisions happen. Riders in turn are expected to call out when passing. On a busy August Saturday the path can feel genuinely crowded; early mornings are calm and are also the best light on the water.
Birding and the Shoreline
The north shore is one of the better birding stretches in the San Bernardino Mountains, with waterfowl on the lake, ospreys working the shallows, and in winter the bald eagles that Big Bear is known for. Bring binoculars — the pace of a paved path suits scanning the water in a way that a climb never does. Water levels in the lake fluctuate substantially year to year, which changes how close the path feels to the shoreline and how much mudflat is exposed.
Seasons and Elevation
Spring through fall is the main season, with summer comfortable at 6,700 feet even when the valleys are brutal. Snow and ice cover parts of the path in winter and it is not plowed along its full length, so treat it as a seasonal route. The elevation still applies here even though the grade does not — visitors arriving from sea level sometimes find themselves winded on a flat paved path, which is normal and a useful early signal about how the rest of the trip should be paced.
Hiking tips for Alpine Pedal Path
- Treat this as the accessible option in a basin full of steep trails — it genuinely works for strollers, wheelchairs, and mixed-ability groups.
- Keep dog leashes short rather than extended; this is a shared bike path and a long lead across the pavement causes collisions.
- Go early on summer weekends for both calmer traffic and the best light across the water.
- Bring binoculars for the north shore waterfowl, ospreys, and the wintering bald eagles Big Bear is known for.
- Read the signage wherever you park — some access points need an Adventure Pass and others are free day-use, and it varies along the route.
Nearby trails to explore
- Woodland Trail
- Cougar Crest
- Pine Knot Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Alpine Pedal Path makes Big Bear work for groups where not everyone hikes. Use TrailMates to organize outings that include family members with different mobility, then split off for a steeper trail later in the day. Download the TrailMates app to plan a group trip.