Bertha Peak Hiking Guide
Bertha Peak is what you do when Cougar Crest is not quite enough. The route shares the same well-loved trail up from the north shore, joins the Pacific Crest Trail at the ridge, then turns off onto a service road that climbs to a communication-tower summit at just over 8,200 feet. The towers are not scenic, but the view from the top is among the most complete in the Big Bear basin, taking in the lake, the high desert, and the wall of the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Route and Junctions
Start at the Cougar Crest Trailhead on State Route 38 near the Big Bear Discovery Center, with an Adventure Pass displayed. Follow the Cougar Crest Trail up through pine and fir to its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail on the ridge, which is where most hikers turn around. For Bertha, head east on the PCT briefly, then watch for the service road branching left and uphill. That junction is easy to walk past while enjoying the PCT, so keep an eye out once you are on the ridge.
The Service Road Finish
The final push to the summit follows a dirt service road rather than singletrack, which is less charming but delivers steady, straightforward climbing with widening views the whole way. It is exposed compared with the shaded forest below, and the surface is loose in spots. The summit hosts communication infrastructure, so temper expectations about a pristine mountaintop — you come here for the panorama, not the aesthetics of the top itself. There is plenty of room to sit and eat away from the equipment.
The View
From just over 8,200 feet the sight lines are genuinely excellent. Big Bear Lake spreads out below to the south with the ski resorts on the far ridge; beyond that the San Gorgonio Wilderness rises, snow-streaked well into summer. Turn north and the terrain drops away toward the Mojave, with Baldwin Lake and the high desert stretching out. On exceptionally clear winter days after a storm the view extends much further than you would expect for a peak this accessible.
Altitude and Effort
This is a real 8,000-foot summit and the elevation does the talking. Hikers arriving from sea level often find the last mile disproportionately hard relative to the modest grade — that is altitude, not fitness. Budget more time than the distance suggests, drink more than you think you need, and consider spending a night in Big Bear beforehand if you are coming from the coast. Combining Bertha with Cougar Crest in one outing is the standard approach and makes for a satisfying half day.
Seasons and Safety
Late spring through fall is the window. Summer is comfortable at elevation but afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, and a bare summit crowned with metal towers is precisely where you do not want to be when one arrives — start early and be descending by early afternoon. Winter brings snow and ice, and the exposed service road can hold a hard frozen surface long after the forest below has melted out. Leashed dogs are welcome, but carry water for them since there is none on the route.
Hiking tips for Bertha Peak
- Watch for the service road branching left off the PCT after the Cougar Crest junction — it is easy to stroll past while enjoying the ridge.
- Be off the summit by early afternoon in July and August; a bare peak topped with metal towers is the worst place to meet a thunderstorm.
- Budget extra time for the final mile, where the 8,200-foot elevation does more to your pace than the grade does.
- Spend a night in Big Bear before attempting this if you are coming from the coast — acclimatization noticeably changes the experience.
- Expect the exposed service road to hold ice long after the shaded forest section below has melted out in spring.
Nearby trails to explore
- Cougar Crest
- Gray's Peak
- Woodland Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Bertha Peak turns the Big Bear standard into a genuine summit day. Use TrailMates to find Inland Empire hikers extending past the Cougar Crest turnaround, and get the altitude advice that makes the last mile manageable. Download the TrailMates app to join a group heading up.