Motorcycle Riding in Big Bear: Best Rides, Routes, and Clubs

Nov 11, 2026

Last updated November 2026

The best motorcycle ride near Big Bear is the Rim of the World Highway (State Route 18). It climbs out of San Bernardino, runs the southern edge of the San Bernardino Mountains, and drops you right at Big Bear Lake. Ride it up, take State Route 38 back the other way, and you’ve got a full mountain loop of around 100 miles that covers pine forest, an alpine lake, and high desert in one day. Here’s what you need to know up top:

• Best single ride: Rim of the World Highway (SR-18)
• Best full day: SR-18 up, SR-38 down, about 100 miles round trip
• Riding season: Late spring through fall
• Elevation: Big Bear Lake sits near 6,750 feet, and SR-38 climbs to 8,443 feet at Onyx Summit
• Winter: Not rideable, since snow and chain controls close the passes to motorcycles

Whether you’re coming up for the pavement or the dirt, Big Bear gives you both. Let’s get into where to ride, when to go, and what you’ll want under you.

What are the best motorcycle rides near Big Bear?

The best motorcycle rides near Big Bear all run on the same mountain highways, and you can mix them to suit the day you want. Here are the four worth planning around:

1. Rim of the World Highway (SR-18) is the ride most people come for. Long curves, big overlooks above the Inland Empire, and a steady 4,000-foot climb from the valley to the lake.
2. The SR-18 and SR-38 loop lets you go up one side of the range and come back the other, so you’re never retracing your own line. This is the one to build a day around.
3. SR-38 over Onyx Summit is the quieter route up from Redlands. It’s longer, the traffic is lighter, and it tops out at the highest paved pass in the range.
4. SR-330 (City Creek Road) is the short, steep climb from the valley floor. The corners come fast and it’s a good warm-up before you link into SR-18.

If you’re riding up from the coast, you can rent a motorcycle in Los Angeles and make the climb itself part of the trip instead of trailering in.

Scenic motorcycle routes in Big Bear, CA

Here’s how the main motorcycle routes in Big Bear, CA compare. Distances are one-way unless the route is marked as a loop.

A couple of things that’ll make these rides better:

• Run the loop clockwise. Go up SR-18, work around the lake, then take SR-38 out through Onyx Summit. You’ll trade forest for desert as you lose elevation, and it never feels like the same road twice.
• Treat Onyx Summit as a summer-only climb. SR-38 holds shaded ice near the top weeks after the lower roads dry out, so give it until full summer.
• Build up to SR-330. The grade and the corner spacing ask for some experience, so new riders should get comfortable on the lake loop and SR-18 first.

What is the Rim of the World Highway?

The Rim of the World Highway is State Route 18. It starts in San Bernardino, climbs the front face of the mountains, and traces the ridgeline east before it drops into Big Bear Lake. The name comes from where it sits, right on the edge of the range with the valley thousands of feet below. It’s also part of the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, a designated National Forest Scenic Byway, so the views are protected and the overlooks are built right into the route.

Riding west to east, the Rim of the World Highway motorcycle ride takes you through:

• Crestline, the first mountain town above San Bernardino
• Lake Arrowhead, a short hop off the main road if you want food or fuel
• Running Springs, where SR-330 joins from the valley
• Snow Valley, the stretch that closes first when storms roll in
• Big Bear Dam, where you meet SR-38 and the lake opens up in front of you

Weekend traffic picks up through summer, so an early start gets you cooler air and open road before the cars arrive.

How do you get to Big Bear by motorcycle?

Five highways reach Big Bear, and each one rides differently. Knowing your options helps when a storm or road work shuts one of them down.

When’s the best time to ride in Big Bear?

Late spring through fall is your window. Here’s how the riding year shakes out:

Mountain weather moves fast, so a little prep goes a long way:

• Fuel up in the valley before you climb. You’ll find gas in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, Running Springs, and Lake Arrowhead, but stations get sparse between them.
• Dress for a 30-degree swing. The valley can be 20 to 30 degrees warmer than the summit, and evenings cool off quickly even in July, so pack layers you can shed and add.
• Watch the afternoon sky in summer. Thunderstorms build over the high country and can turn a dry road slick in minutes.

Ready to book? You can reserve from Big Bear motorcycle rentals listed by owners right in and around the mountains, so you start close to the good roads.

Can you ride to Big Bear in winter?

Riding to Big Bear in winter isn’t a good idea. The roads stay open year round, but Caltrans runs chain controls through the mountains whenever a storm moves in, and heavy snow closes SR-18 and SR-38 fast and without much warning. Motorcycles can’t run tire chains, so a rider caught in a chain-control zone has no safe or legal way through. Even on a clear winter day, sanded corners and shaded ice make the climb risky. Check live conditions on the Caltrans QuickMap before any cold-weather trip, and save Big Bear for the dry months.

Which motorcycle is best for Big Bear roads?

The right bike depends on whether you’re sticking to pavement or heading into the forest. Here’s a quick read:

• Standard and sport-touring bikes are the sweet spot for the Rim of the World Highway. They hold a line through the corners and stay comfortable over the slab miles it takes to get there.
• Cruisers are a great match for the lake loop and an easy scenic climb, where you’re soaking it in more than carving it up.
• Adventure and dual-sport bikes open up the whole mountain, since you can run the highways and then peel off onto the forest roads.

Whatever you choose, you can rent a motorcycle in Big Bear from a local owner, and some listings add delivery and gear so you’re set the moment you arrive.

Dual-sport and off-road trails near Big Bear

Big Bear is one of Southern California’s best dual-sport areas, with graded forest roads for beginners and rock-crawling routes that’ll test any rider. Some trailheads sit minutes from the Bear City neighborhoods, so you don’t always need a trailer. A handful worth knowing:

• Holcomb Valley (Forest Road 2N09 and 2N10) is the classic intro, with easy graded roads and old gold-mining history along the way.
• Gold Mountain Trail climbs out near Bear City and turns technical quickly, so it suits experienced riders.
• John Bull Trail on the North Shore is a rugged, boulder-heavy route built for skilled dual-sport and off-road riders.
• Baldwin Lake and Shay Road link up a network of routes on the quieter east end of the valley.

Before you ride the dirt, make sure you’re set up legally and safely:

You can pick up a National Forest Adventure Pass at the Big Bear Discovery Center or online, and an America the Beautiful pass works in its place.

Motorcycle clubs in Big Bear

The best-known of the motorcycle clubs in Big Bear is the Big Bear Trail Riders, a dual-sport club based near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest. Members have been riding the area’s dirt roads and single-track since the 1980s, and the club runs group rides plus the valley’s biggest dual-sport weekend every summer.

To join an organized ride on forest land, you’ll need:

• A street-legal, registered motorcycle
• A valid motorcycle license
• A USFS-approved spark arrester

Street riders have their own scene here too. On summer weekends, groups come up the Rim of the World Highway from the coast and the Inland Empire, then meet at the lake village and the pullouts along SR-18 to compare routes and grab a bite before heading back down.

Motorcycle events near Big Bear

Big Bear runs a full moto calendar through the warm months, from dual-sport weekends to a motocross race right on the mountain. Most of these come back every year, so exact dates move around a little season to season. Here are the ones worth planning a trip around:

Dates firm up closer to each season, so check the Visit Big Bear events calendar for the current lineup before you book your ride.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Rim of the World Highway ride?

The climb from San Bernardino to Big Bear Lake on SR-18 runs about 40 miles one way. Most riders turn it into a loop of roughly 100 miles by coming back on SR-38 through Onyx Summit.

Are there beginner-friendly motorcycle rides near Big Bear?

Yes. The loop around Big Bear Lake is about 18 miles of mostly flat, low-traffic road, which makes it a comfortable first ride at altitude. Get warmed up there before you take on the grades of SR-18 or the tight corners of SR-330.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle near Big Bear?

Rentals near Big Bear on Riders Share start around $40 per day and go up from there based on the bike. Local owners list standards, cruisers, and adventure models, and some offer delivery and gear as add-ons.

Do I need a motorcycle license to ride near Big Bear?

Yes. You’ll need a valid motorcycle license or endorsement to rent on Riders Share and to ride legally in California. Organized rides on forest land also call for a registered, street-legal bike with a spark arrester.

Do you need an Adventure Pass to ride in Big Bear?

You’ll need a National Forest Adventure Pass to park at most trailheads and forest access points around Big Bear, which runs $5 for a day or $30 for the year. You don’t need one to ride the state highways or park in the village, but you do for most forest roads and staging areas.

Rent a motorcycle for your Big Bear ride

You don’t need to own a bike to ride the Rim of the World Highway. On Riders Share, you can rent a motorcycle straight from local owners, with standards, cruisers, and adventure bikes listed right in and around the mountains. Here’s why it’s the easy way onto these roads:

• Local pickup means less slab and more mountain, since you start close to SR-18 instead of trailering in.
• Real rider knowledge comes with the bike, because owners who ride these passes can point you to the good stops and the right line.
• Flexible options let you match the bike to the ride, from a cruiser for the lake loop to an adventure bike for the forest roads, with delivery and gear on some listings.

Pick your dates, book a bike near the lake, and spend the day on the best motorcycle rides near Big Bear. Find your ride on Riders Share and have it back when you’re done.