Getting Oriented
Holcomb Valley sits five miles north of Big Bear Lake across Polique Canyon, on San Bernardino NF's Mountaintop Ranger District. The valley was the site of the 1860 gold strike that built Belleville, the briefly-largest town in San Bernardino County before the gold played out and the population moved south to today's Big Bear. The Big Bear Discovery Center on SR-38 north of the lake is the practical staging point and stocks the printed tour brochure.
Trail Overview
Twenty-two miles loop, graded forest road. The standard direction climbs Polique Canyon Road (FR 2N09) north from SR-38, drops into Holcomb Valley, runs the loop past the named historic stops, and returns via Van Dusen Canyon Road (FR 3N09) to North Shore Drive on Big Bear Lake. Most drivers cover the loop in two to three hours including stops; a longer tour stretches across half a day.
Points of Interest
- Hangman's Tree. A surviving Jeffrey pine on the valley's east side, marked as the site of frontier-justice hangings in the 1860s.
- Belleville townsite. Foundations and a few timber cabin remnants of the gold-rush boomtown.
- Two Gun Bill's Saloon site. Marked stop on the Discovery Center tour, where the saloon and its namesake gunfighter operated.
- Pygmy Cabin. Historic miner's cabin, restored, on the loop's northern arm.
- Holcomb Valley Campground. USFS-developed campground in the heart of the valley.
- Gold Mountain. The mountain on the valley's east side that gave the gold rush its name.
Where to Camp
Holcomb Valley Campground (USFS-developed) sits on the loop's east side with primitive sites and vault toilets. Big Bear's developed campgrounds (Serrano, Hanna Flat, Pineknot) all sit within ten miles. Dispersed camping on San Bernardino NF along the loop is regulated under the forest's Adventure Pass and yellow-post-site system; the corridor has dozens of yellow-post sites that don't require reservations.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Pick up the Big Bear Discovery Center's Holcomb Valley Tour brochure at the start. The numbered stops match signs along the loop.
- An Adventure Pass is required for parking on the forest. Daily and annual passes are sold at the Discovery Center and most local shops.
- Plan around the season. Snow closes the loop from late November through April most years.
- Yellow-post dispersed sites are first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
- The Mountaintop Ranger District (909-382-2790) handles current conditions and seasonal closures.
