Camp Right Beer!
Camp at Pineknot Campground at Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest
Camping + beer = better together! Pineknot Campground at Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest closes for the season at the end of this month, so make haste and pitch your tent here in time to pair your camping dues with some Oktoberfest brews. Canopied by pines, firs, and oaks,
Pineknot’s 47 sites sit at just under 7,000 feet elevation, and only 3 miles from the lake. It’s a short walk to Big Bear’s Snow Summit, where you can hike and mountain bike until ski-season begins (see our related hiking story, Nobody’s Beer!). At the base you can buy round-trip tickets for the Scenic Sky Chair, a 15-minute, 1300-foot ride up to one of Big Bear’s highest points, and panoramic views. Hiking trails include the mountain biker–free 1- and 3-mile mountaintop loop trails.
FOOD & DRINK BONUS: Grab classic BBQ bites at the Skyline Taphouse located at the top of the Scenic Sky Chair. Hamburgers and beers on the outdoor patio pair perfectly with the skyline panorama.
Pineknot Campground sites ($27/night) require reservations. (Note: Road closure due to construction is scheduled most weekdays this October between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on CA-18.) Directions.
