I think someone here lives at Big Bear? ... hoping for advice.
My son just informed me that's where I should meet him, WITH my boat, for summer camping w/he and grandson! He has a reservation for his travel trailer at Holoway's RV Park. It looks like a tough tow! My question is, what are the pros and cons of various highways from Murietta/Temecula?
Big Bear Lake
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Captain Steve
- Captain
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- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:40 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Oxnard, CA "Wildest Dream" '98X Nissan 50
Frank
I take my boy scouts up there in Jan for skiing. I would tow up the backside. Its steep but very short. Takethe 126 east out of Santa Clarita (interstate 5) and go to Victorville go southbound on 15 for a couple of off ramps to Big Bear Cutoff. Nice and flat all the way past Apple Valley and the climb to Big Bear is not more than 12 miles long.
The lake size is dependent on melt from the snow. It is also fairly shallow...perfect for a Mac. Always thought about towing mine up there too.
I take my boy scouts up there in Jan for skiing. I would tow up the backside. Its steep but very short. Takethe 126 east out of Santa Clarita (interstate 5) and go to Victorville go southbound on 15 for a couple of off ramps to Big Bear Cutoff. Nice and flat all the way past Apple Valley and the climb to Big Bear is not more than 12 miles long.
The lake size is dependent on melt from the snow. It is also fairly shallow...perfect for a Mac. Always thought about towing mine up there too.
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Frank C
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Captain Steve
- Captain
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- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:40 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Oxnard, CA "Wildest Dream" '98X Nissan 50
I forgot to mention I have sailed on the lake...my friend and his brother own a cabin up there and they have a Catilina 22, that theyuse there.
Frank, the climb is not bad...in Apple Valley, turn at the 76 station, and you dont start to climb til past the Mitsubishi cement plant. You can see it up on the hill side. Numerous turnouts on the way up...used for putting on chains, in the winter season. When you turn off of SB HWY 15 there is literly everyfast food and bigbox store known to man. Stock up on everything there. I have camped at public campgrounds, all on the northside. You may be able to anchor out or tie up there. Search for Fawnskin....that's the town there.
Frank, the climb is not bad...in Apple Valley, turn at the 76 station, and you dont start to climb til past the Mitsubishi cement plant. You can see it up on the hill side. Numerous turnouts on the way up...used for putting on chains, in the winter season. When you turn off of SB HWY 15 there is literly everyfast food and bigbox store known to man. Stock up on everything there. I have camped at public campgrounds, all on the northside. You may be able to anchor out or tie up there. Search for Fawnskin....that's the town there.
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Captain Steve
- Captain
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:40 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Oxnard, CA "Wildest Dream" '98X Nissan 50
Frank,
found it
http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/trave ... 06ho.shtml
they advertise as being dog friendly and offer boat rentals..may be slips too!
found it
http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/trave ... 06ho.shtml
they advertise as being dog friendly and offer boat rentals..may be slips too!
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Frank C
Thanks Steve. Looks like it's on the south side of the Lake.
He lives south of San Bernardino on I-215, so it would be a tough decision to stay another 40 miles north on I-15 before turning toward Apple Valley, but that would work for me, heading south. Following is the alternate itinerary he has, do you know about his tow (~30 miles) up Hwy 330 and 18?
Take the 215 north, to 10 east, to the 30 freeway north, to Highway 330. Highway 330 starts you up the mountain to Big Bear. In the town of Running Springs, Highway 330 becomes Highway 18. Follow Highway 18 to the Big Bear Dam, turn right and go across the dam, continue on Highway 18 for 2 miles,
He lives south of San Bernardino on I-215, so it would be a tough decision to stay another 40 miles north on I-15 before turning toward Apple Valley, but that would work for me, heading south. Following is the alternate itinerary he has, do you know about his tow (~30 miles) up Hwy 330 and 18?
Take the 215 north, to 10 east, to the 30 freeway north, to Highway 330. Highway 330 starts you up the mountain to Big Bear. In the town of Running Springs, Highway 330 becomes Highway 18. Follow Highway 18 to the Big Bear Dam, turn right and go across the dam, continue on Highway 18 for 2 miles,
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Captain Steve
- Captain
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:40 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Oxnard, CA "Wildest Dream" '98X Nissan 50
Thats referred to as the "frontside"...many switchbacks and the road is narrow on many spots, with narrow or nonexistent shoulders. It is a long haul! BUT if you are starting out from his place in San Berdoo, you really got no choice. I thought you might be towing down from the bay area direct. It can be done...but..you will need some horsepower!!
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scott vos
- Deckhand
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- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:38 am
- Location: So Calif 05 26m tohatsu 90
- Contact:
Hi Frank
Driving either of the three routes up here are fine hauling your boat. From Temecula you will come up either Hwy 330 or 38 out of Redlands. I always pull up Hwy 330 as its the closest from MDR and my office in Anaheim.
The lake is full now and the sailing can be great (there are several cat sailing regattas here every year) however i have never put my boat on the lake. The lake is seven miles long and about a mile wide. If i can be of any help pls ask. I've lived here for 25 years now, both my kids worked at Holloways for summer jobs and Snow Summit for winter jobs.
Let me know when you'll be here .
Scott Vos
Driving either of the three routes up here are fine hauling your boat. From Temecula you will come up either Hwy 330 or 38 out of Redlands. I always pull up Hwy 330 as its the closest from MDR and my office in Anaheim.
The lake is full now and the sailing can be great (there are several cat sailing regattas here every year) however i have never put my boat on the lake. The lake is seven miles long and about a mile wide. If i can be of any help pls ask. I've lived here for 25 years now, both my kids worked at Holloways for summer jobs and Snow Summit for winter jobs.
Let me know when you'll be here .
Scott Vos
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David Mellon
- Captain
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- Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:16 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Anaheim, CA-Yamphibian, Yamaha 70, MACM1376C606
as 26'1". Has anyone been allowed on the lake in the past?-
Theo
- Engineer
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- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:18 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Yup, Yup, Yup,
Yes, there is a 26 foot limit in Big Bear lake but I believe Macs are OK. I have heard of them there before.
Steve and Scott are also Yup. I have driven up to Big Bear on all three major routes and some you don't want to think about. The big three are pretty much all the same. The major advantage of the back route from Apple Valley is less traffic. Most of the "clientelle" drives up from the front side. Otherwise, all the routes have steep switchback sections. Be mindful of traffic. There are a lot of maniac flatlanders up there that don't have a clue as to how to drive twisty mountain roads. They are really good at generating dead bodies. Use the turnouts if you are towing. If you see more than seven vehicles stacked up behind you pull out so nobody decides to actually try downshifting their Audis or Beemers!!
Towing a Mac, my biggest concern would be sheer horsepower and road conditions. Big Bear lake is at roughly 7000 feet elevation. Taller than anything east of the Rockies. Onyx pass is at almost 8800 feet if I remember correctly. All the approaches start from almost sea level. You are going to need some oomph to get up there. I would not try it in my Ford Exploder V6.
About two years ago the San Berdoo Mountains (Big Bear) got slammed with a double whammy of massive wildfires and torrential rains and snow. All the roads up there got hammered and many were closed. Stupidly, I was up there then, but have not been back since. Check with Scott and Jetta to see if all the roads are in good shape.
Finally, Big Bear is beautiful!! I have considered dragging my Mac up there also, but am not confident in my vehicle getting it up there safely. The lake is long and skinny but will interest you for a few days at least. The fishing is rumored to be good. It would be well worth the trip with or without the Mac.
Theo
Yes, there is a 26 foot limit in Big Bear lake but I believe Macs are OK. I have heard of them there before.
Steve and Scott are also Yup. I have driven up to Big Bear on all three major routes and some you don't want to think about. The big three are pretty much all the same. The major advantage of the back route from Apple Valley is less traffic. Most of the "clientelle" drives up from the front side. Otherwise, all the routes have steep switchback sections. Be mindful of traffic. There are a lot of maniac flatlanders up there that don't have a clue as to how to drive twisty mountain roads. They are really good at generating dead bodies. Use the turnouts if you are towing. If you see more than seven vehicles stacked up behind you pull out so nobody decides to actually try downshifting their Audis or Beemers!!
Towing a Mac, my biggest concern would be sheer horsepower and road conditions. Big Bear lake is at roughly 7000 feet elevation. Taller than anything east of the Rockies. Onyx pass is at almost 8800 feet if I remember correctly. All the approaches start from almost sea level. You are going to need some oomph to get up there. I would not try it in my Ford Exploder V6.
About two years ago the San Berdoo Mountains (Big Bear) got slammed with a double whammy of massive wildfires and torrential rains and snow. All the roads up there got hammered and many were closed. Stupidly, I was up there then, but have not been back since. Check with Scott and Jetta to see if all the roads are in good shape.
Finally, Big Bear is beautiful!! I have considered dragging my Mac up there also, but am not confident in my vehicle getting it up there safely. The lake is long and skinny but will interest you for a few days at least. The fishing is rumored to be good. It would be well worth the trip with or without the Mac.
Theo
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Frank C
To Scott, and all who have offered advice - terrific details, and I had no idea the elevation was higher than Lake Tahoe! I'll be there wkend of June 24th. I'm not positive yet that I'll take the boat, as it's a very long tow from SF ... but I'll be sure to offer feedback after the trip. Thanks for all your help!