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3N17 - White Mountain
Big Bear Lake, California (San Bernardino County)
Last Updated: 06/18/2019
4.7 /5 ( 7 reviews )
Information
Nearby Trails
| Status: | Open |
| Typically Open: | Year Round |
| Length: | 8.5 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 8500 feet |
| Duration: | About 4 hours |
| Shape of Trail: | Connector |
| Best Direction to Travel: | East |
| Nearest Town: | Big Bear Lake |
| Nearest Town w/ Services: | Big Bear Lake |
| Official Road Name: | 3N17 |
| Management Agency: | San Bernardino National Forest |
| District: | Mountaintop Ranger District |
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Highlights
White Mountain off-road trail offers some of the best views in the San Bernardino Mountain Range. Close to Big Bear, it is a great trail for the type of 4x4 / wheeler that likes steep hill climbs offering alternate routes from moderate to extreme. This is also a good trail to run for the people who are looking for a enjoyable drive along the northern spine of the mountain range. The views along this trail are unique as for you can see Johnson Valley, Lucerne Valley, Cougar Buttes, Apple Valley, Barstow, Calico, and at night see lights of Las Vegas.
Video
Route Information
Waypoints
1. Trailhead (West End)
This is the west most trailhead. The trail goes east from this point. There are signs saying White Mountain, thus the trail is rather easy to find.
Directions to Trailhead
Trailhead Coordinates: 34.360160, -117.057160
Starting Point: Fawnskin, CA
The trailhead is up on the north side of Big Bear Lake, CA. Make your way to Fawnskin Fire Station and take 3N14 – Coxey Road all the way back roughly 12 miles to where it splits with 4N16 - Grapevine Canyon . Take 4N16 - Grapevine Canyon to the east / right. The trail will be on the right at waypoint 7 on 4N16 - Grapevine Canyon which is not far down on the trail.
Camping
Dispersed
Community
Trail Reviews (8)
| Author: | Official Crew |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 06/18/2019 |
| Rating: |
Quick run out for fathers day. Ran into some amazing people there out overlanding. Such a cool trail.
| Author: | |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 11/24/2018 |
| Rating: |
I took my STOCK 2018 wrangler unlimited base RENTAL( LOL I know) to this trail coming down from big bear, it was my mistake because I thought I was on 3n14( original plan) for a while. We were so lucky we made it down in one piece, without damage. Downhill on 3N17 is way easier than uphill. I do not recommend inexperienced drivers and this trail should not be travel on your own. Great scenery, defiantly will comeback with prepared rig.
| Author: | |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 09/29/2018 |
| Rating: |
Had a challenging and fun time on this trail. This was my third time off-road and made it through with a friend spotting some of the more difficult areas. I am in a 18' GC Trailhawk and was with an 18' Tacoma off-road and 16 Wrangler 2-door. The Wrangler had a pretty easy time for most of the trail. The Tacoma and I had to pick our lines a but more delicately.
| Author: | |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 07/15/2018 |
| Rating: |
Very nice and challenging trail. Good for intermediate drivers. Lots of rocks so keep an eye out or you might accidentally hit your sidewall or axle. Managed to make it up Suicide Hill in my stock TJ w/ 31s but I probably wont do that again. Dont forget to stop by the summit to take in the views.
| Author: | Official Crew |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 06/23/2018 |
| Rating: |
This trail provides the most epic views of Lucerne Valley on a clear day. I love this trail! We traveled from west to east this time but I've done it two other times going from west to east.
| Author: | |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 04/07/2018 |
Ran part of White Mountain yesterday (4/7/18). Got about halfway up from west to east and ended up having to turn around at the bottom of 'suicide hill' due to it being almost impassable for a Range Rover with 22" of clearance, long travel, 31" tires, and locking front and rear diffs. It appeared from what we could see (we walked about 1/2 mile up from where we stopped) that the hill was now covered in what looked like large pieces of very loose shale, sharp rocks, and small boulders, like something you'd find from an old mine tailing. Bottomed out the front diff a couple times trying to get back down the first rocky section, and, honestly, even though I don't know exactly how far the loose section went, I'd say you couldn't do it in any vehicle without at least 33's if not bigger. I've heard conflicting reports about the rating of this trail, the sign at the beginning off 3N16 Holcomb Valley Road says Blue "Moderately difficult" but the reports I've seen on other sites say due to the topographic change, it's considered a black diamond now. My GoPro ran out of juice before we got to the hill, but it was sketchy, that's the only word to describe it. Or downright scary.
| Author: | Official Crew |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 09/14/2017 |
| Rating: |
Top 5 Hard Trails in Big Bear Holcomb Valley Area
| Author: | Official Crew |
| Status: | Open |
| Offroaded on: | 09/02/2017 |
| Rating: |
Another great trip on a great trail. Even did Suicide hill this time...
Questions & Answers (3)
Q: If I follow your GPX exact, will I be ascending or descending Suicide hill?
–White JK (05/10/2019)
Q: Wondering if my Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk could make it... There's an easier bypass of Suicide Hill, right? The guy who wrote a review below made it seem impassable for me... Thanks!
–Frank Marino (08/08/2018)
Q: How is the trail between 6, and 7? Is it easy enough to run starting at 7 and going to 6?
–Aaron (07/20/2017)
Writer Information
Josh Noesser
Mapping Crew - California
Joshua Noesser grew up in Southern California but has lived in different parts of the country during his young adult life. Josh was first turned to four wheeling when he road with one of his friends dad up Surprise Canyon in the Panamint Valley at age14. After nearly 3 different roll overs later and a half dozen intense waterfalls, Josh was hooked. At 16 he purchased his first Jeep a CJ 7 and by 17 was putting his first locker in it.
Currently, Josh is the owner and CEO of Nybble, an IT Solutions Company based in Orange County, California. Nybble isn't your normal IT company where everyone stays in and plays video games. Nybble's average company trip is out on the trails since a good amount of his staff enjoy wheeling too. As Josh likes to say, he offers the only IT Company with the ability to provide services in extreme locations. "If you want a server at the top of The Hammers, we will take care of that for you."
Today you can find Josh out on the trail behind the wheel in one of his three different off-road vehicles. See the vehicles below for more information.
If you ever run into Josh, please say high, he is a very friendly person and is always happy to have a new person join the group.