3N69 – Gold Mountain

4.9/5 (78 reviews)
Big Bear City, California (San Bernardino County)
Last Updated: 05/08/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude
Desert
Forest
Iconic
Mine
Mud
Rock
Scenic
Snow Wheeling
3N69 - Gold Mountain is one of the more challenging offroad / 4x4 trails on the Big Bear Mountain Range. The trail starts by immediately winding its way up to just over 8,000 feet. Due to the technical challenges of this rock crawling trail and its unique location overlooking the resort city of Big Bear Lake, this trail is a popular destination for many off-roaders. Besides the simplicity of the location, Gold Mountain offers drivers two different technical ledge/waterfalls, the most significant rock garden on the mountain - the best spot for group photos, and the best views of the resort town. But be ready; the trail can easily deceive most drivers resulting in body damage to your rocker panels or something worse.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Make sure you stay on the trail. Several illegal side paths are being created, which will result in this trail being closed. If you see it happening, let the drivers know they may be the person to ruin it for everyone and to get back on the trail. Gold Mountain is a great way to make your way over to John Bull or Jacoby Canyon. The majority of the trail is easy to moderate at best, but a few sharp rock ledges without any bypasses give this trail the more difficult rating. Open for the full year, but winter snow can make this trail very exciting, if not impassable, without a winch. The trail twists and turns as it weaves itself up and over the mountain, making it difficult for full-size trucks to maneuver through it; although not recommended, it could be done. You will come up to a large opening about halfway through the trail with nothing but rocks to drive on; this section is not difficult but makes for a great picture opportunity. When traveling north on 3N69, you will reach 3N16 – Holcomb Valley Road at the end of the trail. Go left to follow to 3N10 - John Bull or Holcomb Valley. Turn right to head towards 3N61 - Jacoby Canyon or end your trip by following 3N16 – Holcomb Valley Road back to HWY 18, just before reaching pavement you will drive past the Big Bear landfill. The rating for the trail is for the common direction of travel, which is heading north. If you choose to head south, the rating would be roughly a four on the easier routes.
Stay the trail!!! The Forest Office wants to close this trail due to all the illegal bypasses being created.

Trail Reviews

4.9/5 (80)
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/30/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Great trail. But be warned, the last hard obstacle is way washed out now. One of the rocks was above my hips, guessing close to 4 feet. We lost a tail light and two rear driveshafts (3rd gen Tacomas). I got 37’s and a 3 inch lift and 2 lockers so pick your lines carefully.
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 05/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

T
600
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Just finished this trail today took us about 5 hrs because we all got stuck. Definitely need to have a good lift and tires! Needed 3 cars to winch me out of a big ol hole on the second obstacle since I was wedged in pretty good. First time doing a rock crawling trail like this but was a really fun adventure nonetheless! Memorial day weekend brought a lot of cars onto the trail. Pretty sure we irritated some people getting stuck everywhere lol but we all let them pass. Had a guy come over and gave pointers on how to clutch in and out with the e-brake which was really helpful. Big learning experience for everyone. 2 of the pickups had bent their driveshaft and one guy bent up his exhaust pretty good. Rock sliders were used by pretty much everyone. It definitely isn't a moderate trail unless your car is built for crawling. Nice views of the lake and the fireworks up at big bear that night was beautiful. Met tons of nice people on the trail and we all had lots of fun. Highly recommend to maybe go on an off day though, especially if you're new so that way you get more time without making too much of a backup of cars like we did :/
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Did this again today so my wife could drive it. She’s new to wheeling but has rock steady nerves and loves driving so she tackled it head on. She struggled in a couple of the harder areas but eventually made it through after backing up and trying a different line. She had a blast and it was a great day on the trail. Some of the waterfalls are dug out a bit more than a couple weeks ago. This made it a touch more difficult on the harder lines but we made it through. Big group of Toyotas were blocking the first obstacle for about half an hour because someone refused to accept defeat and pull line at first. Sorry, but if you’re going to tackle the hard lines check your ego and handle business. No shame in winching. There’s shame in blocking the trail because of your ego.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/20/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Great trail! My first time finally conquering this trail, I wouldn’t recommend going without friends but I did do this trail alone!

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