We loaded up the Sprinter, racked the bikes, and headed up the mountain for a weekend in Big Bear. The plan was simple: camp under the pines, explore the Gold Fever Trail, and let the kids, the dog and the van do what they do best.
The Gold Fever Trail is a self-guided dirt road tour through Holcomb Valley, where Big Bear's gold rush began. It's an easy, fun drive in a well-built van, and every stop has a story.
Camp under the pines
We set up camp among tall Jeffrey pines and junipers, with the van parked right at the site. Breakfast was bacon in a cast iron skillet on the Magma grill mounted to the side of the van. Coffee, bacon and a cool mountain morning are hard to beat.
Gold rush history on the trail
With the trail map in hand, we wound through pine forest and open sage flats, stopping at the old mining sites along the way. The kids checked out rusted mining equipment left behind more than a century ago, the dog claimed a window in an old log cabin, and everyone found a stump to stand on and take in the view.
Bikes and the lake
In the afternoon the bikes came off the rack for a ride on the dirt trails. We finished the day on the shore of Big Bear Lake, skipping rocks with snow still on the ski runs across the water and the solar observatory sitting out on the lake.
The rig
- RB roof rack with room for solar panels, a roof fan, and pads for boards.
- RB hanging organizers in the back doors, keeping RC cars, shoes and beach toys out from underfoot.
- Hitch bike rack carrying three bikes, so everyone could ride.
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