Big Bear Forest Fest

Every summer, a stretch of mountain roads in the San Bernardino National Forest fills up with modified 4x4s, lifted trucks, side-by-sides, and the kind of people who think nothing of airing down their tires before breakfast. Big Bear Forest Fest is that gathering — a weekend-long off-road event in the mountains above Southern California that draws Jeep owners, truck enthusiasts, and trail riders from across the region. It is not a race. There are no trophies for finishing first. It is a community event built around shared trails, shared meals, and a shared interest in keeping California’s public lands accessible for future generations of off-roaders.

If you are planning to attend Forest Fest — or simply curious what all the noise is about — here is a thorough look at the event, the trails, and how to make the most of a Forest Fest weekend in Big Bear.

What Is Big Bear Forest Fest?

Big Bear Forest Fest is an annual off-road event held in the Big Bear area of the San Bernardino Mountains. Participants register, gather at a central headquarters venue, and then head out on guided trail runs through some of the most well-known off-road terrain in Southern California. The event is built around community rather than competition — there are no timed runs, no racing categories, and no pressure to prove anything. Trails are run in groups, with experienced leaders at the front and tail-end volunteers making sure no one gets left behind.

Beyond the trail runs, the event includes a vendor village, a community dinner, a raffle, and plenty of time to walk the parking area, compare builds, and connect with other off-roaders. It is a practical and unpretentious event by design, which is a significant part of why it has remained relevant within Southern California’s off-road community for decades.

The History of Big Bear Forest Fest

Origins with Inland Empire 4 Wheelers

Forest Fest traces its roots back to the Inland Empire 4 Wheelers (IE4W), a non-profit, family-oriented 4×4 club based in the Inland Empire that has been promoting responsible off-road recreation since 1964. The club launched Forest Fest as a way to bring the off-road community together in the mountains while raising money for land use advocacy and local charities. Over time the event grew into one of the largest and longest-running 4WD gatherings in the Big Bear area, regularly drawing over 200 registered vehicles and feeding hundreds of attendees at the Saturday evening dinner.

The format was straightforward: a multi-day event with guided trail runs across Big Bear’s major off-road routes, a vendor area, an all-you-can-eat tri-tip dinner, and a raffle that in peak years featured tens of thousands of dollars in prizes. A portion of proceeds consistently went to organisations working on trail access and land preservation, including CORVA (the California Off-Road Vehicle Association) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

A Hiatus and a Return

The event faced significant disruptions in the early 2020s. Inland Empire 4 Wheelers announced that the 2023 Forest Fest would not go ahead, citing an inability to run the event to the standard the club had maintained over the years. The cancellation was a genuine setback for an event that had been a fixture on the Southern California off-road calendar.

After a multi-year hiatus, Forest Fest returned — this time under CORVA’s leadership. The 2026 edition marks the revival of the event with support from MetalCloak, a respected name in off-road fabrication, as well as local clubs including Krawler Krew. The event retains its original mission: support responsible recreation, advocate for public land access, and give the off-road community a reason to gather in the mountains every summer.

The Event’s Ongoing Mission

Forest Fest has always been about more than just wheeling. Throughout its history, the event has raised funds and awareness for trail preservation, land access advocacy, and responsible recreation education. Under CORVA’s stewardship, that mission remains central. CORVA — advocating for off-road recreation in California since 1970 — is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving off-road recreation and 4WD access on public lands statewide. Its motto, “protecting our lands for the people, not from the people,” captures the philosophy that underpins Forest Fest.

Why Forest Fest Is Different from Other Off-Road Events

Southern California has no shortage of off-road events. What distinguishes Forest Fest is its emphasis on guided adventure, community atmosphere, and stewardship — rather than spectacle or speed.

Community-focused atmosphere. The event draws a mix of longtime off-road veterans, newer enthusiasts, families, and club members. The tone is welcoming rather than competitive, and the guided run format means less experienced drivers can participate alongside more seasoned wheelers without feeling out of their depth.

Family-friendly environment. Children’s activities and giveaways have historically been part of the Forest Fest experience. The event is designed to be accessible to families, not just hardcore off-road competitors.

Guided adventures rather than competitive racing. Trail runs are organised group outings with experienced leaders. The focus is on completing the trail safely, learning from more experienced drivers, and enjoying the terrain — not setting records.

Strong emphasis on stewardship and education. From Tread Lightly principles to trail etiquette briefings, Forest Fest consistently reinforces responsible recreation. The event exists partly to demonstrate that off-roaders are responsible users of public lands who have a stake in keeping those lands accessible.

Supporting Responsible Recreation in California

Public Land Advocacy

Access to California’s off-road trails is not guaranteed. Trail closures, budget pressures on land management agencies, and ongoing regulatory changes all create real risks for off-road recreation. Events like Forest Fest raise funds that go directly to organisations working on these issues at the state and federal level.

CORVA works alongside federal and state land management agencies — including the California State Department of Parks and Recreation — to maintain off-highway vehicle recreation opportunities across public lands. The organisation also participates in the political process, providing input from the off-road community’s perspective to programs like the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Program.

Trail Preservation Initiatives

Beyond advocacy, Forest Fest has historically supported trail maintenance and cleanup efforts. Local clubs, including event partners like Krawler Krew, contribute volunteer hours to the trails they use — clearing debris, repairing damage, and helping manage the environmental impact of off-road recreation.

The Role of CORVA

CORVA serves as the primary beneficiary of Forest Fest 2026. Supporting the event through registration and participation is a direct way to fund California’s most active off-road advocacy organisation. CORVA’s work includes educating members on changing rules and regulations, coordinating with other multiple-use recreation groups, and ensuring that off-road access is maintained for future generations.

When and Where Is Big Bear Forest Fest?

Event Dates and Schedule

Big Bear Forest Fest 2026 takes place over three days:

Day	Date	Key Activities
Friday	July 17, 2026	Onsite pre-registration at Wyatt’s (4 PM – 9 PM); MetalCloak CTI Trailer onsite
Saturday	July 18, 2026	Onsite registration from 6:30 AM; guided trail runs; community dinner 6–7 PM; raffle 7:30 PM
Sunday	July 19, 2026	Bonus trail run (Dishpan Springs)

Registration for the event is handled through CORVA at corva.org. Pre-registering on Friday evening streamlines the Saturday morning check-in process, which is particularly useful given how early the trail runs begin.

Event Headquarters at Wyatt’s Grill & Saloon

Forest Fest 2026 is headquartered at Wyatt’s Grill & Saloon, which sits within the Big Bear Lake Convention Center complex in Big Bear City. This serves as the hub for everything non-trail:

Registration and check-in for both pre-registration (Friday) and day-of registration (Saturday)
MetalCloak CTI Trailer on display Friday and Saturday, showcasing current off-road products and builds
Vendor village for browsing off-road gear, accessories, and recovery equipment
Community dinner on Saturday evening from 6 to 7 PM — a traditional centerpiece of the Forest Fest experience
Raffle beginning at 7:30 PM on Saturday inside Wyatt’s

Wyatt’s provides both an indoor gathering space and outdoor areas for the vendor village and vehicle staging, making it a practical and social anchor point for the event.

Why Big Bear Is the Perfect Host for Forest Fest

Big Bear sits at around 6,750 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains and offers one of the most concentrated collections of off-road trails in Southern California. The combination of an extensive trail network, mountain terrain, and cooler summer temperatures makes it a genuinely practical location for a summer off-road event.

While the rest of Southern California bakes through July, Big Bear typically sees daytime highs in the low 80s Fahrenheit — comfortable conditions for spending hours on a trail. The mountain scenery adds to the appeal: pine forests, boulder fields, high-elevation ridgelines, and views that stretch across the desert valleys below.

Accessibility is also a factor. Big Bear is roughly two hours from Los Angeles, less from the Inland Empire and Orange County, and within a half-day drive from San Diego. That makes it feasible as a weekend destination for a large portion of Southern California’s off-road community.

Why Big Bear Forest Fest Matters to California’s Off-Road Community

Protecting Access to Public Lands

The trails used at Forest Fest — John Bull, Gold Mountain, Holcomb Creek, Dishpan Springs — exist on public land within the San Bernardino National Forest. Access to these trails is not permanent. Trail closures happen. Budget cuts affect management. Without active advocacy, recreational users can find their access restricted with little warning.

Forest Fest funds and promotes that advocacy work. Every registration fee, every raffle ticket sold, and every vendor that participates contributes to CORVA’s ongoing efforts to keep California’s trails open.

Supporting Local Off-Road Clubs

The event relies on volunteer work from local clubs who lead trail runs, manage logistics, and ensure the event runs safely. That club participation builds relationships, shares knowledge, and creates an informal network of experienced off-roaders who help newer participants develop their skills and judgment on trail.

Trail maintenance efforts supported through Forest Fest directly benefit the trails participants use — a straightforward connection between attendance and stewardship.

Education for New Off-Roaders

Forest Fest has always served as an entry point for newer off-roaders. Guided trail runs with experienced leaders mean first-timers can tackle trails they might not attempt independently, learning vehicle technique, spotter communication, and recovery basics in a structured and supportive environment.

Topics typically covered through the event’s education emphasis include:

Trail etiquette — yielding protocols, communication on narrow sections, respecting other users
Vehicle preparation — what your rig should have before heading out, and what the minimum requirements are for specific trails
Safety practices — travelling in groups, communication devices, pre-run safety checks
Recovery and communication tips — winching basics, kinetic recovery, radio frequency discipline

Featured Trails at Big Bear Forest Fest

Big Bear’s trail network spans a wide range of difficulty levels. Forest Fest 2026 features guided runs on five trails, covering most of that spectrum. Here is what to expect on each.

John Bull Trail

John Bull is the most technically demanding trail on the Forest Fest schedule, and arguably the most famous off-road trail in Southern California. Located in Holcomb Valley in the San Bernardino National Forest, it has a well-earned reputation for humbling drivers with well-built rigs. The trail follows old mining roads and climbs to over 8,000 feet, delivering sustained technical difficulty rather than isolated hard spots.

The Gatekeeper is the defining obstacle — a series of large boulders at the trail entrance that tests vehicle capability and driver skill before the rest of the trail even begins. On John Bull, unlike many trails, the rocks are loose rather than fixed, meaning they shift under tyres and create a constantly changing challenge. The technical section runs approximately 2.2 miles of consistent difficulty, with vehicle-sized boulders, rock gardens, steep climbs, and tight sections.

John Bull holds Jeep Badge of Honor status and is rated black diamond — among the most difficult trails on that list. Most experienced drivers recommend a minimum of 35-inch tyres and both front and rear lockers. Stock vehicles and mildly modified 4x4s are generally not appropriate for this trail.

Many in the off-road community treat John Bull as a benchmark — a trail that tests both a build and a driver’s skill in a way few other routes in California can match.

Gold Mountain Trail

Gold Mountain is one of three Jeep Badge of Honor trails in the Big Bear area and offers a mix of technical terrain and spectacular mountain scenery. Located northeast of Big Bear Lake along the north shore of Baldwin Dry Lake, it features rock gardens, steep inclines, tight passages, and off-camber sections that require careful line selection.

The trail’s Gatekeeper obstacle at the entrance serves as a natural filter — if a vehicle cannot handle the entry, there is no point continuing further. Beyond that, Gold Mountain winds through a mix of coniferous forest with Jeffrey pines, ponderosa pines, and white firs, offering panoramic views across the surrounding mountains.

Gold Mountain is generally rated moderate-to-difficult depending on vehicle setup. Lockers help considerably, and disconnecting front sway bars is recommended. The trail is more approachable than John Bull for well-prepared vehicles, but it is not a beginner trail.

Holcomb Creek Trail

Running along Forest Service Road 3N93, Holcomb Creek is the third of Big Bear’s Jeep Badge of Honor trails and presents a distinct set of challenges from the other two. The trail features technical rock gardens, narrow off-camber sections, and — in favourable conditions — water crossings along the creek drainage.

Holcomb Creek requires careful tyre placement and patient driving. It is possible to run parts of the trail without lockers, but they help significantly on the harder sections. The off-camber obstacles and narrow passages mean full-size vehicles need to be particularly deliberate. Experienced drivers report that running the trail west to east is generally more demanding than the reverse direction.

Dishpan Springs Trail

Dishpan Springs is the Sunday bonus run for Forest Fest 2026 and is widely regarded as one of the most demanding trails in the Big Bear area. It covers the eastern section of trails in the San Bernardino National Forest and involves deep ruts, technical rock obstacles, and a concrete bridge over the Dishpan Deep Creek crossing that marks one of the trail’s more memorable sections.

Dishpan is recommended only for highly capable vehicles with experienced drivers. Those who have run it consistently note that the trail starts deceptively manageable before increasing in difficulty. It is not a trail to attempt without appropriate preparation, a solid group, and recovery gear.

Additional Saturday Trails

The 2026 Forest Fest schedule also includes:

Gold Fever Trail (SxS Run) — a historically significant and more accessible dirt road through the San Bernardino National Forest, well suited to side-by-side vehicles and those seeking a less technical Saturday run
Rattlesnake to Pioneer Town — a scenic backcountry route connecting areas on the north side of the range

Trail Etiquette and Safety Tips

Regardless of which trail you run, a few principles apply across the board at Forest Fest:

Stay on designated routes and follow the trail leader’s instructions
Follow Tread Lightly principles — minimise environmental impact, respect wildlife and other users
Travel with recovery equipment: a tow strap or kinetic rope, a high-lift jack, and a working communication device at minimum
Respect trail ratings — if a trail is listed as requiring lockers and 35-inch tyres, that guidance exists for good reasons
Pack out all rubbish; the San Bernardino National Forest is a shared resource

What to Expect at Big Bear Forest Fest

Guided Trail Runs

The trail runs are the main event. Groups form at the Wyatt’s staging area on Saturday morning after registration, with different groups assigned to different trails based on vehicle capability and driver experience. Each group has an experienced trail leader at the front and a sweep vehicle at the rear.

The guided format benefits less experienced participants significantly. Trail leaders call out obstacles, suggest lines, and offer spotting assistance where needed. It is a practical way to tackle trails that might be intimidating to run independently for the first time.

Vendor Village and Exhibitors

The vendor village at Wyatt’s gives participants a chance to browse off-road products, talk to industry representatives, and see new gear. Off-road accessories, recovery equipment, vehicle upgrades, and sponsor demonstrations are typically all represented. MetalCloak, a prominent sponsor and fabricator known for its Jeep suspension systems and armour products, brings its CTI (Complete Trail Integration) trailer to the event — a popular stop for those interested in current builds and product lines.

Raffles, Giveaways, and Community Activities

The Saturday evening raffle is a longstanding Forest Fest tradition. Tickets are sold throughout the day and the drawing takes place at 7:30 PM inside Wyatt’s, following the community dinner. Historically, Forest Fest raffles have included substantial prize packages across multiple categories, with proceeds supporting CORVA’s advocacy work.

Meeting Fellow Off-Road Enthusiasts

One of the less-talked-about but consistently valued aspects of Forest Fest is simply the time spent with other off-roaders. Walking the event area, checking out builds, comparing notes on trail conditions, and sharing trail stories over dinner — that social dimension is genuinely part of what the event offers. Off-road clubs use Forest Fest as an annual gathering point, and many attendees return year after year specifically for those connections.

Is Big Bear Forest Fest Family Friendly?

Forest Fest has historically been an accessible event for families with children. The event’s non-competitive format, community dinner, and vendor village mean there is plenty going on for people who are not behind the wheel of a trail rig.

Activities Beyond the Trails

The vendor village, raffle, community dinner, and general vehicle showcase provide entertainment and interest beyond the trail runs themselves. Families with younger children who do not participate in trail runs can still attend the Saturday evening activities, browse the vendor village, and participate in the raffle.

Exploring Big Bear as a Family

Big Bear offers a wide range of activities for visitors who are not spending the whole day on a trail. Big Bear Lake is accessible for boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding during summer months. The Village in Big Bear Lake offers shopping, dining, and a casual mountain-town atmosphere that appeals to most visitors. Scenic drives around the lake and through the forest are easy to enjoy without any special equipment.

Turning Forest Fest Into a Weekend Getaway

Many attendees treat Forest Fest weekend as a broader mountain getaway rather than a single-day event. Friday evening check-in, Saturday trail runs and dinner, and a Sunday morning bonus run with time to explore Big Bear before heading home makes for a full and varied weekend. Family members who do not wheel can enjoy the mountain setting, the lake, and Big Bear’s summer activities while the off-roaders handle the trails.

What to Bring to Big Bear Forest Fest

Vehicle Preparation Checklist

Before heading to Forest Fest, a practical pre-trip vehicle check is worth completing:

Tyre inspection — check tread depth, sidewall condition, and inflation. Bring a quality tyre pressure gauge and inflate appropriately for trail use
Recovery gear — tow strap or kinetic rope, tree saver strap, shackles, and a high-lift jack as a minimum
Spare parts — spare tyre in road-ready condition; consider carrying spare belts, fluids, and common hardware for your specific build
Fluid and maintenance checks — engine oil, transmission fluid, differential fluid, coolant, and brake fluid levels verified before departure

Additional items worth considering for more technical trails include a portable air compressor for re-inflation after airing down, a winch with proper accessories, and a full-size spare.

Essential Personal Gear

Sunscreen — high-altitude sun is intense, particularly on exposed trails
Hydration — the San Bernardino Mountains are dry; bring significantly more water than you think you will need
First-aid kit — a basic kit suited to trail conditions
Trail communication devices — a CB radio or GMRS radio for communication with the trail group. Check the event’s designated frequency before heading out

Clothing for Big Bear’s Mountain Climate

Big Bear’s July weather is genuinely variable. Daytime temperatures typically reach the low 80s Fahrenheit on the valley floor, but exposed high-elevation trails can be cooler with afternoon winds. Evenings drop significantly — into the 40s and low 50s — even after warm days.

The practical approach is layering: light, breathable clothing for daytime trail use with a warm mid-layer and windproof outer layer for mornings, evenings, and cooler high-elevation stretches. Those unfamiliar with mountain weather sometimes underestimate how quickly conditions can change above 7,000 feet.

Lodging and Travel Essentials

Book accommodations well in advance of the July event. Summer weekends in Big Bear fill up quickly under normal circumstances; a popular off-road event on the calendar adds further pressure. Plan for a multi-day stay and consider that peak summer visitation means more traffic on the approach roads — Highway 18 and Highway 38 both see significant congestion on Friday afternoons in summer.

Other Things to Do in Big Bear During Forest Fest Weekend

Explore Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is the centrepiece of the valley and worth spending time on. During summer, the lake supports a full range of water recreation — motorised boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and simple lakeside relaxation. Several rental operations around the lake provide equipment for visitors who do not bring their own.

Visit The Village

Big Bear Village is the commercial and social centre of the town. The strip along Village Drive includes boutique shops, outdoor gear stores, restaurants, and cafés ranging from casual lunch spots to sit-down dinner options. It is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening, particularly for visitors who want a break from trail activities.

Hiking and Scenic Drives

The San Bernardino National Forest surrounding Big Bear offers extensive hiking options at a range of difficulty levels. Paved scenic drives around the north shore of the lake provide views without requiring a modified 4×4. Wildlife viewing — including deer, birds of prey, and occasional black bear sightings — is possible throughout the area during summer.

Enjoy Big Bear’s Summer Atmosphere

Summer in Big Bear is its own season — cooler than the valleys below, with a pace of life that reflects the mountain setting. Local events, outdoor markets, and the general energy of a popular summer destination all contribute to an atmosphere that is easy to enjoy with or without a trail run on the itinerary.

Where to Stay for Big Bear Forest Fest

Why Booking Early Matters

Summer weekends in Big Bear see high demand across all accommodation categories. Forest Fest adds a concentrated influx of visitors — many travelling with trailers or tow vehicles — which further tightens availability. Booking several weeks in advance for the July 17–19 weekend is a practical necessity, not just a suggestion.

Why Cabins Are Popular With Off-Road Enthusiasts

Off-roaders have specific accommodation needs that standard hotel rooms do not always address well. Cabin rentals offer meaningful practical advantages:

Extended parking and staging space for lifted trucks, trailers, and recovery gear setups
Storage and drying areas for gear, recovery equipment, and dusty trail kit
Comfortable common spaces for groups to debrief, share food, and plan the next day’s runs
More flexibility on arrival times, vehicle arrangements, and general group logistics

For clubs or groups attending together, a cabin rental is often a significantly more practical and social option than booking a block of hotel rooms.

Stay at Wild Olive Cabins

Wild Olive Cabins is located in Running Springs — approximately 30 minutes from the Forest Fest headquarters at Wyatt’s Grill & Saloon in Big Bear City. That proximity means you are within easy reach of all the event’s activities, the trail staging areas, and Big Bear’s attractions, while staying in a quieter mountain community that typically has better accommodation availability during peak summer weekends.

Wild Olive Cabins offers comfortable, well-appointed cabin rentals suited to the range of visitors who attend Forest Fest — couples looking for a mountain retreat, families combining trail adventures with Big Bear summer activities, and off-road clubs or groups who need space, parking, and a comfortable gathering area for a multi-day trip.

Running Springs sits in the San Bernardino Mountains at elevation, offering the same cool summer temperatures as Big Bear itself. The drive to Big Bear via Highway 18 is a straightforward mountain road that connects the two communities. Being 30 minutes out means avoiding the most congested sections of Big Bear’s summer traffic while remaining genuinely close to everything the event offers.

Choosing the Right Cabin for Your Group

Wild Olive Cabins has options suited to a range of group sizes and configurations:

Solo travellers and couples — a smaller, well-equipped cabin provides a comfortable base without unnecessary space
Families — cabins with enough room for parents and children, with the flexibility that family travel requires
Off-road clubs and larger groups — larger cabin options provide communal space, ample parking for multiple rigs, and the kind of layout that works for groups spending multiple days together

The Wild Olive Den and Wild Olive Lodge are worth looking at depending on your group’s size and requirements. Both offer the comfort and practicality that make a mountain event weekend significantly more enjoyable than spending two nights in a cramped motel room.

Tips for Planning Your Big Bear Forest Fest Trip

Best Routes to Big Bear

The two primary approaches to Big Bear from Southern California are Highway 18 (from the west via Rim of the World Drive) and Highway 38 (from the south via Redlands and the Barton Flats area). Both are mountain roads that require attentive driving and are subject to weather-related closures in winter. For July, both routes are reliably open.

Highway 18 tends to see heavier weekend traffic in summer. Highway 38 provides a slightly longer but often less congested approach from the Inland Empire and Orange County. Either route works; traffic timing matters more than route choice on peak summer Fridays.

Plan to arrive in Big Bear or Running Springs before Friday evening if possible, particularly if you want to take advantage of the pre-registration window at Wyatt’s from 4 to 9 PM.

Understanding Mountain Weather

Big Bear’s July climate is generally pleasant but worth preparing for:

Condition	Typical Range
Daytime high (valley floor)	Low to mid 80s°F
Evening low	Low 40s to low 50s°F
Elevation	~6,750 ft at Big Bear Lake
Afternoon storms	Possible in late July; conditions can change quickly

The significant temperature swing between day and evening surprises visitors who are used to coastal or valley climates. Pack layers and do not underestimate how cool evenings feel after a warm afternoon on trail.

How Long Should You Stay?

One-day visit (Saturday only): Feasible if you live relatively close, but you miss Friday pre-registration, the full atmosphere, and the Sunday Dishpan run. A long day with an early start.

Weekend adventure (Friday through Sunday): The recommended approach for most attendees. Pre-register Friday evening, run trails Saturday, attend the dinner and raffle, and join the Sunday bonus run before heading home.

Extended Big Bear vacation: Worth considering if you want to combine Forest Fest with a broader Big Bear getaway — taking in the lake, the Village, additional hiking or water activities, and a more relaxed pace around the event itself.

Make It a Complete Mountain Weekend

Big Bear Forest Fest is a well-organised event with a genuine mission and a trail lineup that would be worth visiting Big Bear for independently. For Southern California’s off-road community, it is both a practical opportunity to run some of the region’s best-known trails in a group setting and a way to directly support the advocacy work that keeps those trails accessible.

Whether you are coming to push your rig on John Bull, to introduce yourself to Gold Mountain for the first time, to browse the vendor village, or simply to be part of what the Southern California off-road community does when it gathers in the mountains — Forest Fest is a worthwhile weekend.