Holcomb Valley

Not sure who runs the place but he’s insane. We literally just pulled in and he screams about our speed which was 2 mph over but we slow down anyways and continue looking for a spot. As we lap around and pass the guys trailer he screams out of his trailer to us «get the fuck out of here!» And started hysterically laughing. He was either drunk or mentally ill, either way we left immediately. We hadn’t said one word to the man and that’s how he spoke to us. It’s a shame because the campsite is beautiful.

First off, Unilocal doesn’t have enough stars for this review. This is an amazing camp site and the host Ron and his good looking German Shepard, Dutch, are the best camp hosts in the world!
I’ve been to Holcomb many times and each time is better than the last. It’s a great camping spot off the beaten path and has very nice group sites. The fire pits are large, the bathrooms are well maintained, and the pine trees are a relaxing sight to see early in the morning. This camp ground is great if you camp via hammock, too!
I normally come here to trail blaze the OHV trails with my Jeep and Holcomb Valley is a great site to plant your base camp. The surrounding area is an OHV playground! Trails difficulty can range from easy to very difficulty so make sure you pick your battles before venturing out!
All in all, I would highly recommend this camp site to anyone whether you want to do a little wheelin or just want to relax.

My boyfriend and I decided to take an impromptu camping trip this weekend up to big bear lake and stayed at Holcomb Valley Campground. All of the other campgrounds were booked up for the weekend so we took a risk getting a spot early on Saturday morning. The road recommended by our GPS, Polique, was pretty rough to drive up (even in my Ford Escape) — very bumpy and all dirt/​gravel. After arriving we had learned a better road up just opened, 3N09, which was also dirt and gravel but much smoother.
We arrived around 9am and there were plenty of sites available (we got lucky because we are in between camping seasons). Ron, the host, and his beautiful German Shepard, Dutch greeted us as we drove in the campsite. He recommended a great spot that gets morning sun, which would be much needed after a chilly night. I’ve included some pictures of our site.
Ron recommended a great hike that started at the campground and led to the pinnacles (boulders nearby). My boyfriend and I had a great time climbing and exploring around the boulders. We also encountered part of the gold mining tour sites (typically an auto tour). We gathered our own firewood from the areas around the campground as recommended by the host.
The campground is a hidden gem and definitely off the beaten path. The sites were mostly full by evening. We were close to others but far enough away to have our own space with very respectful neighbors. There is no running water and there are vault toilets. The toilets smelled slightly from the outside but once in they weren’t too bad (got slightly worse over the weekend but were cleaned often and had strong air freshener in each).
We will definitely be back within the next month or so to explore some other hikes around the area and to camp here again.

This place was beautiful! I took a rock climbing course this semester and we had the opportunity to take a field trip here and camp for the weekends. This was my FIRST camping trip ever and I was glad that it was here. This place is popular for those who likes to rock climb and I can see why. From the campground going on foot it does not take that long to get to the rock-​climbing destination. There are rocks for every level climbers but as always be cautious! If you don’t like to rock climbing there are plenty of trails for just hiking. The view are so pretty especially when the sun are setting. Just a little note the dirt road to get up here are bump so I would suggest you take an SUV or truck. We got up there just fine with our Honda accord but one of our tires were a little low on air by the time we got up there. Also, campfire right now is prohibit due to precaution of forest fire. I was a little nervous about the bathroom situation but to be honest the out house were pretty clean, well as clean as an out house can look. Overall, I look forward to coming back here with my friends for some fun out in nature.

I am a climber, so this is a review of the Pinnacles Area for rock climbing. Overall, this is one of my favorite sport climbing areas in So Cal. The setting is great, away from the urban sprawl and high enough to really feel like you are in an alpine setting. There are lots of sport routes set up (with a few trad routes as well), so it is easy to find something in your range (unless you are Adam Ondra). The routes are all single pitch with anchors up top. There is very primitive camping in the area, and there are jeep trails you can take to get you closer to the crag, but the climber’s parking lot and trail are pretty easy.

I have been here twice, both times driving in my SUV up the rock and dirt road. It was pretty bumpy. One can also hike up to Holcomb, and many do.
The camp ground is often full in peak season, which means hundreds of campers. Make a reservation with the state park service, It is a real destination… whether hiking up to it or driving and then hiking once you are up there. It is many miles long.
Holcomb Valley was a gold mining town. In fact, it had a huge payload which caused a rush into Holcomb which pumped the population into the thousands in months. A huge town was erected, and people started flocking in. There was a Chinatown, a Red Light District, and a huge population… in a flash.“
But the gold didn’t last long, and in a couple of years the place was spent. Everyone abandoned it as quickly as they came. So what is left is a ghost town.
Unfortunately there is not actually much left. And what is there is miles apart. The old bar is good. And the one surviving hut. But for the most part, the few things that are still there are enough for imagination to see this odd gold mining town in one’s mind, as it was 100 years ago.

Beautiful, simply beautiful. There is more to Big Bear than skiing and snowboarding! Just on the north side of the lake is the gorgeous Holcomb Valley, full of great hiking trails and camping spots. I convinced my friend to go for at least a short walk after a long day of snowboarding, and we were lucky enough to find a great hiking trail that actually joined up as part of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Our short hike took us to a fantastic view of Big Bear Lake and Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. If you have the time, it’s worth it to take a little detour from all the snow sports and get out and see a quieter side of Big Bear. Along with hiking trails, there are lots of backroads you can take for scenic drives, and plenty of mountain biking paths as well. Don’t miss out on this lovely area if you can help it!

This review begins back in the late 70s/​early 80s, when zippers were on everything, pastel was manly, feathered hair was the rage, and Star Wars ruled all. And with this, I was introduced to my first outdoor camping experience: Holcomb Valley… and it’s stuck with me ever since.
Above the smog of LA & San Bernardino County are the San Bernardino Mountains. In southern California, one can dip a toe in the Pacific Ocean, drive 90mins, escape the smog, and be in an alpine forest 7,000ft up. There are several mountain towns to visit, and Big Bear is the biggest one. For family weekend trips, my father and sometimes my grandfather would take my brother and I on adventures in the forest beyond Big Bear.
Once in Big Bear take, head north from the lake (there are a couple of roads to get you there). The roads aren’t for the faint of heart. They become dirt washboard adventures fast. Be sure to locate Holcomb Valley on your GPS and follow all signs pointing to Holcomb Valley.
When I was a kid, it seemed to take forever to get there. And when we were there, it felt like we were in a completely different world, it felt like we were in the wild.
Holcomb Valley is notable because this valley at one point was all the rage during the Gold Rush times of the 1800s. But now there are just a few skeletal remains of buildings, and alot of nice country.
There is campground here, and there are plenty of trails hike. The map also says there are some nice places to go rock climbing. Additionally, any remnants from the gold rush days are now preserved and have signs explaining their history.
I remember being in a kid’s heaven playing in the lush meadows, climbing rocks, spotting tadpoles, and toasting marshmallows. Nowadays this place is still a playground of sorts for hikers, mountain bikers, and lovers of nature.