We started our Big Bear adventure with the “Gold Fever Trail.” This self-guided auto tour takes you through scenic Holcomb Valley where, in 1860, Southern California’s largest gold rush started. Caverns & Caves. It’s helpful to know a few things before you go. William Francis "Grizzly Bill" Holcomb (27 January 1831 – 1909), was an American prospector and the first to discover gold in the region which became known as Holcomb Valley, near present-day Big Bear Lake, California. Pack a picnic, grab a map at the Big Bear Discovery Center and take the entire family to the North Shore of Big Bear Lake to explore the Gold Fever Trail in Holcomb Valley. 0 Restaurants within 5 miles. Forest Headquarters 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92408 (909) 382-2682 (Voice) (TDD/TTY dial (800) 735-2922) Barton Flats Visitor Center Great place to camp for those who love and appreciate the quiet and beauty of the wilderness. Holcomb Valley, a short drive north of Big Bear Lake, is located in the historic gold country of the San Bernardino National Forest. Holcomb Valley campground is located at 7,400 feet elevation about six miles north of Big Bear Lake. The Squeeze - an easy-going intro to off-roading that explores Big Bear's back country including the famed Holcomb Valley Pinnacles. The surrounding area is wooded, teeming with the wildlife near Big Bear City. Here Big Bear first took root, not with skiing or boating but mining. Learn about the gold rush and the history behind it. See all photos from R L. for Holcomb Valley. Along with some great views, 3N16 also has a historic route for which more information can be found at Big Bear Discovery Center or the trail review, Gold Fever Trail. Map 4 - Holcomb Valley on the north side of Big Bear Lake has an extensive range of trails suitable for mountain bikes, hikers and 4WD. The beginner friendly Holcomb Valley Gold Fever Trail - the terrain consists mostly of dirt and fire roads. Trails in the Holcomb Valley Big Bear area are perfect for hiking, biking, or off-roading. Holcomb Valley Mine. California 38 Turn North on 2n90 Which Becomes Polique Canyon Road and Joins 3n16 Gold Fever Trail, CA. Gold Fever OHV Trail. The 3 routes are marked clearly in color and they are all suitable for mtbs. Gold Fever Trail The clues to the past are scattered around Holcomb Valley. Today, the rush of the 1800s is just a memory, but you can still explore the ruins, including an old cemetery from the second gold rush. After once, the valley was named a famous gold mining area after Bill Holcomb, a grizzly bear hunter. 3N16 is the main connector between most of the trails in Big Bear including Holcomb Creek, Dishpan Springs, John Bull, White Mountain, Gold Mountain, and many more. Join our mailing list to get alerts for mine listing updates, … California Cavern, State Historic Landmark (21) 4.7 mi. Cultural Tours. Year Published 1895 Courtesy of Courtesy of California Geological Survey Tags North America, The United States, California, San Bernardino, Related Mining Images. Jun 30 2017 middot we took the gold fever trail out in holcomb valley holcomb valley is named for an early prospector and miner this remote valley makes you feel like yoursquore in the old west many westerns were. The Gold Fever Trail through the Holcomb Valley area highlights the rich gold mining history of Big Bear. And Angeles National Forest. That was the start of the Holcomb Valley gold rush. He discovered gold in the valley in 1860. In 1872, a second gold rush brought prosperity back to the valley, only to fizzle out once more. The Gold Fever trail is another beginner-level route, but clearance is required due to the rocky terrain. Fact, fiction, and some good old Wild West lore come to life along the Gold Fever Trail, an 11-mile self-guided driving tour of Holcomb Valley. As miners and prospectors came to seek their fortune, outlaws, claim jumpers, gamblers, and general troublemakers followed close behind. Holcomb Valley had the most gold of any Southern California field. Hangmans Tree - Gold Fever Trail - Big Bear California "This stately Juniper stands today as a lone symbol of the law and justice of the early turbulent days of Holcomb Valley. On the eve of the American Civil War, the largest gold rush in Southern California was taking place in Holcomb Valley of the San Bernardino Mountains. Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. Files in the office of County Recorder Ted R. Carpenter show that on May 5, 1860, William Francis Holcomb and Ben Ware located five gold claims in Holcomb Valley, five mile north of Bear Valley. Just as it was when they scoured the land for glittering gold nuggets, the terrain is beautiful, but a little rugged. Holcomb Valley even had a brewery. Special Offer. Steam shovel at Holcomb Valley Mine. Forest Roads 2N09, 3N16, 3N05. Caverns & Caves. Best nearby. Today. 4/28/2018. 2 Other Attractions within 5 miles. Dirt , rough road, through the history of gold rush in the surrounding mountains and valleys of Big Bear. Gold Fever Trail Self-Guided Auto Tour; Rim of the World Scenic Byway; Thomas Mountain Backroad Drive; Trails in San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Gold Fever Trail The Gold Fever Trail does what it says on the tin: it takes you back in time to the gold rush, exploring the remains of historical events in Holcomb Valley while you ride your Jeep on a relatively easy 20-mile loop trail beginning in Big Bear City. Exploring the history alone is worth the road trip, but the scenery further west raised the bar above the ceiling. Cave City (1) 4.7 mi. 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