The Desert-to-Summit 48

We left Vegas at 5:00 AM sharp. The 3.5-hour drive on the Rim of the World Highway was pure sunrise magic.

We found a picnic table at Meadow Park with Big Bear Lake shimmering below. Bagels, cream cheese, and thermoses of hot coffee while the morning light turned everything golden.

Wandered the quiet November streets. Grabbed pastries at Grizzly Manor Café and soaked in the small-town mountain vibe.

Flat lakeside trail with water reflections, pine trees, and crisp mountain air. We stopped every 100 feet for photos.

Alternative: Boulder Bay (0.3 mi) – massive lakeside boulders perfect for climbing and photo ops!

Sandwiches from our cooler at Meadow Park. The lake sparkled, the air was cool, and we weren't in a rush.

THE Big Bear viewpoint! Steep switchbacks through boulders and pines, then—BAM—360° views of Big Bear Lake and surrounding peaks!

We hiked it clockwise for gentler switchbacks first, then a fun boulder scramble at the top. The lake stayed in view the entire climb with non-stop photo opportunities.

Wooden boardwalk loop through wetlands. We spotted ducks, heard woodpeckers, and kept our eyes peeled for bald eagles (they nest here in November!).

Sunset hit at 4:45 PM—the marsh turned gold and pink.

We hit Peppercorn Grille for cozy Italian comfort food. Candlelit tables, warm bread, and exhausted-happy vibes.

Alternative spots:

• Himalayan Restaurant (warm curry vibes)
• The Pines Lakefront (upscale with lake views)

Crashed hard. Prepped Day 2 food, refreshed the cooler ice, and gassed up at the Chevron on Big Bear Blvd for tomorrow's desert mission.

Left Big Bear at sunrise. Three hours through crystal-clear skies on CA-38, eating breakfast burritos in the car.

The landscape shifted: pines → scrub → Joshua trees. You could feel the climate change.

Rolled in just as the park woke up! $30 entrance fee (or America the Beautiful pass).

The temperature jumped 20 degrees—we stripped off layers and loaded up on water.

Our first Joshua tree encounter! A sandy loop surrounded by rock walls and twisted Joshua trees glowing in morning light.

Felt like walking through an alien garden.

Historic water tank surrounded by boulders and Joshua trees. We spotted bighorn sheep tracks and saw ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks!

The dam had water in November—rare and beautiful.

Skull Rock is exactly what it sounds like. We climbed all over the Jumbo Rocks area—easy scrambles, endless photo angles.

Kids and adults alike equals pure playground vibes.

Found shaded tables at Jumbo Rocks and demolished our sandwiches. The dry desert heat was perfect—not too hot, not cold.

This was the highlight.

Walked the boardwalk counter-clockwise through a forest of cholla cacti. At midday, the sun lit them from behind and they glowed like fiber-optic teddy bears.

Seriously—they looked like something out of a dream.

Our grand finale.

From the viewpoint: the entire Coachella Valley spread out below, the San Andreas Fault visible, and 20 miles of desert stretching to the horizon.

We stood there in silence for a solid 10 minutes. The perfect ending.

Reluctantly left the park. Grabbed coffee at Joshua Tree Coffee Co. in the town of Joshua Tree, then hit I-10 W → I-15 N back to Vegas.

Rolled into Vegas as the neon lights flickered on. Dusty boots, tired legs, and 1,000 photos to sort through.

Already planning the next trip.