Family Trail Has World Champion Pine

California nurtures some superlative trees. The tallest tree on Earth is a coast redwood, the oldest tree a bristlecone pine. And in the San Bernardino Mountains grows the world champion lodgepole pine.

It’s a pleasant stroll, suitable for the whole family to the world champion. More ambitious hikers will enjoy tramping down Siberia Creek Trail to the appropriately named rock formation, The Gunsight, and on to Siberia Creek Trail Camp for a picnic.

Siberia Creek, born atop the high mountains near Big Bear Lake, is a delightful watercourse. It flows southwest through a deep coniferous forest and lush meadowlands, then cascades down a steep rocky gorge and adds its waters to Bear Creek.

From Forest Road 2N11, Siberia Creek Trail passes the Champion Lodgepole, the largest known lodgepole pine in the world. It then travels alongside Siberia Creek through a wet tableland, detours around a ridge while Siberia Creek crashes down a precipitous gorge, then rejoins the creek at Siberia Creek Trail Camp.

This is an “upside down” hike; the tough part is the trek uphill back to the trailhead. Pace yourself accordingly. Bring water; none is available at the trailhead.

Directions to trailhead: From California 18 at the west end of Big Bear Lake Village, turn south on Tulip Lane. You’ll pass Coldbrook Campground on the right. One-half mile from the highway, turn right on Forest Road 2N11. The road soon becomes dirt (it’s passable for all but very low slung passenger cars). Keep following the Champion Lodgepole signs five miles to the signed trailhead. Parking is alongside the road.

The hike: The trail follows a fern-lined little brook. You’ll notice some tall cornstalk-like plants--corn lilies--and a generous number of red flowers--Indian paintbrush.

A half mile’s travel brings you to a signed junction. Go right 75 yards to the Champion Lodgepole, which towers above the east end of an emerald green meadow. You can’t miss it. It’s the only 110-foot tree around.

Lodgepole--also called tamarack--pines are usually found at higher elevations. But here at 7,500 feet, nurtured by the rich, well-watered soil, they not only thrive but achieve mammoth proportions. The World Champion’s trunk is 75 inches in diameter (usually the species measures 12 to 24 inches) and is estimated to be more than 400 years old. Lodgepoles are easily identified by their yellow-green paired needles. In Southern California, these pines are probably the only ones you’ll come across that have two needles per bundle. By way of comparison, you might note that the pinon pine has one needle, the ponderosa pine three, and the limber pine, five.

Option: To the Gunsight. Return to the main trail and continue through open forest, skirting the meadowland. You cross and re-cross Siberia creek. After the second crossing, the meadowland ends and the creek crashes down the gorge. The trail avoids the gorge and swings down and around the steep slopes of Lookout Mountain. About one mile from the Champion Lodgepole, an interesting rock formation called the Gunsight appears. Squint through the Gunsight, aim your anti-civilization gun at the haze below, and squeeze off a few shots.

Option: To Siberia Creek Trail Camp. From the Gunsight, the trail descends the slopes of Lookout Mountain. A series of switchbacks brings you to a trail junction. Bear right (north) on the Seven Pines Trail three-quarters of a mile to Siberia Creek Trail Camp. For the day hiker, this oak and alder shaded camp makes a nice picnic spot or rest stop.

Return the same way.

Siberia Creek Trail

Forest Road 2N11 to Champion Lodgepole Pine: one mile round trip; 100-foot elevation loss.

Forest Road 2N11 to The Gunsight: three miles round trip; 600-foot elevation loss.

Forest Road 2N11 to Siberia Creek Trail Camp: eight miles round trip; 2,500-foot elevation loss.