On the Cougar Crest Trail, you will be surrounded by a wide range of natural environments. The first mile is a gentle uphill climb, but after a mile or so you will realize you are gaining altitude.
The Cougar Crest Trailhead is located on North Shore Drive, State Highway 38, approximately 0.6 of a mile west of the Big Bear Discovery Center and two miles west of the Stanfield Cutoff.