Rim of the World Highway
CA 18Crestline to Big Bear Lake · California
Distance30.6mi · 49 km
Drive time1 h 1 minon the road
DifficultyModerate
MountainForest
A high balcony road along the rim of the San Bernardino Mountains.
CA 18, the Rim of the World Highway, runs along the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, a winding balcony with long drops to the basin on one side and the forest and lakes of Big Bear on the other. Mind the sheer edges, the weekend traffic, and snow and ice in winter.
Where it runs
CrestlineStart · California
Big Bear LakeEnd · United States
Character
Corners44bends
Tightness5of 10
Max gradient7%≈ 1-in-14
Hairpins0tight bends
Climb1031 mtotal ascent
Summit2228 mhighest point · 7310 ft
SpringSummerAutumn
Elevation
925 m rangeKnow before you go
- Sheer drops to the basin
- Heavy weekend traffic
- Snow and ice in winter
Along the road
- viewpoint Donald S. Wieman Vista Point
- viewpoint Bear Valley Dam Vista Point
Sources
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Rim of the World Highway.
