Crafts Peak

Crafts Peak, taken from Butler, photo by Sunny Yi

Crafts Peak, taken from Butler, Photo by Sunny Yi.

Peak Name

Crafts Peak

21A

Elevation

8364

feet

Status

active

Region

North Of Big Bear Lake

Range

San Bernardino Mountains

Nearby peaks

Location

34.2511179,-117.029204

Description

Named for an early resident, Crafts and its neighbor Butler dominate the skyline on the west end of Big Bear Lake. It makes for a fairly easy hike that can be paired with other adjacent peaks.

Route 1 starts from Highway 18 and ascends firebreaks and use trails to the summit. Route 2 starts from 2N13 to the north, and follows use trail and cross-country. In a good snow year you can snowshoe between Crafts Peak and Butler Lookout, but heavy brush makes it impossible at other times.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

1300′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

4 miles round trip on firebreak, road, and trail

Estimated time

2 1/2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions.

Driving route

Drive east on I-10 to SR 210.
Drive north on SR 210 (signed “West”) to SR 330.
Drive north on SR 330 to SR 18 at the town of Running Springs.
Drive east on SR 18 to the entrance of Snow Valley and 1.8 miles farther to Lake View Point Saddle. Park on the left (west). Do not park on the fire road next to the parking area.

Hiking route

From the parking area (7117′), climb north up the firebreak, past a radio tower.
At about 7700′, the firebreak goes along the left side of the ridge, then swings around to the right and heads toward the top of elevation 7840’+.
Go to the top of this bump, then drop down into the saddle north of it.
Continue up the firebreak to 8000’+, where a jeep road comes in from the left at a triangular metal sign “U16”.
Follow this road down into a second saddle, then around to the left for about 200 yards to where it meets another road coming up from below.
Turn right and follow this road up past elevation 8095′, down across a small valley, and up toward the rocky summit of Crafts.
Where the summit comes into view, the road forks at a 7 foot high boulder with a duck on top.
Turn left at the fork and follow the road over a ridge and up to a second ridge north of the summit.
From there follow a ducked trail south up to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2

Elevation Gain

1000′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

2 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

2 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions.

Driving route

Drive east on I-10 to SR 210.
Drive north on SR 210 (signed “West”) to SR 330.
Drive north on SR 330 to SR 18 at the town of Running Springs.
Drive east on SR 18 to the dam at Big Bear Lake. Turn left on SR 38.
Drive on SR 38 to Fawnskin. Turn left (northwest) on 3N14. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 1.3 miles, fork with 2N13 to the left and 3N14 to the right. Go left.
At 2.4 miles, fork with 2N70 on the left. This is the turnoff for Grays Peak. Keep right.
At 3.9 miles, fork. This is the turnoff for Butler Peak (LO). Keep right.
Continue about 4 miles farther to the saddle just southeast of West Point. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (7360′), hike southeast on an old road to where it disappears.
Hike southeast up the slope keeping left to avoid brush, to the summit plateau, meeting a road just north of the peak in a saddle.
From there follow a ducked trail south up to the summit.
Note: Route 2 has been gated and locked at the intersection of 2N13 / 3N14 for a number of years following a fire in the area, and if the gate is locked, an additional 8 mile road hike is required (one way).

Route Notes

Note: Route 2 has been gated and locked at the intersection of 2N13 / 3N14 for a number of years following a fire in the area, and if the gate is locked, an additional 8 mile road hike is required (one way).

Printable Route