Mojave High Desert to Mountain Drive 4K | Barstow to Big Bear Lake via CA-247 & Hwy 18

Experience a scenic 4K drive from Barstow to Big Bear Lake, traveling from the wide-open Mojave High Desert into the San Bernardino Mountains. The journey begins in Barstow and heads south on CA-247, crossing remote Mojave Desert terrain through Stoddard Valley and the Ord Mountains before reaching Lucerne Valley and its expansive dry-lake landscape. At Lucerne Valley, the route turns onto Highway 18, where the scenery begins to change dramatically. Open desert gradually gives way to rugged mountain slopes, winding roads and pine forests as Hwy 18 climbs toward Big Bear Valley. Along the way, the route passes the limestone and mining country south of Lucerne Valley, climbs high above the Mojave Desert, and crosses the Pacific Crest Trail near Nelson Ridge before entering the mountain communities surrounding Big Bear Lake. Big Bear Valley has a long history stretching from its Indigenous Yuhaaviatam inhabitants to the gold rush era of the 1860s. The valley later became known for its bears, while Big Bear Lake itself was created when a dam was built in 1884 to store water for agricultural use in the Redlands area. From the remote Mojave High Desert to the cool mountain forests and waters of Big Bear Lake, this drive captures one of Southern California's most dramatic changes in landscape. 📅 Filmed in July 2026 Route: Barstow → CA-247 → Stoddard Valley → Lucerne Valley → Hwy 18 → San Bernardino Mountains → Big Bear Lake, California Enjoy the journey in real-time 4K with natural road sounds and no narration. #BigBearLake #MojaveDesert #Barstow #California247 #Highway18 #ScenicDrive #California #4KDrive