{"id":5258,"date":"2019-10-21T00:13:20","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T00:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/rochester-panel-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T04:34:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T04:34:36","slug":"cactus-flats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/cactus-flats\/","title":{"rendered":"Cactus Flats near Big Bear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Cactus Flats is an area in the San Bernardino Mountains just east of Big Bear Lake that lives up to its name \u2013 it\u2019s a flat area full of cactus.<\/strong>\u00a0 The cactus they refer to, however, is not really a cactus at all.\u00a0 It is the iconic Joshua tree which is, technically, a member of the yucca family and not a cactus or a tree.\u00a0 But whatever you call it, it is a unique and majestic symbol of the Mojave Desert region and they are abundant on this trip.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Trip Specs<\/h3> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Length<\/h3>\n
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  • About 21 miles one-way<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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    Attractions<\/h3>\n
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    • Joshua trees<\/li>\n
    • High desert\/mountain scenery<\/li>\n
    • Transitionary vegetation<\/li>\n
    • Historic gold mine site<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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      Difficulty<\/h3>\n
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      • Dirt road entire length<\/li>\n
      • High clearance required<\/li>\n
      • 4WD may be needed<\/li>\n
      • Remote area – no phone service<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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        Elevation Gain<\/h3>\n
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        • About 1,000 feet<\/li>\n
        • Starts at 6,000 feet<\/li>\n
        • Summit at 7,000<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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          Our Trip<\/h2>

          This road trip through Cactus Flats starts off of Highway 18 halfway between Lucerne Valley and Big Bear.\u00a0 You\u2019ll need a high-clearance vehicle and possibly 4WD as we wind through rugged mountain scenery, areas of thriving Joshua trees, past an old mining area, through a very remote residential area, and then end up near historic Pioneertown near the city of Yucca Valley. \u00a0Plan to spend an entire day taking this road trip.<\/p>

          Although this journey may not be as scenic or historic as some of the other trips we\u2019ve taken you on, it does offer something that many people (like us) seek out \u2013 peace and quiet with no crowds.\u00a0 You\u2019re likely to have the roads all to yourself which makes it a nice day out.<\/p>

          Starting Point – Cactus Flats<\/h2>

          Our trip starts at the junction of Hwy 18 and the dirt road labeled 3N03 that leaves the pavement of Hwy 18 at a sharp angle and heads southeast.\u00a0 You can get to this junction by coming either 12.6 miles from Lucerne Valley (specifically the Lucerne Valley Market at Hwy 18 and Crystal Springs Rd \u2013 a good place to stock up for picnic supplies) or 6.8 miles from Big Bear City (specifically the intersection of Hwy 18 and 38 \u2013 North Shore Drive and Greenway Drive). Look for signs indicating Cactus Flats.\u00a0 Most maps have this road labeled as Smarts Ranch Road.<\/p>

          When you turn onto the dirt road, reset your odometer.\u00a0 Soon the road takes you past big stands of Joshua trees that are unlike those that you\u2019re used to seeing in the desert.\u00a0 These are wider, not as tall, their limbs are much fatter and the spines are greener.\u00a0 The Joshua\u2019s in the Mojave National Preserve are smaller with thinner limbs and in Joshua Tree National Park they are much larger, taller and more resemble a tree.<\/p>