Bear Valley–Glen–Coast Loop

The Bear Valley–Glen–Coast Loop is a 9.8-mile lollipop from Bear Valley Trailhead: 3.1 miles along Bear Valley Trail, a loop over Glen Trail, Glen Spur North and Coast Trail, then a 4-mile return. The opening and closing Bear Valley sections share 3.1 miles. Fir and bay forest give way to coastal scrub and an ocean-facing stretch; there is no beach destination. Allow around six hours. At the park’s two-mile-per-hour planning pace, the moving baseline is just under five hours, before stops.

Follow the broad, graded Bear Valley Trail to the Baldy and Glen junction at 3.1 miles. Leave the wide path for Glen Trail. After 0.6 mile, take the right fork uphill; 0.4 mile more brings you to Glen Spur North. The next 0.3 mile crosses coastal scrub and then forest before joining Coast Trail. The climb from the valley is the main work. Bikes must be left behind at the junction; they are permitted only on the northern 3.1 miles of Bear Valley Trail.

Turn right on Coast Trail and continue 1.4 miles to Bear Valley Trail. This is the route’s ocean-view stretch; the payoff is a view from the trail, not a beach or named overlook. Bear Valley carries you north for 4 miles to the trailhead. The first mile back is the quieter part: a bishop-pine tunnel, deep shade, ferns and a creek. The rest is a broad, mostly level valley walk after the narrower uphill connectors.

Parking is free at Bear Valley Visitor Center. Use the larger gravel hiker lot (about 210 spaces); paved visitor-center parking has about 50. Restrooms are at the center and Divide Meadow. No food or drinking water was identified along the route. Pets are prohibited on trails from this trailhead, apart from service animals. Narrow trails may be overgrown during the growing season, and heavy winter rain can leave muddy or flooded patches; check current trail advisories before setting out.