Round Lake (foreground) and Big Bear Lake

I was thinking we were closer mainly because of the needs over the summer to travel around forest fires. Turns out I was wrong re distance -- I was quite a bit north, on CA-299.

Ah. We're a few miles due north of the Sierra Buttes here, between CA 49 and CA 70. The area is accessed by the Gold Lake road (Co. Rd. 24), which runs pretty much north south, along the flank of the forested ridge beyond Big Bear Lake in the pic. If you haven't been that way it's definitely worth it. It's a paved road with a centerline--not one of David's or my dirt roads! ;)

I've no problem with dirt, it's just when the track disappears or there's foot high boulders, that I get queasy....

Gorgeous landscape and I like how the view makes it visible how high those lakes are