November 7 Big Bear Marathon Brings Highway 38 Traffic Delays for Mentone Drivers

MENTONE, Calif. — November 7, 2026. Motorists heading from Mentone toward Big Bear via State Route 38 should check the highway’s current conditions after county officials warned of traffic delays and controlled travel during today’s Big Bear Marathon.

What the county announced

The November 6 announcement from San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe advised motorists traveling between Mentone and Big Bear to expect lane controls and temporary closures associated with the event. Some of the detailed restrictions were concentrated farther uphill around Angelus Oaks, Jenks Lake Road and the Valley of the Falls access road.

Does that mean Mentone itself is closed?

No countywide closure of Mentone is established by this notice. The warning concerns travelers using the State Route 38 mountain corridor. Local streets may remain accessible while an uphill highway segment is temporarily controlled or slowed. Travelers should not interpret every restriction published for the mountain communities as occurring within Mentone.

How long do controls last?

The county notice described early-morning controls on November 7, including selected locations where CHP pilot vehicles would manage traffic. Since event traffic plans and on-scene conditions can change, this article does not claim those same restrictions remain in effect late in the day.

What drivers should do

Consult Caltrans QuickMap and the latest CHP instructions before driving to Oak Glen, Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls or Big Bear. Allow extra time and do not pass traffic barriers. Emergency access and the movement of marathon participants are priorities during an active event.

Source: San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor, November 6, 2026 Highway 38 marathon traffic alert.

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