Tag Archives: san bernardino

San Jacinto Camping

jacinto campground

Mt San Jacinto State Park & Idyllwild Campgrounds

San Jacinto State Park Headquarters
25905 Highway 243
Idyllwild, CA 92549

Rangers & Wilderness Permits
951-659-2607

Mount San Jacinto State Park is surrounded by Wilderness area, the village of Idyllwild & the Palm Springs Tram station. Tahquitz Peak close to Idyllwild, is a rock climbing favorite.

Stone Creek Campground is located in the forest, along Highway 243. Elevation 5900′ w/ 50 camp sites & max RV = 24′

Idyllwild Campground is walking distance from town. North end of Idyllwild, CA. 33 camp sites & max RV = 24′

San Jacinto State Park
takes campground reservations!

For more Idylwild Camping options see –

San Bernardino Campgrounds & Yellow Post Sites

Topo trail maps, wilderness hiking maps –

nearby towns:

Holcomb Valley

holcomb valley

On the eastern mountain slopes of Big Bear Lake, Holcomb Creek creates a forested sage valley – called Holcomb Valley, located only a few miles away from the big lake. A graded dirt road leads out to this pine forest & a prime campground area. Perfect location for picnics and sightseeing.

Holcomb Valley Campground
@ Big Bear Lake

campground  elev.
spots
 veg toilet water comment
Holcomb
Valley
7400′ 19 pines vault no Road 3N16,
open year round

National Forest Campground in San Bernardino NF, located at higher elevations.

Although the developed campground is open all year long, please take into consideration that SNOW and mud is the norm for winter months.

Nice shady sites to beat the summer heat. Camp spots spaced out fairly well. Hikers parking lot is located at one end of the campground. Bears are well known in the region, so please lock all food in the provided metal bear lockers.

  • backpacking
  • bouldering (rock climbing)
  • camping
  • cross country snow skiing
  • hiking
  • mountain biking
  • off roading
  • stargazing
  • water recreation @ lake
holcombcamp
CLICK TO ENLARGE

The epic Pacific Crest Trail runs right through the Holcomb Valley. Doble Trail Camp is out this way for PCT parking, next to Holcomb Valley Road #3N16 which encircles this whole forested area inside San Bernardino National Forest.pct

cabin holcombHolcomb Valley has a historic cabin to see. Numerous old mines exist around this area. Nearby Gold Mountain is a popular 4WD route.

The dirt back road leads east down to the high desert @ Highway 162. Down to Pioneertown and Yucca Valley, and eventually Joshua Tree National Park.

holcomb campsites

towns nearby

mine shaft
Old mine shaft back behind Holcomb Valley

Heart Bar Campground

Heartbar

San Bernardino National Forest: Heart Bar Campground
National Forest Service

At Hwy 38 & Forest Road #1N02 is a huge, pine forested valley, right next to San Gorgonio Wilderness. Heartbar Campground, Heart Bar Horse Camps, RV Dispersed Sites. Highway 38 – SE of Big Bear Lake, California; Mountain Bike, Hiking & Equestrian Trails with ridges of 10,000′ elevation. SAN GORGONIO peak nearby. Best high elevation scenery for SoCal by far.

  • backpacking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • mountain biking
  • mountain peaks
  • waterfalls
yellows
Primitive Camps on the Back Road #1N02

Heart Bar Campground

Big Bear Forest –  HEART BAR

This gorgeous valley is a developed recreation area w/ 89 camp sites, plus big equestrian area. Picnic, hiking, mountain biking, horseback trails, plenty RV spots, even a creek. (Oooops I meant the Santa Ana River) Highway 38 is kinda the long way into Big Bear Lake, up thru Angelus Oaks. Locals call this stretch of the highway Barton Flats.

spot79

horse camp
Bring the Horses & RVs

Group Campground facilities
Barton Flats – San Gorgonio Recreation Area

out back

Leading out the back way of HeartBar, past the horse camp – is a nice one lane dirt road, narrow in spots, with random, primitive camp sites along the roadway. Authorities refer to these spots as yellow post camp sites.

This backcountry route is marked as Forest Service Rd #1N02 – graded dirt road that leads back to Coon Creek Cabin.

Coon Cabin
Coon Cabin Backside

Big Bear Discovery Center
at Big Bear Lake
909-382-2790

ranger

Southern California forest 

San Bernardino maps:

nearby mountain communities:

ForestFalls
Forest Falls, late afternoon

Forest Falls is well worth a stop for a quick picnic or hike – and head dunk. Weekends can be busy and crowded. Since this location is close to Southern California and the population centers, expect weekends to be busy in the Big Bear mountains. Plan a trip for week days to experience less people, and more nature.


Crab Flats Campground

Crabflats

San Berdu National Forest: Crab Flats Campground National Forest Service

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MTS:
Big Bear Area Camping; Crabflats is on dirt road – Road# 3N16
elevation
North of Green Valley Lake, off Hwy 18. Between Big Bear Lake & Lake Arrowhead, California.

OHV trails abundant in this region, so expect some 4x4s, dirt bikes and engine noise. Looking for peaceful camp, try Heart Bar Camp.

Crab Flats Campground

• Elevation: 6,200′
• Number of Sites: 28
• Camping Reservations: Yes
• Sites Available: 3 first come
• Vehicle Accessibility: RV 15′ max
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Water: No Piped; seasonal creek iffy
• Toilet: Vault
• Season: Open APR-NOV
• Fee: YesNFSlogo
• Operated By: National Forest Service
• Closest Town: Lake Arrowhead, CA

San Bernardino National Forest
Big Bear Discovery Center
Big Bear Lake, CA
909-382-2790

Topo maps, wilderness hiking maps, Equestrian trails, OHV maps –

nearby mountain communities:

Green Valley Lake

San Gorgonio Wilderness

sangorgonioview
Old Greyback, San Gorgonio Mountain – as seen from forest road #2N93

Southern California /San Gorgonio Wilderness Area / San Gorgonio Mountain Peak Hikes / Backpack Gorgonio

The tallest mountain peak in Southern California towers over the often smoggy basin of the Inland Empire, Riverside & San Bernardino. Coachella Valley lies to the southeast. Joshua Tree National Park lies due east.

Old Greyback is a fitting nickname for the peak. The massive, bald, decomposed granite gravel paves the whole top layer, above treeline (altitude nearing 12,000 feet above sea level) and this impressive peak can be seen from most of the Los Angeles basin and the Palm Springs desert. The expanding view of the Pacific Ocean can be seen 70 miles to the west, but only if the skies are clear. Windy, winter days are excellent conditions for viewing, but plan your hike accordingly as this peak could be covered in deep snow during winter or springtime.

This is a very popular backpacking weekend trip to escape from the big urban populations. San Diegans and Angelinos can easily access this location in a few hours from home, via Interstate 10 and some mountain driving on a 2 lane highway.

tallest peak

94,702 acres

San Gorgonio Peak – 11,503′ elevation

San Bernardino National Forest

 

Forest & Hiking Maps –

San Gorgonio Topo Maps

  • San Gorgonio Wilderness Map (USDA)
  • San Gorgonio Trail Map (Tom Harrison)
  • San Bernardino National Forest (USDA)

Gorgonio trailheads –peak hiking

  • Hwy 38 @ Angeles Oaks
  • Hwy 38 @ Barton Flats – Jenks Lake
  • Hwy 38 @ Heartbar – Fish Creek & Mission Springs
  • Hwy 38 @ Fossil Falls – Momyer & Big Falls
  • I-10 @ Millard Canyon – East Branch & Middle Branch
  • Interstate 10 @ Cottonwood Canyon – PCT access

nearby campgrounds –

Heartbar Campground (Hwy 38)

Mission Springs Trailhead Camp

Dry Lake Campground

nearby communities & towns –

ANGELES OAKS
BIG BEAR CITY
BIG BEAR LAKE
FOREST FALLS

surrounding wilderness and forest lands –

San Bernardino National Forest
Pipes Canyon Pioneertown Preserve
San Jacinto Wilderness

National Forest & Wilderness Permits –

USDA San Bernardino NF

more San Gorgonio info & links –

summitpost.org/san-gorgonio-wilderness
San Gorgonio Wilderness Wiki
Trails of the San Gorgonio

Gorgonio Trailhead

Equestrian Trails
MIssion Springs camp & corrals at trailhead. Dirt road above Heart Bar.

Deep Creek Hot Springs

Deep Creek Hike-in Hot Springs

Deep Creek Canyon

Several hot spring pools line this desert canyon on the SW side of Deep Creek. There are smaller hot tubs, as well a large warm tub that is big enough to swim in. The vegetation around the springs and main creek is fairly lush for this desert terrain. A variety of trees, including willows, plus small meadows and grasslands add to the visual balance of this land. Deep Creek is one of the popular Southern California hot springs due to its proximity to the big, urban areas.

East of Lake Arrowhead; South West of I-15 @ Hesperia & Victorville

Deep Creek Hot Springs is a hike in only site.

San Bernardino National Forest
Big Bear Map

option A: Bowen Ranch, 2 mile hike
Bowen Ranch parking area, pay a fee to the crazy man and have the shortest hike to springs. The word ‘ranch” is used to describe a small shack with some junker cars. No entry after 10PM and the man at this private property is not a friendly ranger, nor is he a pleasant person to deal with (which is why we list 2 other parking options).

Interstate 15, exit Bear Valley in Victorville. Go East on Bear Valley 10 miles to Central. Turn right on Central. Just beyond the top of the hill turn left on Ocotillo, which becomes a dirt road. Turn right on Bowen Ranch Road and continue until you get to Bowen Ranch. National Forest Trail #3W02 the Goat Trail (aka Bowen trail) is 2 miles, the steepest and shortest route into the desert creek canyon.

Bowen Ranch Trail, as seen from opposite side of canyon

option B: PCT Trail Route, 6 mile hike
Interstate 15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left- Rock Springs Rd., right on Deep Creek Road and follow it up to Mojave River at the Saddle Dike Embankment. Park near the dam; Look for Pacific Crest Trail sign for hike up canyon to the hot springs.

option C: Bradford Ridge, 3 mile hike
Lake Arrowhead hike-in way via the Bradford Ridge Path. Take Highway 173 East, which becomes a wide graded dirt road heading toward the desert. From the shooting (rifle) range where the pavement ends, clock your trip meter on your vehicle 3 miles further down the road. Park at small pull out on the left side. Near the sign that says ‘Narrow Bridge’, where a gated old fire is directly across. Trail head was not marked. If you are into hiking, this option is for you. Narrow sandy ridge trails, single track. Bring flashlights for a successful hike out at night.


View Larger Map

 

DeepCreek

Deep Creek Forum – deepcreekhotsprings.net
Deep Creek Volunteers – deepcreekvolunteers.com
NFS link – http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sbnf/recarea/?recid=34152