The Mojave Narrows Regional Park area creates a unique riparian environment in the high desert where the Mojave River surfaces from underground. Campgrounds near Crestline, California sit between 2,000 and 6,000 feet elevation, experiencing both desert conditions and mountain weather patterns depending on location. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer days often exceed 90°F with significantly cooler nights.
What to do
Hiking to hot springs: Deep Creek Hot Springs offers a moderate hiking trail leading to natural hot springs. "The hike down is super chill and the hot springs at the end are so worth the hike back up after," notes camper Carina M. at Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Hesperia Lake Park provides stocked fishing opportunities with convenient amenities. "Tents, RVs, fishing, showers, water, electric hookups and reasonable prices. Beautiful lake," reports Wendi S. at Hesperia Lake Park.
Mountain biking accessible trails: The San Bernardino mountains offer numerous trails for various skill levels. "There are many hiking trails nearby in all directions. I usually ride to Caspers from the campsite or Trabruco creak up to Holy Jim," says Mike G. about trail connections from O'Neill Regional Park.
What campers like
Spacious sites with privacy: Heart Bar Campground provides larger, more spread-out sites. "When I go camping, I like getting away from people, and Heart Bar is one of the campgrounds with bigger sites so we can do that easier," explains Amy B. at Heart Bar Campground.
Water features during hot months: Lake Perris offers swimming and water recreation. "Lake Perris was a fun and clean place to camp at! We did some fishing, bike riding, the water was clear, and my kids loved it," shares Lauren R. about camping at Lake Perris State Recreational Area.
Natural desert/mountain transition zones: The area features unique ecology where desert meets mountain environments. "This place is surprisingly nice for being in the middle of the city. It was very well-kept and clean, nice family environment," notes Greg about Rancho Jurupa RV Park, which offers similar transition zone features.
What you should know
Train noise at several campgrounds: Railroad proximity affects sleep quality at some sites. "You will have to drive 6 miles of mountainous dirt roads to reach the property, but it takes you away from all signs of the city and surrounds you in nature when you get there," notes Jessica B. about Deep Creek Hot Springs Camp Retreat.
Seasonal closures and restrictions: Many campgrounds have limited winter access. "These campsites are all closed during the winter due to snow and early into spring," warns Kayla H. about Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites.
Gate timing limitations: Several parks enforce strict entry/exit schedules. "The park for some reason doesn't have a closed gate policy, and that encourages people to come and go as they please all day and all night," explains Andrew J.F. at O'Neill Regional Park.
Limited services at dispersed sites: Yellow post sites lack amenities but offer more seclusion. "Easy access to the hot springs and no services to speak of. Basically a patch of dirt you can occupy for $10 a night," states Dan X. about Deep Creek camping.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and kid activities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. "Plenty of room to be by yourself and shoot some pictures," mentions Bryan about Mojave Narrows Regional Park's open spaces.
Educational opportunities: Some parks feature nature programs. "There is a cool museum where the amazing staff provided us with interesting history about the lake and Indian tribes," says Lauren R. about Lake Perris State Recreational Area.
Weather preparation: High desert locations experience extreme temperature fluctuations. "Nice place very clean lots of space and people are respectful. It gets really cold so bring the right gear," advises Junior L. about Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites.
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: Pick locations away from train tracks when possible. "We stayed in the natural area with hook-ups, everything worked great. Neighbors were nice, cute set ups with twinkle lights and people enjoying outdoor fire pits," shares Jody R. about RV camping at Rancho Jurupa.
Limited hookup options: Most mountain campgrounds offer partial hookups only. "Water and electric only on camp sites. No dump site there. There's nice shade on probably half the sites, the other ones have little or none," explains James about Hesperia Lake Park's limitations.
Leveling challenges: Many mountain sites require leveling blocks. "A little something for every type of camping. Cabins, paved pull through & natural dirt & grass. Friendly staff to check us in, gates close at 10 pm, you're provided with a security gate code to get back in if you're out late," notes Jody R. about the variety of RV options.
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