Best Tent Camping near Crestline, CA
The San Bernardino Mountains surrounding Crestline, California offer multiple tent camping options across established campgrounds and dispersed backcountry sites. The Yellow Post campsite system, including Keller Peak Yellow Post Campsites near Running Springs, provides designated tent camping areas with basic amenities in secluded forest settings. Mill Creek Dispersed Camping area permits free primitive tent camping with drive-in access but minimal facilities.
Tent sites typically feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with varying levels of shade from pine and oak trees. Most established tent campgrounds provide fire rings and picnic tables, though fire restrictions are common during summer and fall months. Water is scarce at dispersed sites, requiring campers to bring sufficient supplies or treatment equipment for natural sources. Bear activity requires proper food storage, with some campgrounds providing bear boxes. A review noted that "there is no water available so bring your own" at higher elevation sites, which can reach over 7,000 feet.
Higher elevation tent campsites near Crestline offer cooler summer temperatures and dense pine forests providing natural shade. Many backcountry tent areas connect to trail networks, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. A visitor commented that yellow post sites are "great for mountain biking and rock climbing" with "large spaces with plenty of shade." Most tent camping areas follow a first-come, first-served system, though weekend occupancy rates increase dramatically during summer months. Sites farther from main roads offer greater seclusion but may require high-clearance vehicles for access. Winter camping is limited by snow conditions, with most higher elevation tent campgrounds closing between October and May.
