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Serrano Campground is a beautiful place for campers to come to enjoy beautiful Big Bear Lake. It is a scenic and fairly modern campground that provides access to a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
Visitors enjoy access to a number of hiking and mountain biking trails found within a short distance of the campground. The Alpine Pedal Path and the Cougar Crest Trail are nearby and provide access to the Pacific Crest Trail. The Big Bear Ranger Station is within a mile of the campground. Rangers can provide maps of the area and answer any questions about trails. Fishing and boating at Big Bear Lake are popular activities. The campground does not provide direct access to the lake, but a boat ramp is available about a mile away. Anglers can look forward to a possible catch of trout, bass, catfish, carp, bluegill and crappie, among others.
The campground is located in the San Bernardino Mountains, within walking distance of the lake. Accessed by the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, the campground is situated in a mountainous, pine forest setting. Sagebrush grows alongside the paved roads.
For facility specific information, please call (909) 866-8550.
The Big Bear Discovery Center is located across the street from the entrance of the campground. A visitor center, interpretive trails and educational programs are available, as well as accessible flush restroom facilities.
Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
$44 - $91 / night
$22 - $44 / night
$55 - $90 / night
North Shore Campground is a quiet place to camp, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby cities. The campground is nestled among Southern California's pine-covered mountains, providing ample opportunity for outdoor relaxation and recreation.
The North Shore National Recreation Trail connects the campground with Papoose Lake (trail is not accessible). The 1.7-mile trail descends through a mixed conifer forest and settles along Little Bear Creek, providing scenic views of the surrounding area. Please note, nearby Lake Arrowhead is a private lake.
The campground is located 23 miles northeast of San Bernardino in the San Bernardino National Forest. It is about 3 miles from the community of Lake Arrowhead. Settled in an oak woodland environment, the campground is close to many outdoor amenities. Lake Arowhead is a private lake, no access available.
Lake Gregory is located 40 minute away and offers fishing, boat rentals and a waterslide park. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake, no public access.
Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
$29 - $58 / night
Lake Hemet is surrounded by the majestic beauty of the San Jacinto Mountains, in Mountain Center, near the charming town of Idyllwild. The scenery is splendid no matter which direction you look. Tall pines, manzanitas, sage, and giant oaks abound!
Lake Hemet is one of the most popular spots in Southern California for camping and fishing. The recent additions of the Soaring Pines Cafe serving delicious food and Splashing Eagle Swim Zone have made Lake Hemet the vacation spot to be during the spring and summer months.
Remember to pack a camera and binoculars, and keep a watchful eye as majestic eagles, hawks, and other wildlife are often seen soaring throughout the forest and campground. Come and enjoy camping, fishing, boating and the breathtaking scenery all year round.
DAY USE: In addition to camping, Lake Hemet offers public access to the campground for day use guests daily (hours vary by season). Day use is $25 per vehicle and affords guests with the opportunity to picnic, shoreline fish, launch personal boats or kayaks (additional fees apply) and rent boats or kayaks from our marina. If you are visiting other guests who are overnight camping with us, the $25 fee still applies. NOTE: DAY USE WILL BE CLOSED FOR ALL SUMMER HOLIDAY WEEKENDS FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY for Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends. Only guests with previously purchased annual day use or launch passes will be allowed as our campground will be fully booked and activities are planned for our guests.
$45 / night
These 9 Yellow Post sites are individual camping sites. Each campsite will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. No reservations. Each site is limited to a maximum of 8 people at any one time. There is limited parking at these Yellow Post Sites for 2 vehicles. Amenities include 1 picnic table and 1 fire ring per site. There are no restroom facilities or drinking water. Please pack it in - pack it out! During winter, Keller Peak Road closes due to snow accumulation, but it is still possible to hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski to these sites. These sites are near the Children's Forest Visitor Center, the Children's Forest Exploration Trail, and the Keller Peak Fire Lookout. Campfire permits are required for any type of fire use - campfires, charcoal BBQ`s, or gas stoves. Campfires and charcoal BBQ's may not be allowed certain times of the year. Click here for current fire restriction information. Keller Peak Yellow Post Site Map
Temporarily closed until further notice
$40 - $55 / night
Traveler
Really good site. Showers, pit toilet, running water, but it's 10$ a night. Hardly any shade unless you get a good site. However they have glamping tents and even own personal hotsprings for a ridiculous fee. I didn't stay there. There is supposed to be blm land around there but everyone keeps it a secret on how to get to where you need to go. The hotsprings is clothing optional, so if you don't mind naked people, or you wanna strip down yourself, you should go check it out 💯💯. Went in early April and it was already really warm in the area
Scout
Visited the last 2 weeks of August. Great place for family and kids. Affordable. Campsite #295. You can fit two 10' x10' canopies to cover the bench table, and fit 2 individual tents (4-6 person) OR a bigger 12p tent however you decide to position it. It has its own Fire pit. Different campgrounds for all chosen methods (Tent, RV, Glamping, etc..) There's restrooms you can use. There's showers you can pay per use. The swim zone isn't too far from this campsite, 5-10 min walk w/ no accessories. If you have little ones, you can take them with a wagon but I'd recommend just driving your car with a few items to the zone. Bring your own shade for this campsite, your own water too. The marketplace is near the entrance BUT they only sell individual waters (No 48 pack types). You'll definitely hear your neighbors snore at night after a long day LOL.. quiet hours are from 10pm - 8am. Overall, this is a great spot. If you're lucky to snag other spots with trees covering you then great but this is still a good campsite. Happy camping! ... Oh yeah, T-Mobile no service up there (apparently Verizon, AT&T do)
Traveler
The property was perfect. We had originally booked the electric yurt but we were able to upgrade to the container home upon arrival. The home was perfect for the 2 of us and our 2 dogs. Ryan was very accommodating and friendly. We will definitely be back.
Scout
Best place ever!! Tent camping, RV camping, they have a restaurant and bar, best burgers in all of southern California!! They also have a small store, there's showers, restrooms and a swimming pool! Tent camping along Santa Ana River, you can also fish and hike. So amazing and beautiful, awesome memories made!!
Scout
Located in the San Bernardino National Forest, within the San Jacinto District, Marion Mt. Campground is one of the best camping sites in Southern California. Located in a beautiful mountain setting this site provides all the peace and tranquility a soul longs for.
Guide
We stayed here for four nights and actually enjoyed it in spite of the heat during the afternoon hours. Our space was on the end so we had a lot of privacy but near the I-40. That didn't bother us but it might bother those who are looking for total quiet. The nights were fantastic!! The lakes here give it a nice feel since it's in the Mojave desert between Barstow and Ludlow California. The staff was VERY friendly and helpful. The best part for me was the pool which was clean and cool.
Guide
A great campground that is very close to the amenities of small town Big Bear Lake village / town. The discovery center is very close which does tend to get busy during the summer months and on long weekends. I had in my mind that the campsites would be closer to the water however it was not terrible. I did not like my specific campsite however saw quite a few sites that I marked off in my mapbooks as locations to request (if available / applicable) A lot of sites in Ca are First-Come and are not reservable however you can save a space (or you could a couple years ago) Very scenic- great hiking and trails. Bring your bike. Great for tenting. RV accessible as well. Discovery Center is awesome and has a Jr Ranger Program as well.
Sites are not the cleanest however its up to the campers to keep things clean. While a site host is usually there it is quiet for the most part. Very enjoyable and would go again. NOT my favorite but it isnt bad. Especially if you live in the Riverside area or Southern California and want to have a quick getaway to the local mountains for some outdoor reset time.
Legend
We have camped at Joshua Tree National Park on multiple occasions. This is a very special place never gets old. We lived in San Diego at the time and this made for a nice weekend trip to Palm Springs and then Joshua. You will need to plan ahead and make reservations or come in the off season to get a camping spot. The park is so close to major populations in Southern California it is always crowded. The tent camping sites are close together but adequate. You can get nestled up against the rocks which will help manage the desert sun and winter winds. The trees and rock formations are incredible. They have some historical elements but the towering rocks and desert vistas are the highlight here. Wow, what a place. The camps have pit toilets and you can fill up your water containers. The biggest challenge here is managing the large crowds and the weather. It can be very cold in the winter nights and baking hot in the summer. Late Spring or Fall are the best times to visit. You can get supplies at on the road near the park. This is a bucket list park and a must see.
Guide
Great little camping spot directly off the highway. Vault toilets were very well maintained and cleaned by the camp host. Sites were well spaced out and all were first come first serve. A few water spigots were spaced out between sites. Local firewood sold on site. No cell service at campsite with Verizon.
The only drawback was the proximity to the highway as you could hear cars coming up and down the mountain at all times of the day. Also a bit pricy for lack of amenities.
GuideThe grounds are very pretty, and it's conveniently located a short walk from the lake by paved trail, plus near everything else Big Bear has to offer. These perks come at a price, though, and it was very busy and as a result, noisy. All the usual annoyances of car camping may rear their heads, and there's little separation from your neighbors so if you are unlucky you might suffer a little. This would be a stellar place in the off-season, but at any popular times the crowds pull it down to merely okay.
TravelerI love this campground! It's right across from the Discovery Center in Big Bear, which is where a couple fun hiking trails begin. The campground itself is very clean. We were right by the restrooms, which was nice. Clean flush toilets and showers. Fire pit and picnic tables are at each site. We had a primitive site. I would definitely recommend this campground to others when staying in the Big Bear area. Great overall location and experience.
LegendVery large campground with hook ups for RVs and primitive camping only a short walk to the discovery Center or the lake. Campsites are well-maintained and bathrooms are clean. We camped at the end of winter in our toy holler. The inverter went out and I had no power unless the generator was running. Everyone around us was very understanding. Wonderful place highly recommend !
TravelerGreat camp site. Nice "big" spots so you don't feel like you’re on top of one another. Only thing I wish is that the bathrooms were closer to the hookup spots. I know most RVs have bathrooms but most pop ups don't and from space 58 to the nearest bathroom is a 1/4 mile walk. Not horrible but at night when it's PITCH black it can be a bit scary! Already marked on my calendar to look in July of next summer! Clean facilities and great staff! We will be back for sure! Oh and HUGE plus is that it’s totally dog friendly! I got a camper so I could take my puppies with me on vacation so if dogs aren’t allowed I pass the campground up. This one is so accepting and OMG there are dogs everywhere. It’s awesome. My 3 LOVED it! Only thing they don't have is soap in the bathrooms so make sure you bring a container to take with you!!
TravelerLove this campground and visit often - we usually stay in the summer wind loop - sites are very spacious but close proximity. Bathrooms and showers are clean ... each site has a picnic table and fire ring ... great winter camping spot - hardly anyone there .. reservations are easy to come by
LegendOne of the best campgrounds I've ever been to. Well maintained, clean, and just beautiful! We had a double spot and it was very spacious which is what we were looking for because we had 5 kids, 4 dogs, and 7 adults.
GuideThe wife and I visited here in November and we still talk about it. Mostly because of how cold it was at night, and how sick we got. We weren't as prepared to deal with the lower temperatures as we are now. With that being said, this was my only complaint for the 3 day trip. Take note we stayed here in 2008.
First off, the showers on site were great. I don't remember having to pay much of anything to use them. The site itself was a dirt base with little grass. The big plus was the pine needles laying around became very useful for building a fire. There are also nearby water spigots for your water needs. For the summertime there are plenty of trees in this campground.
As for the overall housekeeping of the campground, I don't think they can do much better. This campsite is fairly well known and gets its fair share of people traffic year round. The grounds aren't far from Big Bear or Fawnskin so you have options to go shopping or for a nice dinner at least once or twice. In my opinion I think Subway will always be my favorite because it fills you up for quite a while. On the other hand, the sizzler in town isn't all that bad either.
The area offers some great hiking and views, but I think the lake tour was probably my favorite because of how many movie stars and celebrities have houses along the lake shore.
I believe anyone wanting to stay at Serrano will have a nice relaxing time, even if the fishing doesn't measure up when you want it to. I never had any luck shore fishing FYI.
GuideLoved staying here at serrano, it was our first visit. Stayed for two nights and had a great time. Lots of trees everywhere and each site has a huge picnic table and a fire ring. Bathrooms/showers are legit for a campground, but you have to bring your own soap to wash your hands. Our site was right by the bathrooms which was super convenient. There are bike trails, hiking trails and of course the lake is right there across from the campground. A cute little shop is 500 yards away where you can buy firewood, etc. The only negative part was the fact that some sites (like ours) were closer to the road so you could hear traffic during the day, but hardly any at night. Will definitely come back again and try another part of the grounds. Yay for camping.
GuideGreat clean campground. Flush toilets, clean restrooms, well stocked. Didn't use the showers. Good location. Close to Big Bear Lake. Not much road noise for being located between two roads. Access to Cougar Crest Trail is super easy and safely cross under the road via tunnel. Pokemon stops for the kids.
TravelerAnother easy escape from LA. Boards on the roof and gear ready to rock. Serrano campground is my favorite at Big Bear with plenty of lake access. While not really walkable from at least our site, a two minute drive and youre at water's edge with paddle boards or lawn chairs. Town is also 10 minutes away so convinient to just stock up before you get to camp.
RangerThis is a state run campground. Plenty of loops. All under trees ( as far as we could see)
we managed to find a spot but they do take reservations and that’s your best bet. We chose the loop closest to the lake, just about a minute walk for a nice view.
Very shady.
GuideI'd heard great things about Serrano, but had never camped there before. We were really looking forward to our quick escape to the mountains, especially as the weather in the suburbs had been really hot. It was a relatively easy drive. The sites don't really have much privacy, and you can easily see your neighbors, but it's still spacious. Some of the sites seem larger than others. We liked ours, but there were some shrubs. The shrubs helped with the privacy, but it also meant a LOT of squirrels. People must feed the squirrels because as soon as we sat down to have a snack or eat they were everywhere. Oh well, camping life. Aside from that, the site comes with a bear locker and fairly large picnic table. The bathrooms are kept pretty clean and there was easy access to water. I would definitely come back! It's nice to feel far away from home, but you're really not as it's just a two hour drive. You're also walking distance to the lake. You can always drive to pick-up forgotten items, food, ice, etc. if needed.
GuideThis campsite is great. Me and my wife stay here a couple times a year and we also bring our grown kids and with our little grandkids.
TravelerReasonably priced, clean beyond belief, spacious campsites, full amenities. This hands down a great place to stay!
GuideThis is a very well run campground. Cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen at a campsite. The camp host was constantly cleaning and was very friendly. Scenery is nice and you can walk to the lake in minutes. They have firewood for sale so no need to bring any. The only negative thing about this site is is next to a highway it kinda kills the peace and quit during the day but wasn't anything to let ruin your trip.
ScoutI loved my stay at Serrano campground. The facilities were very clean and well supplied. My campsite #22 was very clean upon arrival with plenty of space. The picnic table was one of the nicest I have seen and there was even a bear storage locker. Con: the back of the campsite was up against a fairly busy road so I could consistently hear cars passing by. It is rather pricey in terms of campgrounds. Yes clean facilities and great hosts, but for the price I figured showers would be included but $3 a pop. Other that it was great!
ScoutWe always stay in the Strawberry loop. Full hookups. Spaces are large with room for most class A's. Close to the lake. It is close to the road so you will get some road noise.
ScoutIt was quite clean and fun. Took my son and his girlfriend with us a great place for families
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Johnson Valley, CA is Serrano with a 4.6-star rating from 34 reviews.
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