Cabins near Mount Baldy offer lodging options at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 feet in the San Bernardino National Forest. Winter temperatures drop to the 30s at night while summer days reach the 80s with cooler evenings. The mountain's proximity to Los Angeles makes it a popular weekend destination, often resulting in crowded facilities during peak seasons.
What to do
Hiking trails behind campgrounds: Bonita Ranch Campground provides access to nearby trails directly from the property. "Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers," notes one visitor to Bonita Ranch Campground.
Visit the Crystal Lake Cafe: Stop by for food and supplies while staying at Crystal Lake Recreation Area. "Definitely stop off in the Crystal Lake Cafe for some food. Food is great and the owner, Adam, is a true diamond in the rough, very nice man. No need to bring wood up there, Adam sells wood by the wood barrel full and its GREAT hardwood, burns all night," according to a camper at Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground.
Water activities: Several parks offer swimming options during summer months. "Splash pad, park, mini golf great amenities. Nice staff! Would of liked to be on grass like the sites across but they were clean!" explains a visitor to Rancho Jurupa RV Park.
What campers like
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer themed events throughout the year. "This place is awesome friendly there's always activities to get involved in they have bingo every Friday and Saturday there's always some kind of a theme like this time it's a Hawaii theme they have some performances and stuff happening and some arts and crafts happening," shares a visitor to Mountain Lakes Resort.
Wildlife viewing: The area around Mount Baldy supports diverse wildlife. "ANIMALS SEEN: Black bear, deer (wandered through our site), red foxes, Stellar's Jays, woodpeckers, other birds," reports a camper at Crystal Lake Recreation Area.
Quiet winter camping: The off-season offers more solitude for those seeking peace. "Nice place to camp, weather is around 75 during the day and about 50 to 36 degrees cold through out the night. Has everything you'll need. Bathrooms are close by, showers HOT water available. Not many people this time a year," notes a visitor to Mojave River Forks Regional Park.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change rapidly. "We stayed here on Friday, July 21 2017. We arrived around 4:30 pm (driving from LA it was about 2 hours with traffic), and there were lots of sites still available. PROS: Mostly quiet/private. Shaded. Big site with lots of tent/hammock placement options. Cool temps at night."
Weekend crowds: Many sites fill quickly on weekends and holidays. "It is very crowded on the weekends. However, if you drive further towards the back of the site you can find nice, secluded sites."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies widely across mountain cabin locations. "This trip we stayed down near the welcome center instead of Lot N and the experience didn't even seem like the same RV Park. No loud music, no barking dog, less dust, and dirt. There was however a train that ran around 3:30am every morning that was a disturbance and my Verizon cell service was nonexistent," reports a visitor to Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon.
Tips for camping with families
Look for family activities: Some cabin rentals include access to family-oriented amenities. "Beautiful views all around Sunrise, Sunset and Night sky. Sights of all kinds of birds like hawks and herons. Water park and mini golf for kids. Showers and laundry convenient. Camping spots all have fire pit and spacious area for RVs and tents."
Pack for variable temperatures: Mountain cabins experience significant temperature swings. "Took a very last minute trip for one night. Such a close spot and beautiful escape from LA. We stayed here on Friday, July 21 2017. We arrived around 4:30 pm (driving from LA it was about 2 hours with traffic), and there were lots of sites still available."
Reserve early for weekends: Cabins book quickly during peak times. "This is probably our favorite place to go considering we end up hear almost every other weekend year around. Camp cost and parking cost isn't cheap but the views are great. Also this campground is HUGE and many locations are rather secluded so unless you go on a holiday weekend you should have no problem finding space to bunk."
Tips from RVers
Check site specifics: Not all cabin and RV sites are equal. "Spaces are well spaced, good tree cover. Very nice patch of land. Quiet. Lake Arrowhead Village is 4 miles away," shares a visitor to North Shore Campground.
Bring bug protection: Insects are common, especially in summer. "There are beautiful views of the mountains. Has bathrooms (no flush). Lots of Mosquitoes and bugs. Well worth it. Has a fire pit at each spot. Has picnic table, but very splintery, bring covers. Most sites have tree coverage."
Pack extra supplies: Some cabins have limited amenities. "We came on a Saturday afternoon, and even though 4 of the sections of camping were closed off - we found an AMAZING space in section D. It wasn't right next to the bathrooms, but the site was spaced out enough that we had plenty of privacy. It was right next to the trail head, too!"
