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HIKING
Endless Trails To Explore
If you enjoy hiking or walking the trails, the San Bernardino Mountains offer endless outdoor areas to explore. From novice to expert, find your way through our vast forest filled with some of the best views nature can provide. An Adventure Pass is required to hike, camp, or park in the San Bernardino National Forest. There are three types of Adventure Passes: a Daily Pass $5.00, an Annual Pass $30.00 and a Second Vehicle Pass $5.00. If you need help getting to the best trails, guided or unguided, go to WWW.ENJOYTHEMOUNTAIN.COM. They can drive you and escort you directly to trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail.
HEAPS PEAK ARBORETUM
Get to know the plants, animals, and natural history of Southern California at Heaps Peak Arboretum. Located near Lake Arrowhead, the arboretum is a developed piece of San Bernardino National Forest. Sequoia Trail is the main trail through Heaps Peak Arboretum, covering 3/4 of a mile with 90 feet of elevation change. The star of the trail is a planted grove of sequoiadendron giganteum, or what us non-Latin speakers call giant sequoias. Sequoia Trail offers insights on other trees, like quaking aspen, incense cedar, dogwoods, firs, and several varieties of pine. Numbered marked along the trail correspond with 25 entries in a provided pamphlet that makes Sequoia Trail informative and a bit entertaining. Tack on the adjacent Footprint Trail to see wildflowers, learn about wildlife, and extend the outing by a tenth of a mile.
Make your way up Rim of the World Highway to Heaps Peak Arboretum, which is just past Skyforest and Lake Arrowhead, perched in a mixed forest at 6,000 feet above sea level. Appreciating the elevation is easy because you can look right out from the mountains down to San Bernardino, nearly 5,000 feet below. Step up to an entrance booth and pick up a trail guide for Sequoia Trail. You may find a ranger in the booth who can provide even more information about the arboretum.
Located: 28950 CA Highway 18, Rim of the World Scenic Byway, Just east of Skyforest on the north side of the road. https://hparboretum.com
TOP LAKE ARROWHEAD HIKING TRAILS
NATURE LOOP IN LAKE GREGORY REGIONAL PARK (NO MARKED NUMBER)
2.5 Mile Loop, Easy Walk
This lakeside trail begins from the back of the South Beach Parking area in Lake Gregory Regional Park.
From Highway 18, take Lake Gregory Drive to San Moritz Drive. Turn Right on San Moritz and look for the Parking area on your left.
This is a great hike for dogs.
SEELEY CREEK TRAIL / HEART ROCK – 4W07 (#4)
1 Mile Each Way, Easy Walk in Crestline
To reach this short trail turn left on FS Road 2N03 at the entrance to Camp Seeley on Highway 138.
Proceed ¼ mile to the trailhead, marked “Heart Rock 4W07”.
This easy hike follows Seeley Creek to an overlook called “Heart Rock” which marks the trail’s end.
The gentle grade of this trail makes it an excellent walk for all ages. The Adventure Pass is not required at this trailhead.
DEEP CREEK/SPLINTERS CABIN – PACIFIC CREST TRAIL (ACCESS POINT #6)
Moderately Difficult Hikes in Cedar Glen
Located on Hook Creek Rd. in Cedar Glen (off Hwy. 173) Drive to end of Hook Creek Rd.
The road becomes a forest service dirt road. Stay left when the road forks.
Soon you will see an open gate on the right leading to a ½ mile drive to the picnic & restroom area.
An Adventure Pass is required to park at the trailhead. Follow the signs to Deep Creek and the Pacific Crest Trail.
The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian border so you can choose your own distance on this one.
NORTH SHORE NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL – 3W12 & 2N25 (NEAR # 6)
1.7 Miles Each Way, Moderately Difficult
Begins near site #11 at the North Shore Campground in Lake Arrowhead
2 ways to reach the hiking trail
To Reach trail #2N25:
Take Hospital Rd. (off Hwy. 173) When you drive up Hospital Rd. you will see a road on your left & a North Shore Campground sign.
Park along the road outside the campground. Proceed to site #11 where you will see the North Shore Recreation Trail sign
To Reach Trail #3W12:
Turn east on Torrey Road opposite the Lake Arrowhead Marina (on Hwy. 173)
Turn at first left and follow the dirt road 1/2 mile to where you reach the trailhead on the east (right) side of 2N25.
HEAPS PEAK ARBORETUM TRAIL (#8)
1 Mile Loop, Easy Walk in Sky Forest
This interpretive trail is located 2 miles east of Sky Forest on Highway 18.
The trail is an easy walk for all ages that takes you through a self-guided tour with 25 points of interest about native plants and wildlife.
CHILDREN’S FOREST EXPLORATION TRAIL (#9)
4.5 Miles Each Way, Moderately Difficult in Running Springs (12% Grade)
This trail will take you into some of the San Bernardino Mountains’ most beautiful country. This non-motorized trail crossing the 3,400 acre National Children’s Forest is open for use year-round & is family-friendly. The trail starts on Keller Peak Road (first right after Deer Lick Fire Station, traveling toward Big Bear) in Running Springs on Hwy. 18. The trailhead is on the right a little way inside the gate. (The gate is locked from the first snowfall until the road is completely thawed and cleared of obstructions in the spring.)
TRAIL OF THE PHOENIX AT THE CHILDREN’S FOREST (#9)
0.5 Mile Loop, Easy Walk
This paved nature trail begins near the top of Keller peak Road in Running Springs.
THE PINNACLES (NEAR #10)
3.5 Miles Each Way, This is a Moderate to Difficult Hike
To get to this trailhead take HWY 173 down to the shooting range.
When you see the shooting range sign on your left, turn left on the left-hand side of the shooting range (on the same side of the street) you should see the trailhead post.
There is limited parking. The views from this hike can be quite spectacular so bring a camera plus we recommend plenty of water.