Need a long weekend escape into rugged mountain peaks, wilderness, cabin stays, lakes and endless outdoor adventures? San Bernardino National Forest offers a true retreat into nature for outdoor enthusiasts. It is also kid-friendly and most importantly, super dog-friendly.
If you are visiting during the Winter, this place offers lots of opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow mobile adventures.
Spring and summer are perfect for spending time out in the lake, hunting for wildflowers and hiking amidst the 800,000 acres of forest area that the San Bernardino National Forest encompasses. This blog post is Spring- Autumn friendly.
Where to stay in San Bernardino National Forest?
San Bernardino National Forest is known for its cozy cabin stays so look for nice cabins either in
We rented a beautiful cabin in Angelus Oaks in the midst of a wooded area and loved it. Note that if you are renting A-frame cabins in the summer like we did, you are likely to face a few issues such as overheating (ensure air conditioning), lots of insects (we had too many moths in the cabin), so carry an insect catcher and bug spray.
3 day Itinerary in San Bernardino National Forest
This itinerary is a Spring – Autumn friendly itinerary. Winter is great for snow activities but do check for seasonal road closures.
Day 1 in San Bernardino National Forest
On day 1, we are going to explore the Big Bear Area!
1. Take a Hike
San Bernardino National Forest is known for its endless hiking trails. Take a hike on one of these dog-friendly hiking trails.
Castle Rock Trail (dog-friendly)
- Length: 2.7 mi
- Elevation Gain: 826 ft
- Views: Beautiful views of Big Bear Lake and the unique Castle Rock formations in the end. Great sunset spot.
Pine Knot Trail to Grand View Point (dog-friendly)
- Length: 6.9 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1158 ft
- Views: Take a hike through dense Oaks, Pines, wildflowers and amazing views of Big Bear Lake.
Crafts Peak Trail (dog-friendly)
- Length: 7.2 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1584 ft
- Views: Expansive views of Big Bear Lake, Butler Peak to the East and Lake Arrowhead to the West. Also an amazing sunrise/ sunset spot.
2. Lunch at The Village
When you are in Big Bear, you cannot miss “The Village”, a cute and charming district perfect for boutique shopping, restaurants and stores.
There were so many cute stores, coffee shops, pet stores and restaurants that we spent an afternoon just strolling about in this area after some good food.
We had lunch at the Himalayan Kitchen at the Village and really enjoyed our plates of comforting food here.
3. Take an afternoon walk at Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Preserve
This beautiful boardwalk of around 1.6 mi takes you through a portion of the Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Preserve. This is an easy walk for people of all levels and dogs on leash are allowed as well. Keep an eye out for a variety of wildlife such as birds, herons, waterfowl etc.
4. Enjoy water activities in Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake opens up for tours and water activities from Spring to Autumn. The Marinas open up between April to May and you can rent pontoon boats, kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis etc. The pontoon boats are also dog-friendly (woohoo!).
We rented a Pontoon from Big Bear Marina and had lots of fun.
Day 2 in San Bernardino National Forest
On day 2, we are going to explore the Lake Arrowhead Area!
1. Lake Arrowhead Village
Lake Arrowhead Village is full of cute stores, art galleries, fossil exhibits, souvenir shops etc and it is a relaxing way to start your day. You can also grab breakfast and coffee here at one of the restaurants.
2. Take an afternoon hike
Go for a nice hike on one of the trails mentioned below.
Will Abell Memorial Trail
- Length: 1.9 mi
- Elevation Gain: 416 ft
- Views: A relatively easy trail through a wooded forest area with views of Lake Arrowhead along the way.
Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Arrowhead Pinnacles Trail
- Length: 3.4 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1033 ft
- Views: As you can see, 1033 ft is a pretty steep climb but offers a unique rocky terrain. A little bit of bouldering is needed and you will be rewarded with beautiful views of Mojave Desert, Mt. Baldy and Silverwood Lake here.
Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
3. Relax by the Arrowhead Lake during sunset
Take a leisurely stroll along the lake and relax by a cozy spot before grabbing a nice dinner in the area.
Other things to do in Lake Arrowhead
- Explore Sky Park for activities such as zip-lining, mountain biking etc.
- Boat tour in Lake Arrowhead
- Hike to Aztec Waterfalls
- Go stargazing
Day 3 in San Bernardino National Forest
If you are up for it, on day 3, I highly recommend that you hike the San Bernardino Peak Trail which is a challenging 16.5 mi hike but it is the crowning jewel of San Bernardino National Forest. It offers incredible views of the whole area once you get to the peak.
If you are not up for hiking today but still need an outdoor adventure, check out Southern California’s only Tree Rope Climbing at Action Tours California. This includes 4 tree climbs and you can reach up to 45 feet. You also get to take a safari jeep style tour to the climbing site on the mountain! How thrilling is that??
Spend the rest of the day grabbing a good lunch and relaxing around Angelus Oaks and in Jenks Lake Area before you head back from your adventurous trip feeling fully refreshed and relaxed and all set to take on the world!
Hope you enjoyed this 3 day adventure itinerary for San Bernardino National Forest. We can’t wait to go back and explore more some day.
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