- Developed
Camping with a range of facilities for family
and group sites (often with NRRS reservation
options)
- Undeveloped
Camping which provides a "rough it" opportunity
in more isolated areas designated as Yellow Post
Sites, Designated Remote Area, and Wilderness Campsites.
For
those campgrounds without a reference to the NRSS in
their site description, you should contact the Ranger
Station that has jurisdiction over the site. There
are no direct phones numbers for any of the campgrounds.
Developed
Camping
There
are 23 family and 23 group campgrounds. These sites
charge a modest fee and can usually be reserved well
in advance. Most of them are open from May to October.
No Adventure Pass is required as long as your vehicle
is parked within the campground.
- Family
Campgrounds: There are 23 sites, most
of which are equipped with vault or flush toilets,
fire rings and/or stoves, picnic tables, and
parking spaces. Drinking water is available on
site. The more sophisticated campgrounds such
as Serrano, Barton Flats, and San Gorgonio also
have showers and electrical hookups.Parking space
is provided though there may be restrictions
on the number or size of vehicles.
- Group
Campgrounds: Group campsites can accommodate
groups of 10-100 people. The amenities and restrictions
on total number of campers and vehicles varies
from site to site. There are 23 group sites.
NRRS™
National
Recreation Reservation System™ handles reservation
requests for the USDA Forest Service, including many
of the family and group campgrounds in the San Bernardino
National Forest. Reservations can be booked through
the NRRS online or
by phone:
To
Make a NRRS Reservation
You
will need to supply the following:
- Name
of the camp
- Arrival
and departure dates
- Type
of site required (tent, RV, etc.)
- Your
name, address, and phone number
- Payment:
certified check or credit card (VISA, MasterCard,
AMEX, Discover)
- Golden
Age or Golden Access passport number (if applicable)
Reservation
Policies of the NRRS
- Family
camp sites can be reserved up to 240 days in advance.
- Group
camp sites can be reserved up to 350 days in advance.
- Canceling
or changing a reservation: $10 service fee. If the
cancellation occurs within 3 days for a family site
or within 14 days for a group site: additional charge
of the first night's fee.
- No-Show:
If you never arrive: $20 service fee plus charge
for the first night's fee.
Be
sure you verify with an NRRS representative or
with their Internet site about any other policies
(or changes to policies) that may affect your
camping plans.
Also
verify any special requirements or limitations
on usage of the particular campsite.
Undeveloped
Camping
The
Forest Service provides a variety of camping opportunities
outside of the developed campsites. These undeveloped
sites provide more solitude and more of the "roughing
it" experience. Camping options include
Yellow
Post Sites
There
eighteen Yellow Post Sites scattered around the Big
Bear valley. They are located in remote areas, on back
roads and trails, usually out of sight of other campers
and vehicle traffic. Consequently, not all are accessible
with the family sedan.
Most
sites have picnic tables, fire rings and parking. Campfires
are allowed all year as long as the fire remains within
the fire ring. There are no water or toilet facilities.
There is no fee to camp in Yellow Post Sites, but each
vehicle must have an Adventure Pass. All of these sites
are on a strictly "First Come, First Served" basis.
To occupy a space, you need to register at the Big
Bear Discovery Center on the day you plan to camp,
and pick up a California Campfire Permit, which is
free. Bring your own firewood.
Permit
Needed:
Designated
Remote Areas
Remote
Camping is designed for the more adventurous. They
are designated areas well away from highways and development
where camping along back roads or trails is permitted.
Check
in at the Discovery Center or at the nearest Ranger
Station for a map indicating the boundaries of the
Remote Camping Areas, current fire restrictions, and
a California Campfire Permit.
General
Rules
- Camp
at least 200 feet away from natural water sources,
including springs, ponds, streams and rivers.
- Campsite
should be at least 1/4 mile away from any designated
campground, picnic area, trailhead, private property
or state highways.
- Bring
your own firewood. Wood from the Forest is not always
available. Check with your local Ranger Station for
the current regulations.
- Try
to park on the shoulder of the road, out of traffic,
but not on native vegetation.
- Camp
out of sight of other campers.
- Pack
in, pack out.
Permits
Needed
-
Adventure
Pass for any vehicle you park in the Forest.
-
California
Campfire Permit: Free, obtainable from the
Ranger Station
Fires:
In times of low fire danger (usually winter and
early spring), campers can make woodfires or use
BBQs or chemical or propane stoves. During the
high fire season (summer and fall), wood fires
and BBQs are not permitted. Always check with
the Ranger Station about the current fire restrictions.
Wilderness
Campsites
A
limited number of Wilderness Campsites are available
in the San Gorgonio, Santa Rosa, San Jacinto, and Cucamonga
Wilderness areas. The visitor population is held down
both to protect the environment and to ensure that
the trekker can enjoy the mountains and Forest at its
most pristine.
Wilderness
areas are accessible only by foot or horseback - No
vehicle traffic, including bicycles, is allowed. On
summer weekends, some Wilderness areas fill to capacity.
Wilderness Permits are required and may be reserved
up to three months in advance. Permits are issued in
person, by mail or by fax. Group size is limited to
twelve people per permit.
Permits
Needed
-
Wilderness
Permit: Can be reserved up to three months
in advance from the local Ranger Station. Permits
are issued through the mail or in person.
-
Adventure
Pass (for vehicles parking at the trailhead
entrances to the Wilderness areas)
Fires:
Lightweight stoves are recommended. Campfires are
not currently permitted in the San Gorgonio, Santa
Rosa, or Cucamonga Wilderness Areas. Woodfires
are permitted at a few designated sites in the
San Jacinto Wilderness. Check with the Ranger Station.
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