Hiking in the Lake Arrowhead Area |
Click the icon above to view the "Arrowhead Ranger District Trails Map." Corresponding trails are listed below with trail information and difficulty rating. |
Passes
are required to hike, camp, or park in the San Bernardino National Forest. They are available in two forms: a daily
pass for $5.00 and an annual pass good for one year
from the month of purchase for $30.00. Passes are
available at Ranger offices, the Lake Arrowhead Visitor
Center in Rim Forest and a variety of local vendors.
Lake Arrowhead Ranger Station (909) 337-2444
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Trails |
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#1 Pacific Crest Trail (PC2000): Approx. 40 mi. - Moderate
Start at FS Road 3N16, where it crosses Holcomb Creek and end at Boundary Bridge north of Cleghorn Mountain to follow the trail the entire 40 miles. However, there are many entry and exit points, ideal for short hikes or nature walks. This trail is specifically for horse and foot traffic, any motorized vehicles are prohibited. The most commonly used points of entry are FS Road 3N16, Crab Flats Trail (2W08) Splinter's Cabin at Deep Creek, Highway 173 near the Mojave River Dam and at the Silverwood State Park.
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| #2 Crab Flats Trail: 1.6 mi. - Moderate
Holcomb Crossing 2W08 (east) - This trail begins 1/2 mile west of Crab Flats Campground on Forest Service Road 3N34, The trail descends rapidly until it intersects the Pacific Crest Tail (PC2000) approximately 1/4 mile west of Holcomb Crossing Trail Camp. This trail will provide you with a variety of forest settings in a relatively short hiking distance. Camping at Holcomb Crossing Trail Camp is available. Bicycles are authorized on this trail but not on the PCT. |
#3 Crab Creek Trail: 2.29 mi. - Moderate
Crab Creek / Fisherman's Camp 2W07 - This trail begins 1.3 miles west of Crab Flats Campground on Forest Service Road 3N34; Crab Creek Trail provides the primary access to Fisherman's Camp (a group reservation trail camp) on Deep Creek. The trail descends moderately westward crossing Crab Creek 1.3 miles from Deep Creek. Deep Creek must be forded to reach Fisherman's Camp. Attempting to cross Deep Creek when it is running high can be dangerous. The scenery along this trail is exceptional; Camping at Fisherman's Camp is by group permit only.
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| #4 Seeley Creek Trail: .49 mi. - Easy
Seeley Creek / Heart Rock 4W07 - This short trail begins on Forest Service Road 2N03 - 1/4 mile south of the entrance to Camp Seeley on Highway 138. You must cross the creek. 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. |
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#5 Hot Springs Trail: 1.8 mi. - Difficult
Hot Springs / Goat Trail 3W02 - This trail begins on the north edge of the forest near Bowen Ranch (where you are asked to pay a toll to cross private land) and leads south to Deep Creek. Directly south across Deep Creek you will find the Hot Springs pools for which this trail is named. Difficult with a 950 feet elevation drop.
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#6 North Shore National Recreational Trail: 1.9 mi. - Moderate
Northshore National Recreation Trail / Little Bear 3W12 - This trail is best reached by starting at the beginning of Forest Service Road 2N25 between North Shore Campground and Papoose Lake. To reach 2N25, turn east on Torrey Road opposite the Lake Arrowhead Marina. Turn at first left and follow the dirt road 112 mile to where you reach the trail head on the east (right) side of 2N25. The trail descends gently through a mixed conifer forest and settles finally along Little Bear Creek where you will reach Forest Service Road 2N26Y after 1 mile. |
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#7 Little Green Valley Trail: 1.5 mi. - Difficult
Little Green Valley 2W10 - This trail begins on the north side of Highway 18 between the two entrances to Snow Valley Ski area. Little Green Valley Trail climbs steeply to the north until you reach a meadow at Forest Service Road 2N19. This trail provides you with outstanding views of Snow Valley and Slide Peak. The trail ties into 1W26, then to 2N64 which the Forest Service tied into 2N20 and back around behind the Nordic Ski area to make a loop. This trail is mainly used by mountain bikes
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| #8 Heap's Peak Arboretum: 0.9 mi. - Easy
Heaps Peak Arboretum Sequoia 3W05 - This interpretive trail is located 1.4 miles east of Skyforest on Highway 18. The trail is an easy walk for all ages that takes you through a self-guided tour with 24 points of interest about native plants and wildlife. The site was constructed and is maintained by volunteers from the Rim of the World Interpretive Association. |
#9 Trail of the Phoenix: 0.8 mi. - Easy
Children's Forest Trail of the Phoenix 2W09 - This paved nature trail begins at the entrance of the National Children's Forest off Keller Peak Road. The trail is specifically designed and maintained to accommodate the needs of the visually and physically disabled. The trail maintains a grade of 5% or less.
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| #10 Indian Rock Trail: 0.41 mi. - Easy
Metate / Rock Camp 3W15 - This trail begins immediately east of Rock Camp Station on Highway 173. The trail leads to bedrock mortars used by the Serrano Indians to grind acorns and to make flour. The Serrano came to this area each spring because of the plentiful acorn crop and the mild weather. Bedrock mortars were formed by the grinding action of mono and pestle stones. It was much easier to use these large bedrock slabs rather than carry a mortar stone with them, but they also did that in areas where such stones did not exist. A stone monument was placed on the site by the Lake Arrowhead Woman’s Club to designate the historical importance of this encampment to the Serrano Indians. |
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| #11 Snow Slide: 10 mi. - Moderate
Fawnskin/Green Valley Lake 2N13 - This cross country ski tour winds 10 miles from its beginning at the Green Valley Campground to Fawnskin at Big Bear Lake. The tour is long and there are a few steep sections. The snow is the most reliable in this section of the San Bernardino Mountains. The bottoms of three avalanche paths are crossed about 4-5 miles out from Green Valley, so it is suggested that this area be avoided during and immediately after storms. Skiing is generally good between December and April. |
#12 Little Green Valley: 5 mi. - Difficult
Green Valley Lake 2N19 - This ski tour climbs rapidly out of Green Valley Campground to the top of Little Green Valley Ridge. From the top of the ridge, the trail slowly descends towards Green Valley Road. From that point, you can return the way you came or you can shuttle back to Green Valley Campground. Numerous unnamed routes of all levels of difficulty are available in wither direction from the top of Little Green Valley Ridge. Skiing is generally good between December and April
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| More trails in the Lake Arrowhead Area not marked on the map... |
Hawes Peak 2W08/2W14 (west) - (4.5 Miles, moderate) Hawes Peak Trail begins on 2W08, 2/10 miles West of Tent Peg Campground on 3N34. Travel 1.3 miles to Pacific Crest Trail. Follow PCT east 1/4 mile to 2W14, go north 3.3 miles. Trail ends at a yellow post site, on 3N41. No bicycles on the PCT. |
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Pinnacles 3W16 - (1.8 miles, difficult) Pinnacles Trail Begins at the entrance to the Rifle Range on Highway 173, north of Rock Camp and ends at the top of the peak. From the top, on clear days you can look into Mojave desert. Along the trail there are steel posts and rock cairns to help you find the path as the trail travels over and around large boulders. At the summit there is a book to sign in at the top. |
Dogwood 3W04 - (1.2 Miles) Located in the Dogwood Campground
Enchanted Loop 3W18 - ( 0.29 miles) Located in the Dogwood Campground
Pinnacles OHV - OHV Staging area on Highway 173 north of Lake Arrowhead |
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For more information on area hiking, visit the Forestry Service
Web-site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/recreation/hiking |
