What a gem this park is, we got done walking around the Village so we decided to take the girls to…read morethe park for a bit before we went to meet up with our other friends to watch the bands play. Wow this park is amazing, it was very windy and foggy but the kids didn't mind. We brought blankets so through them over us lol and walked over. They have swings when you first walk up, but if you walk a bit further they have the playground. They also have a tennis or bad mitten court and basketball courts too. The playground is so nice and clean and they have a cool zip line for the kids to play on, they loved that so much and had a blast going on it lol. It even has a cute little gazebo such a beautiful park. The girls had a blast we would love to come here again. If you have never been to MacKay Park you should if you have little ones it's really beautiful here. Even if you don't it's peaceful and in the mountains and so lovely. The parking lot is pretty big too so plenty for everyone. Have a beautiful day, be kind to everyone :) Aloha

Went to MacKay park last month, I did not take any photos that day, but it was a small park good…read morefor family and children. Upon arriving, parking lot is not as big as you would expect, we squeezed in besides the trash cans to park, however it was really clean, and everyone's vibe is nothing but smiles and nods. They do have bathrooms, on the right hand side near the parking lot are swings, to the left and middle part closer to the parking lot has two pickleball courts, and if you walk past the swings the walkway leads to a view and a children's playground. My fiancée and I came for the dog park, which was literally a walk to the left past the actual parking lot. Spacious with a few trees and limited spots for shade. But enough room for your furry friends to stretch their legs!

We came here on a Saturday and it wasn't very busy. The temperature was roughly 70 degrees, perfect…read morefor a hike. When we arrived, there was limited parking and no restrooms from when I seen so be sure to handle your business before you come. We weren't exactly sure where the trail began so we walked up the steep paved road and took a right at the top of the road and began the hike. This trail is full of incline areas so if you are expecting a nice stroll around the woods, you'll be sadly mistaken. I'd say this hike is closer to medium difficulty but it's a great time and very rewarding once you reach the top. Sadly you only get a "peek a boo" view of the lake due to the trees being in the way but hey that's nature for ya! This trail took a little over an hour for myself and my wife to complete and that's with peaks and taking in the scenery. I highly recommend this trail, the views, fresh air etc. is amazing!

Great short hike, about 2 miles round trip, easy to moderate trail, beautiful trees, serene views,…read morepeaceful, and not busy. Stayed at an Airbnb close by and my kids wanted to explore the outdoors. Found this trail and it was prefect for what we were looking for. My 8 year olds enjoyed the view from the top, saw squirrels and birds, and only got tired towards the end. There is a dirt path and signs posted making it easy to follow. There were lots of trees providing shade and a cool feel. There were a few areas (stumps/down trees/rocks) to sit and rest at and some inclines, but nothing too strenuous or steep. It was very quiet and peaceful, and it felt like we were the only ones out there. Although we ran into 3 couples during our hike, we had the trail pretty much to ourselves. There is limited parking, but we were able to park along the curb and didn't have an issue. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

Just went the other day, the road was still open to make it just a very short hike to get to the…read morecool creek and bridge area. IT DEFINITELY IS STILL ILLEGAL TO VISIT UNTIL MAY 21st 2021 at least. The website doesn't say so but several signs out here do and there is no reversal of that order anywhere to be found in the internet. Honestly was a cool place that i can't wait to explore more but I'm thankful it's closed because it's too easy too access which enables non nature people to go easily and trash it and disrespect the area, and not responsibly socially distance. If you aren't a local please don't visit this spot Go explore trails and nature area in your home towns and if there isn't enough than get your voice heard in local city council meetings and demand some more.

This spot was absolutely perfect for a family hike and some fun splashing about in the river and…read moreswimming holes. It is an extremely simple hike, no rough terrain and clearly marked. We had driven from Arizona for some cooler weather and had the hardest time simply finding a good spot for the kids to play and swim without needing to pay a fortune (We dont have to pay to swim in lakes in Arizona which I didn't know was a novelty??) We rented a cabin by Arrowhead lake and found out AFTER we got there that it is a private lake. We were told by locals that a great family lake was Lake Gregory which was about 20 minutes away. We drove to lake Gregory only to be told by park rangers that we cant swim in the lake unless we go to the designated family beach area and pay $10 per person (adults and children included) to use a small crowded beach area. That particular day I gave in and paid so my children could have some fun outside and in the water. I was determined to continue looking... FINALLY, I searched for rivers, streams and hiking nearby to get some peace and adventure and came across this little gem. Maybe we got lucky since it was in the middle of the week, but there were very few people on the trail, not to mention only one other family with kids at the swimming hole that my kids played with. The water was clean and cool, it was not crowded, there was ample shade and sandy beach areas...it was PERFECT. I would highly recommend this area for family use.

Came across this beach Club while we were on our way from a OHV lane, it's for members only which I…read moredidn't know but I needed to use a restroom so I was focused on that. We saw the sunset and got our feet in the water -it was surprisingly warm!! People were so welcoming I had no issues with anyone and the facility was very clean. There's a playground with swings and slides and a campo rental among some boat docks. I posted pictures.

Burnt Mill is a private beach, part of Lake Arrowhead Association. Lake Arrowhead is a private…read morelake, the only way to join the association is to own property in Lake Arrowhead. With all that said, Burnt Mill is a quit little family beach. There's another beach on the other side of the lake; Tavern Bay which is larger but Burnt Mill is better for launching paddle boards and kayaks.

Lake Gregory Water Day…read more We made the most of our day at Lake Gregory! We tried the inflatable water park, paddle boarding, and a Duffy boat ride and each one was a different kind of fun! Paddle boarding More challenging than it looks, especially when you're trying to keep your balance, but so much fun once you get the hang of it. Duffy boat Definitely the relaxing part of the day! Cruising around the lake, enjoying the scenery, and taking in the beautiful Mountain View's Inflatable water park: The kids had a blast! Adults be prepared to work for it because the climbing and balancing are no joke! Overall, such a fun family day at Lake Gregory. Definitely recommend trying all three if you're visiting!

This was our third visit on 9/5. We had such a great experience during our first two visits that we…read morechose to return to celebrate our birthday twins. Unfortunately, this visit was incredibly disappointing. We reserved a cabana and arrived as soon as the lake opened, only to find guests setting up pop-up tents directly in front of the cabanas, completely obstructing our view of the lake. During our previous visits, tents were not permitted in this area--which is part of what made paying extra for a cabana worthwhile. I brought the issue to both the cabana hostess and the office. I explained that had we known pop-up tents would be allowed directly in front of us, we would have brought our own instead of spending the additional money on a cabana. The only solutions offered were to move or leave. I wasn't asking for a full refund--just a reasonable discount because the experience we paid for was clearly compromised--but the manager refused. To make matters worse, the wind later picked up and the tents began blowing around, creating the exact type of safety concern this policy should prevent. We've enjoyed this lake in the past, but the manager's poor handling of the situation and complete lack of customer service left us extremely disappointed. If you're considering paying extra for a cabana, I recommend confirming beforehand whether tents will be allowed to set up directly in front of it. Otherwise, the cabana may not be worth the additional cost.

Great little hike with some shade for the family. Park by the Metate Trailhead sign and cross the…read moreroad to where trail begins. According to AllTrails the hike is called Metate Trail and is approximately 2 miles of fairly flat trails. There are many different trails that links to this so you can extend your hike and go a totally different way. The Indian Rock Camp is only about 1/4 mile into the trail if you take the entrance on the left that says "interpretative." Once you get to the sign you will need to explore the hill for the Rock Camp. Our kids had a blast exploring and looking for acorns to play with. There is also a small hut for the kids to explore. Further down the trail is a small creek and lots more trail to explore. We saw signs of a large herd of deer so if you are quiet you maybe in for a surprise.

Starting at the Rock Camp Forest Service Station a very short trail (maybe a mile) winds through a…read morebeautiful grove of ponderosa pines and soon you will see a sign for the centuries (and maybe millennium) old Serrano Indian rocks that were used to grind acorns into meal for use as food. I love this place because it brings everyone back to reality, letting us know that we were not the first ones here, and we will not be the last. Its a really neat little piece of history in a secluded patch of woods. The trail head is located at 34.287955, -117.212582, just walk east and you'll run into it. I'm pretty sure there is a map and sign there as well.

Updated review: Second attempt after a year. Made it to the top this time but trail was still…read moresomewhat confusing in some areas. Last stretch to the top requires rock scrambling. GPS of the AllTrails route was required to give a general direction. Overall, plenty of nice views including Silverwood Lake from a distance. Short video of the hike: https://youtu.be/LKLBBaKxJ7U

Definitely a hike for experienced hikers! Very few signs indicate the trail direction. If you…read moreaccidentally deviate from the trail (which is very easy to do), the difficulty increases tenfold. I made it to the top only by staying on the trail with the help of my trusty iPhone. The view at the top is amazing - you get a 360 view of Silverlake, Victorville, Apple Valley, and the mountains surrounding Lake Arrowhead. Going back down is much more challenging than going up!

Jan 7, 2017 If you…read morelove Christmas, Santa Claus and all things winter wonderland, this is a must. We flew from NorCal to on 1/7/17 with 3 adults and my 12 year old nephew, to visit Santa's Village. Though I remember stories about it, I never got to visit them before it had burned down. Until now.... All of us had a blast! The lines had thinned out from December so the longest line we waited in was about 20 min to ride the train. We got to have a private audience with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The elves took us as a family in to meet Santa, just by ourselves. I think the way they do this is really wonderful because it feels very personal and private. Every person on staff is AMAZING! Smiling, energetic, having fun, being extremely helpful, and stellar customer service. They made sure we knew what attractions were open, where to go, etc. The women's bathrooms were kept excellent and clean. We lucked out with no rain. We rode Arrow's Adventure. Ate a lovely meal at Gatherings which is a bit higher end and also quieter, and they were able to accommodate with vegetarian for one of us. We made candy cane reminders at Santa's Workshop. My 12 yr old nephew ice skated for the first time and climbed the Bouldering Room inside rock wall. We got to ride the Polar Express Train. We panned for crystals and gold. We played in the snow, throwing snowball fights - So fun! We shopped a little, played a little, ate a little and left filling that wonderful tired, content feeling when you had the most perfect day. Price Many others complain about the price but I think it was so worth it. This cannot be compared with Disneyland or Great America or Magic Mountain.... it's apples to oranges. What Santa's Village brings is MAGIC. I certainly empathize with those who are challenged with the price and hope you'll save even a few bucks per week to come. This is not a big corporation with unlimited funds; it's a small group of dedicated people, who not only invested millions to restore and re-imagine this place, they also, I can only imagine, gave their the blood, sweat and many tears to bring this dream into reality. The price of a ticket is not just an entry in for the day but an investment in creating something that is bigger and brighter for this world. Look around, the world needs more play, wonderment, curiosity, magic and kindness! You will find all of that at Santa's Village!! I'm looking forward to returning later in 2017 to experience the zip line as well as all of their hiking and biking trails... so grateful and wish I could shake the hands of all those involved for making this happen. Also applaud them for not using animals in their attractions. And for being fully ADA compliant.

Was unsure if this was adult friendly or more kid friendly. Hands down BOTH. If you're in the area,…read morethis is a must. They charge for parking ( $15 at the door vs $10 on line) The price of the ticket gets you- axe throwing, bow shooting, bb gun range shooting, ice skating, petal car, rock wall climbing, bike rail, and zip lining (zip lining requires reservation, do that immediately entering park). Arrive earlier to avoid the crowd and long waits. They have plenty of shows, food, sweets, beverages, and coffee. This def was one of the top favorite activities during my stay. Worth the price

Beautiful, short hiking loop trail. Here's the map from Highway 18:…read more http://goo.gl/maps/uMCPP When you zoom in on point "B", you'll see the small parking lot. Then the trail is right there. MUST HAVE ADVENTURE PASS TO PARK THE CAR. The 3/4 mile loop was fantastic. There are art work by children and it is just a very nice, breezy hike with the kids. My son enjoyed the short walk and the crisp air of the Keller Peak. The entire trail is paved for easy access for strollers, etc. Plenty of flora and lizards scurrying about. :0) When heading back down, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE KELLER PEAK LOOKOUT. :0)

The children's forest is a great local place to hike, walk, camp, or have a picnic. It is located…read moreoff HWY 18 in Running Springs . One would not necessarily notice the area unless you were looking for it. There are many trails and some loop around so if you can't walk too far you can double back. There is camping and group camping spots available. There are picnic areas and informational trailheads. Safety first , remember cellphones may not work in all areas. Bring food , water, appropriate clothing per the weather. Have a first aid kit accessible for emergencies. Remember that there are animals in the forest . Bring pepper spray or bear spray to scare off most wild animals and humans ! Don't forget your Adventure pass. This can be bought at the Rangers station or Jensen's store off HWY 330 in town.

Baylis Park is small and just right off highway 18. You must, I repeat you must, everyone must have…read morean adventure pass presented in vehicle to park here. The parking lot is also very small. They have restrooms, picnic tables, and bear proof rubbish cans. There were loads of rocks and naked trees as the leaves had fallen off. It was also quite windy on the day I arrived. I thought it would be nice to snap a few photos of the city with the high elevation. It's also great for kids and also if you have pets. I'm glad I stopped by as it was really nice to soak up some sun (ooh girls just wanna have sun? Lol) and appreciate all the beauty surrounding me. I had my tripod with me as per usual. It's a nice place to have a picnic, stretch your legs, and take a breather! "Change your expectations for appreciations and the world changes instantly!" -Tony Robbins

A small little park on the rim drive…read more You are able to picnic and barbecue with a permit. We stopped by to enjoy the magnificent view. It was breathtaking.