The Pacific Crest Trailhead - Mojave River Forks End of Road serves as a significant access point…read moreto the iconic Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Southern California. Situated at an elevation of 923 meters in the Mojave Desert region, this trailhead marks a unique intersection where the vast wilderness of the PCT meets the end of California Highway 173. It is a crucial gateway for exploring the diverse landscapes of the San Bernardino Mountains foothills and the unique desert environment. Visitors consistently highlight this trailhead as the most accessible starting point for reaching the popular Deep Creek Hot Springs, making it a favored destination for hikers. The opportunity to experience a distinctive desert section of the Pacific Crest Trail, with its scenic Deep Creek Canyon and lush riparian vegetation, is another major draw. The convenience of a wide parking area at the end of the paved road also contributes to its popularity among those looking for day hikes or shorter excursions on the PCT. Before setting out, hikers should be prepared for a creek crossing within about a mile of the trailhead, as Deep Creek must be forded. While often shallow or dry, especially during certain times of the year, water levels can rise significantly after rain or snowmelt, potentially requiring an alternative parallel track near the dam. The trailhead offers ample free parking at the dead-end of Highway 173, making it easily reachable by passenger vehicle. This trailhead is ideal for hiking and trail running, particularly for those aiming for the Deep Creek Hot Springs, which is typically a 12-mile out-and-back journey. The arid desert climate suggests that spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploration, avoiding the extreme heat of summer or potential high waters in winter. Its location also provides convenient access to nearby amenities at Mojave River Forks Regional Park, including camping and recreational opportunities at Silverwood Lake.

i love this trail, but do it on a cloudy day, wont recommend hiking this on a hot day because…read moretheres no shade the whole time. and pls. pick up after your pet. parking is kinda sketchy too. so take the risk. Other than that love the bridge at the end of the trail!

Came out from OC as we heard great things about this hike and the hot springs we could get into…read more They do charge $10 per person for parking depending on how many people are in your car. The hike down is beautiful with wide desert views. Just remember: going back up is a workout. Bring plenty of water and be ready for sun. The hot springs themselves are awesome--several warm pools and the cold creek right next to them. It can get busy, but still really relaxing. Overall, a great adventure spot if you're up for a tougher hike. Would definitely go again.

Clean, beautifully maintained. There's a fire pit by each camp site, and except for the ones for…read morebig groups, lots of space for privacy. The hike back from the hot springs is no joke, especially on a hot day if it gets to 80s. It is nonstop uphill for about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your speed. Still gorgeous.

This is a great local spot. Parking is pretty spacious. It's about a mile and a half. It has narrow…read moresections and inclines. I would say it's a moderate hike for beginners. The heart is so cute. Perfect for families and dates. You can swim at the bottom. Takes about an hour.

Parking is free and ample. It's about a 30-35 minute hike. When you see the gate that says Seely…read morecamp, make a left and stay on the trail. The trail is relaxing filled with cute, bushy tailed squirrels. There will be signs that let you know your approaching the heart rock. It's fairly easy to get down just watch your step and wear appropriate shoes with a good grip.

We went for a hike yesterday and Bonita Falls was 22 minutes drive. The location was in Lytle Creek…read morein San Bernardino National Forest. The weather was great. We parked in the designated area. It was around 2.8 miles round trip . Make sure bring water, sunscreen, good hiking shoes and hiking stick. The trail was very rocky and steep going to the waterfalls. The running stream was amazing. Water was cold but soothing to listen to the sound of the water. The waterfall was high , great to take pictures and can get to the waterfalls area. There were people doing rock climbing too. Great adventure.

It's a decent hike and a good way to get out in nature, but good luck taking photos without…read moregraffiti in them. That's the most disappointing part of this hike. The waterfall is cool, but the area is completely tagged and dirty. The hike itself is only difficult because of the rocky terrain. Otherwise, it's not bad. A couple locations you have to work your way across the water but you can usually find something pretty easily. An adventure pass is needed for parking at the trailhead. I've seen bear scat here previous times, so be careful and alert out there!

Place is great for a good run with the kids! I'm able to take my wagon. The kids enjoy going.read more

Nice long 3 mile trail not a lot of shade so you want to go early in the morning or later in the…read moreevening but it's mostly cemented so you can take your bikes or just your feet

Went for a bike ride and found they have really been working hard to clean this place up. There a…read morenew buildings, there is a horse stall and ring (fingers crossed they will have horse rides again) and the overgrowth has been seriously cut back. It is beginning to look great again. I hope they start hosting family fun events again such as chili cook offs, margarita pr beer gatherings.

Beautiful park in the high desert offering many recreational activities for the whole family. Great…read morefor hiking, relaxing, camping, picnicking, wildlife watching, photography and fishing. There is a fee per day/per car ($15 as of this writing), so plan accordingly. While I didn't camp, I did see some stunning campsites right next to the water and in beautiful condition. Lots of great hiking spots, lots of folks fishing and overall a wonderful atmosphere. There's even a Frisbee golf course. Very clean and well-maintained. Parking is included in the entrance fee. Always check the website https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/mojave-narrows-regional-park/ for current regulations and fees. Enjoy!

This is a beautiful trail, but a little tougher than expected! There seem to be quite a few…read moredifferent trails/routes you can take, but I'd plan for about 2-3 miles minimum (in the altitude it feels longer lol). They recently added a parking lot, which made it so much more convenient for parking and to find the start of the trail! I'm so glad they did this. I'd still say the earlier arrival, the better, so you can get a parking spot. For the trail itself, it's a good workout - there are both uphills & downhills. Once you get to the top, there are beautiful views of the lake.

We took this hike with our pups and it was awesome! It was definitely a work out with lots of steep…read moreand uphill hiking. We made it to the big rock at the very end, unfortunately with our pups we were unable to climb all the day to the tippy top. Overall an awesome hike, saw lots of trees, rocks, and little streams along the way! Trail is dog friendly, and has a lot of spots to stop for great views of the lake

The drive up to this trail is not bad at all! I sometimes get scared of driving up high into the…read moremountains but this was a pretty easy drive and there weren't any parts that I felt were scary. I was driving from Ontario, CA. You do need a pass to park in the lot. There are restrooms at the parking lot if you need to use them. The hike up is a pretty short one with pretty views! There are tons of shade from the trees and the water/waterfall was beautiful!

Beautiful day trip good hiking and cool water refreshing and fun for everyone but please when…read moregoing take out anything you bring in

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.

Amazing hike about 2 hours if you have small kids. Beautiful trees really woody…read more It's a round trip loop with the map posted in the middle

Clean & beautiful. a nice environment in the winter! Loved to hike on little paths with our son &…read moredog

I have to update my review because I've been here so many times, and it's improved vastly since my…read morefirst impression. As I reread my previous review I realized that I had only seen a portion of the lake. In reality, the lake is huge. It extends towards 173 and allows for fishing and boating. A great way to spend time outdoors. I believe they sell California fishing licenses, fishing and boating supplies, and even boat rentals! There are separate parking lots for docking/boating and regular day parking. There are bathroom building facilities available. There are numerous trails, including part of Section C of the PCT runs through the Silverwood Lake SRA. There are many camping spaces and group camping available as well. In the times when I've camped here the ranger station has always been kind and knowledgeable, answering my many questions. I've only been to the marina store once or twice, but the staff was friendly and accommodating. I went to the Silverwood Lake SRA office for the first time recently and parked there while hiking part of the PCT. The lady there was very nice and helped me find my way. The peace officers are very nice and knowledgeable. I recently did some exploring and got lost. LOL. Shout Out to Officer Bakke for going above and beyond and helping me find the PCT on my birthday. That was the best birthday present. Thank you to the helpful men and women at California State Parks for keeping us safe. I would definitely recommend this park for hiking, camping, or boating. It's not safe to drink the water due to algae bloom. I wouldn't fish here either, but some people do it. No swimming during algae bloom as it can cause illness. Hiking: Depending on the trail you may or may not have shade, stay hydrated. Camping: Some campers like to play their music loud. So unfortunately, there's that. So glad this park is here in the area.