This review is for the hiking trail itself; I didn't quite make it all the way to the mine, which I…read morehad heard burned up in the recent fires anyway. The trailhead leads off from the Vincent Gap parking lot; but don't park there! Park on the street to avoid paying the ridiculous Big Pines Recreation Concession scam to give more money to Mountain HIgh Resort (even if you already paid for an Adventure Pass through Angeles National Forest, you're supposed to pay these fat cats. No.) This trail is absolutely gorgeous and a less strenuous option to the Mount Baden-Powell trail nearby. Hiking in August, I was surprised by how many flowers were still in bloom. The trail itself is wide and well-maintained for *most* of the way; however, there are a couple of spots where the trail crosses a scree field and caution is necessary. There are many gorgeous views to be seen along the way. Really a stunning hike. Take lots of water, snacks, bug spray and be safe.

Big Horn Mine is a nice escape from the city, without having to travel too far…read more All trails will have you thinking it's a difficult hike, when the main thing to keep in mind is that you need to dress appropriately. Wear hiking boots/shoes and this will be a breeze. The recent fires still show some burn scars and lack of shade, so ideally get in/out before early afternoon. Other than that it's lovely.

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!

Gorgeous trail in an area of the forest that is recovering from the Bridge Fire in 2024. While it's…read moreshocking to see so many burnt trees, it's also cool to see signs of life emerging from the ashes. There were many pine seedlings to be found along the trail and lots of wildflowers called "fire-followers" that actually require and benefit from the fire to bloom. To find the trailhead, look for the Big Pines Visitor Center. The parking lot for the trail is right across the street and the standard Adventure Pass is required to park in this lot (thank goodness, it is not part of the Mountain High Ski Resort cabal, so you don't have to buy the "Big Pines" parking pass as well.) It was a bit tricky to find the actual trailhead, as it's a few feet away from the parking lot. The parking lot does have restrooms as well as ADA parking available. The trail itself is very well maintained and offers stunning views. It's pretty much uphill all the way to the Blue Ridge Campsite and (of course) downhill all the way back. It's mostly in the shade but can get warm, so make sure you have plenty of water and snacks. Look for fungi, mariposa lilies, butterflies, squirrels and birds. Highly recommended!

The good: I came on a Tuesday and it was completely empty…read moreand serene. We came with our almost 3 year old but we carried him most of the time. The trail was mostly shaded and there were creeks with running water. We saw blue jays, chipmunks, squirrels, woodpecker and other birds. It was breezy with nice views of the mountains and far out in the canyon areas. The bad: We didn't get to finish the trail because we had a toddler. I think there were only 2 parking spots. I am not sure if there were other areas you can park. It was just on the dirt by the campgrounds sign. The interesting: Lots of the trees were burnt and fallen over. We saw red plants and some interesting mushroom growing on the trees. Some areas of the trail are more narrow with a sloping hill off to the side so be careful if you're coming with kids.

Beautiful spot in nature with many campgrounds nearby…read more The largest pinecones I've seen in southern ca. were here-cool! In the summer they do kayak and paddle board rentals here. Plenty of picnic tables. Great spot for some day use to get out in nature.

I enjoyed this lake a lot. Came here on a Saturday and got here around 3pm. It was super busy and…read morewhen we arrived the parking lot was full. I was directed to go across the street and walk down. Parking was $10 per car and across the street it was free. However, it's a walk from the parking across the street. They also have a yearly pass which is $30. They also have bathrooms close by. We fortunately found parking and unpacked and went down to the lake. There's plenty of space for a lot of people. You can fish, swim and even kayak. There is also a spot to rent out equipment to do all that. We brought our own boats for kayaking. The lake isn't too big, you can go down the whole thing within 10min or less. Very small but it's very calm and beautiful. My family loved it. It's a great spot to hang out and relax. We'll come back again if we're ever in the area.

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.

The guy Micheal is a straight jackass, extremely rude, and apparently the neighbors are tweakers…read moreusing his name taking his money, he shouldn't even be able to charge any money to drive down a dirt road and hike through a complete mess of worn out trails that have clearly never been maintained. Micheal doesn't do any work obviously just sits there all day and charges as much as he can to park on his crappy piece of mud.... jackass. The trail sucks and the hot springs is nasty. And you might get hurt on this trail it's not even a trail. He makes it very clear that you will get lost at the beginning. yea because he doesn't maintain his trail or whatever he's up there claiming to be doing all day long everyday. Sure, buddy. Jackass. He claims to have shot one of his tweaker neighbors too, so that tells you what kind of guy he his right there telling a stranger you shot a tweaker. Real nice jackass. Then he tells you the tweakers will charge you 30 bucks a head to use their entrance and scams you outta 20 bucks instead, when his sign said $5 bucks a head, and 10 for overnight, yea buddy thanks for overcharging me too, jackass. No, I will not be coming back again just because of you.

First of all, I'm honestly amused by some of the 1-star reviews complaining that it's crowded,…read morethere are flies and bugs, and people are playing loud music. LOL. Come on, people! This is a recreational area where people come to have a good time, BBQ, listen to music, and enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. Of course it's going to get crowded on weekends and holidays. And if you're cooking BBQ outdoors in nature, guess what? There are going to be flies and bugs! That's just common sense. Okay, now for my actual review. I give Silverwood Lake 4 stars. It's a relaxing place to BBQ, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends. Could it be cleaner? Absolutely. But I don't think that's completely the park's fault. Everyone needs to do their part. Pick up your trash, clean up after yourself, and help keep the public restrooms clean. If everyone respected the area, it would be a much nicer place for everyone. One important tip: If you're coming with a group, have someone arrive early when the park opens if you want to grab a good spot with picnic benches or a BBQ grill. It's first come, first served, and the good spots can go quickly, especially on busy weekends and holidays. Overall, it's a great place to BBQ, relax, enjoy the lake and nature, and have some fun. Stop worrying so much about a few bugs or the $20 parking fee. Pack your food, bring your family and friends, clean up after yourselves, and enjoy the day!

$20 dollars for entry in San Bernardino is wild…read more.. I was disappointed lots of trash everywhere! Even floating in the lake. Much algae as well and bees! Trash on tables. Have to get there early to get a good spot as the area is overcrowded.

I'll give this place a strong 3.75 to 4.0 stars. And when compared to all other locations in the…read morearea, this would be easiest location for most people to discover, hike walk or jog and Enjoy. You must arrive early. As people are already taken up slots in the parking lot as early as 630am. Now, super easy to park on the side of the road, as there are many signs against it and many areas that are welcomed. By 8am, the streets were getting filled, as there are many outlets that lead to the river and many places where on can just the views, without the hike. So please get your 5 dollar windows taken for parking- the local 76 station is a place where you are able to. The hike is self explanatory, follow the people, which you will see many many hikers. And contrary to what people say, it is not an easy hike. You will need to be prepared for a 1.5 mile walk up and 1.5 miles back. It is a super rocky trail. Lots of loose rocks , once on the upper trail, boulders get bigger, the small cascades of water can make the area slippery. You will need to extend your limbs to reach up and pull yourself up. Not for small children and not for the elderly. The only thing here that I had a distaste for was the littering and the graffiti. Just the stupidity of humans not picking up their trash or painting moronic signs on rocks. Made it less intriguing... made it comical that people can be such idiots. The downhill trail becomes dangerous, as people can slip or fall and amid some cliffs that surround the area, being careful is at the most important danger. The area is accessible by various routes. The fantastic point here would be the river, which is wide, always tuburlant but not deep. Some area as 1ft ...other areas can reach 3 feet. The picnic area and the small rest stop are great stop points. The water is crystal clear, cold and just majestic. Bring appropriate foot wear, bring water and snacks and make sure you are physically fit. The waterfall is high...over 100ft. Standing under the falls can be refreshing, the cold waters offering an unexpected cold shiver, the light mist and the gaze of the falls can be spectacular. The river extends past the small pits top bonita falls bathroom and parking...next down the road is the picnic area...which is basically one or two tables for a get together, best to just visit the river and enjoy the stream... and finally the large parking lot..from here you can saddle the edge of the river, enjoy it, have a get together and from there, the Rover twist and turns to another southerner point where long lines of cars gather and can be accessed by the public and by foot. Gentle streams and relaxing moments. Over all, a good small hike with options for picnics and stream wading. Please, no graffiti and pick after yourself- let's keep nature clean!

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.

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.

Beautiful vistas and rigorous hike. Great activity for friends to do together. Parking is a…read morechallenge so carpool.

Great off-roading if your into the off road and out doors type of stuff , I never got the…read moreopportunity to drive the Clayton ridge trail since we moved up the hill after I was already injured in the Army

Great trail, great sights, I recommend taking snacks etc for picnic during winter see some snowread more

Incredible the energy, peaceful and quiet. The weather was…read morebeautiful, and it was very safe.

Pretty easy hike. Not far from the falls. Just gotta be careful to not slip into the pools of…read morewater. You will get wet and you might have to walk through water. Waterfall is real cool. People slid down it, but their feet hit the bottom real quick. So I don't recommend going head first or diving in. It is shallow at the bottom of the falls. Their are alot of people here now due to social media. Parking is packed. You might have to park across the street. Get an adventure pass from 7-11. Big 5 has them, but they don't open till 10. Have fun!