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.

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.

Camping is GREAT, very clean, lots of space and shade. Rangers and employees very happy and…read morefriendly, unlike Perris Lake. Perris Lake is like camping in a parking lot. Silverwood lake is very nice and lots of great fishing. The LAKE IS EASY TO GET ON AND OFF. The lake has nice DOCKS and Slips to can rent. Unlike PERRIS LAKE. PERRIS LAKE HAS NO SLIPS TO RENT. IF you are looking for a great time and fun go to Silverwood Lake NOT Perris Lake.

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.

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!

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

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