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Started the hike from a lot across the Pinecrest Christian Conference Center. It didn't take a super long time (less than an hour) but the trail is steep and has a lot of thorny bushes. View from the top is great. There are also other trail loops to explore in the same area. I will definitely be back with the kiddos to explore more sans hiking trail.
While looking at things to see in the San Bernardino Mountains we came across Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout. Located atop the mountain and manned by volunteers this tower is still an active fire watch that keeps eye over the mountain range and looks for smoke towers indicating wildfires giving early notification the fire crews. Open to visitors you can hear some of the history, see photos and catch amazing views of surrounding lakes, mountain ranges and even Catalina island on a clear day! A nice little side trip while in the area.
It's easy to run out of things to do in Lake Arrowhead. We were here for a few days and went to Yelp for things to do. Low and behold Strawberry Look out came up....wow I remember seeing signs but never thought of checking it out. What a fun and fact filled visit we had. The turn off is right of Rim of the world road (18) and called Bear Springs Rd. Pretty twisty until you turn off to the main road ...then it really gets some twisties and big pot holes so pay attention. Once you get to the end of the road you can see the tower and all the antennaes/cell. Its located on a peak that has a 360 degree unobstructed view. Located at the top you're up about fifty feet. Its cooler and windy. The tower has walk around railing on the outside. Your cell reception is the best and you're like fifteen feet away from a Verizon antenna. Once staffed by rangers but these days its staffed by volunteers. There were three when we visited. We were offered high powered binoculars. It was amazing you could see three lakes, Arrowhead, Gregory and Silverwood. Open most monday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. In the tower they have one small bed, stove and refrigerator. The Osborne fire finder is located in the middle of the room gives quick location of a fire. You can see two other Look Out towers located on the hill over looking Big Bear. That is Keller Peak and Butler Peak. I would imagine they allow you to visit as well. This was very interesting and I reccomend you stop by. It wasn't a clear day (smog) but on a clear day we were told you can see Catalina!
Beautiful scenic view atop this friendly fire watch station open to the public throughout the day. Friendly volunteers will welcome you atop with knowledge and high-powered binoculars to truly take in the landscapes around. I would not have found this scenic gem if it was not for Yelp. The best part of it all, it is completely free. The only limitation is that they ask for only 5 people at a time for safety reasons. We found this no problem at all as we were luckily the only ones there. Careful on your way up as it is a narrow road with a few nasty potholes. A great spot to start your day prior to your adventures ahead in the area.
We were looking for things to do while in Lake Arrowhead, and Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower showed up on Yelp. This was a great stop! The tower is staffed by volunteers and is open daily to the public between 9am-5pm. We walked several flights of narrow stairs to the lookout tower and was greeted by friendly volunteer, Kathy. You can tell Kathy and the other 2 volunteers here on this day love what they do. Kathy showed us around the small space, inside and out. The 360 degree views of San Bernardino County are breathtaking, even on a smoggy day like the day we were here. Looking south, Kathy says on a clear day you can see the ocean and Catalina Island. Looking east you can see two other lookout towers, Keller Peak and Butler Peak. It's cool at the top and gets a nice breeze. You can't get better cell phone coverage than here when surrounded by cell and radio towers. The volunteers are constantly checking out the surrounding areas for smoke and fire. They have a procedure outlined for them of what to look for and how to report it to the experts. The azimuth helps them to pinpoint coordinates. It's quite interesting. They are always looking for volunteers to be a fire lookout hosts, which is a commitment of 8 1/2 hours per month at the various lookouts in the area. Donations are also welcome. I highly recommend this as a stop when in the area.
The day that our little family ventured over to the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower near Lake Arrowhead, CA, there were no tours being offered at the time (mid-morning on 6/12/18). Still, the views are breathtaking. From what I gather from previous reviews, this place offers a variety of perspectives. Historical in terms of the past fires in the area. Scientific in terms of the towers and how they are used during storms. Rescue in terms of how they spot fires and relay information. And so on... We didn't drive right up to the towers as there were a handful of government license plates parked up that way and a few people were dangling off the sides of the towers. We stayed out of the way by parking our truck further down the hill underneath a nice large evergreen. There was a little area where people have set up a painted rock exchange. Had I known this, I would have let our kids participate. I don't think our Garmin ever accurately picked up the location, but I think Waze did on my husband's phone. I just followed the signs. There are several areas where only one vehicle will fit on the road, so beware. For a wonderfully-written review and tons more info, read Niki S.'s review from 6/20/17: https://www.yelp.com/biz/strawberry-peak-fire-lookout-tower-rimforest?hrid=byZCdJl-07L6hFndy6fwFA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 2018 Challenge #120
As the 10th visitor of the day (6/19/2017), Mitch and Allan, who were volunteers for the day gave me an amazing tour of lookout tower. It's the BEST part of my trip! I came not knowing what to expect, parked downhill and walked up in the 90 degrees weather wondering what am I doing here like a lost kid:P Allan showed up at the top of the tower and told me to come up. The climbing is definitely not for the faint of heart or anyone who has Acrophobia. Here's what you can do on the fire lookout tower: -borrow the binocular, each side of the tower has a map that tells you what you are looking at: East: Keller Peak Fire Lookout Tower. West: Lake Gregory, Silverwood Lake, Mt Baldy, Cucamonga Peak and Cajon Pass. North: Lake Arrowhead. South: Santiago Peak, Hwy 18, San Bernadine, Norton Air base, Lake Perris and Yucaipa. Allan came out pointed out each direction and what to pay attention to. I absolutely love the view of Mt.Baldy and Cucamonga Peak. -Inside the tower, they showed me how to use "Osborne Fire Finder" to located the fire. They spotted a fire in the morning and w the confirmation w the Keller Peak tower they notified the fire crew to stop the wildfire. I am truly amazed how this Osborne Fire Finder still in use nowadays. - Mitch showed me the stool w glass legs for insulation that's the only safe thing to stand on when lightening strikes. Direction and Parking: - Map pointer and the direction offered by Apple Map is accurate I had no problem finding the tower. -Look for the Lookout sign on the tree when you turn onto Strawberry Lookout Rd. -There's no designed parking space, either you park in front of the tower or park down the hill and walk up. It might not easy to turn around in front of the tower. -Some part of the road can only allow one car to pass but all are paved. Other information: - There are total over 300 volunteers running the 7 Fire Lookout towers in the San Bernadino Forest , used to be Ranger operated. They usually participate one day per month, so how lucky am I to meet Mitch and Allan on this particular day:) - Here's the list of the 7 lookouts: Black Mountain Butler Peak Keller Peak Morton Peak Red Mountain Strawberry Peak Tahquitz Peak - You can get the completely detailed info from Big Bear Discovery Center, I think some require a bit of hiking, some are just short walk. - The towers that surround the Fire Lookout Tower are cell phone towers, so even it is in the mountain, my Verizon got the full bar. - Fire season is usually from May-Sep. - The 30-foot tower you see today was built in 1934. - Restroom is available off site. - The rest 9 visitors of the day were from Canada and Colorado. - You can get a badge if you visit all 7 lookouts, however, Allan said it's for people 18 and under. They want me to help spread the word, come visit, your visit will be the best support and encouragement for their volunteer work. Donation is also welcome. Thank you:)
Our guide, Dave, was amazing and very nice. First of all, they congratulated me that I made it to the top....I am terrified of heights. You have to walk up 5 flights of stairs but you can see down as you walk up. Once you get to a certain point, you can feel the wind blowing. At the top, the view is amazing. You capture some great photos up there. The look out tire had some cool instruments to spot fires and to collect weather readings. Dave, told us both how they do everything and what their procedures were. Really cool and definitely a learning experience. You even get a little card that says you made it to the top of the lookout tower. Definitely a must see if you are in the area!
Fred, Dave and Keaton...so glad we had the opportunity to meet three fine gentlemen. These guys at the lookout are 100% volunteers! They actually are looking out for fires! That what they do. Had no idea what this place was. Just saw on Tripadvisor on things to do...so glad we did! It's really about 2 flights of stairs. Took us 3 minutes in flip flops. These guys are informative, professional and friendly. Best view ever! The road has some twists and turns to get to the lookout but once you're there it's spectacular! These guys come in day in and day out looking for fires and working with the Forestry, Firefighters, etc., please be respectful to these funny, knowledgeable and honorable men! You can see in one of the pics I'm posting Fred made me giggle with his sense of humor. Fred gave my husband and I a recommendation to checkout the newly revamped Santa's Village. Ziplining, mountain biking, go carts...we will check it out tomorrow! Thanks guys...you are such a treat and we are so very thankful to have help keeping us safe!
10 months ago
Strawberry peak fire lookout tower what a wonderful place to visit. They are open daily; keep in mind no smoking and no dogs. There are a few spaces for parking and the gates were opened when I arrived. There are a few flights of stairs so I got to it and I was met upstairs by a volunteer. He gave me a run down of the history (ex: it was named after a strawberry farm owned by a man named Bart) and he even pointed out popular spots off in the distance. Impressive mountainous views on top of the 30 ft tower built in 1934. There are multiple other peak tower lookouts around and best of all it's free--donations are accepted. All in all this was a nice visit and one way to quiet all the noise in nature. read more
Such an incredible view and fun hike! The hike itself is easy/moderate walking up the road. Definitely a hike that you can do with people of any experience level. There aren't too many cars that go by, but it is good to be mindful of cars that could be going down or driving up in the parts of the street that overlap with some of the residential houses. The hike itself is maybe a mile depending on if you start all the way at the bottom of the road or park a little bit up. When you get to the strawberry Peak fire lookout, you get to go up into the lookout tower. If you are afraid of heights or claustrophobic, this might be a little uncomfortable since you are going up into the little metal lookout and you can feel the wind move the building and see-through the metal slats to the ground. If you can handle it, the views are so worth it! You get to learn about the history of the lookout tower and you get a full 360 view around the mountain. For nature lovers this is a really cool experience. If you are with any small kids, the Rangers also give out little cards and tend to have a fun pin or something for kids. Just make sure to go during hours that they are open. If the tower is closed, you will not be able to go up in it, but you can still see some of the nice view. read more
If you are in the area you should check this out. The volunteers were so nice and informative. The area wasn't busy and we could drive and park next to the lookout. Even with some June gloom, we were able to see so much. read more
1 year ago
Above the clouds, easy drive up and worth the view! Can't get over this amazing view. Would definitely come back again. read more
Started the hike from a lot across the Pinecrest Christian Conference Center. It didn't take a super long time (less than an hour) but the trail is steep and has a lot of thorny bushes. View from the top is great. There are also other trail loops to explore in the same area. I will definitely be back with the kiddos to explore more sans hiking trail. read more
10 months ago
While looking at things to see in the San Bernardino Mountains we came across Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout. Located atop the mountain and manned by volunteers this tower is still an active fire watch that keeps eye over the mountain range and looks for smoke towers indicating wildfires giving early notification the fire crews. Open to visitors you can hear some of the history, see photos and catch amazing views of surrounding lakes, mountain ranges and even Catalina island on a clear day! A nice little side trip while in the area. read more
What a little historical gem and what a view. We went on a clear day and could see 100+ miles. It was really fun learning about how they spot and communicate fires. Great for kids to learn. If you're afraid of heights perhaps skip it. read more
It's easy to run out of things to do in Lake Arrowhead. We were here for a few days and went to Yelp for things to do. Low and behold Strawberry Look out came up....wow I remember seeing signs but never thought of checking it out. What a fun and fact filled visit we had. The turn off is right of Rim of the world road (18) and called Bear Springs Rd. Pretty twisty until you turn off to the main road ...then it really gets some twisties and big pot holes so pay attention. Once you get to the end of the road you can see the tower and all the antennaes/cell. Its located on a peak that has a 360 degree unobstructed view. Located at the top you're up about fifty feet. Its cooler and windy. The tower has walk around railing on the outside. Your cell reception is the best and you're like fifteen feet away from a Verizon antenna. Once staffed by rangers but these days its staffed by volunteers. There were three when we visited. We were offered high powered binoculars. It was amazing you could see three lakes, Arrowhead, Gregory and Silverwood. Open most monday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. In the tower they have one small bed, stove and refrigerator. The Osborne fire finder is located in the middle of the room gives quick location of a fire. You can see two other Look Out towers located on the hill over looking Big Bear. That is Keller Peak and Butler Peak. I would imagine they allow you to visit as well. This was very interesting and I reccomend you stop by. It wasn't a clear day (smog) but on a clear day we were told you can see Catalina! read more
Beautiful scenic view atop this friendly fire watch station open to the public throughout the day. Friendly volunteers will welcome you atop with knowledge and high-powered binoculars to truly take in the landscapes around. I would not have found this scenic gem if it was not for Yelp. The best part of it all, it is completely free. The only limitation is that they ask for only 5 people at a time for safety reasons. We found this no problem at all as we were luckily the only ones there. Careful on your way up as it is a narrow road with a few nasty potholes. A great spot to start your day prior to your adventures ahead in the area. read more
We were looking for things to do while in Lake Arrowhead, and Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower showed up on Yelp. This was a great stop! The tower is staffed by volunteers and is open daily to the public between 9am-5pm. We walked several flights of narrow stairs to the lookout tower and was greeted by friendly volunteer, Kathy. You can tell Kathy and the other 2 volunteers here on this day love what they do. Kathy showed us around the small space, inside and out. The 360 degree views of San Bernardino County are breathtaking, even on a smoggy day like the day we were here. Looking south, Kathy says on a clear day you can see the ocean and Catalina Island. Looking east you can see two other lookout towers, Keller Peak and Butler Peak. It's cool at the top and gets a nice breeze. You can't get better cell phone coverage than here when surrounded by cell and radio towers. The volunteers are constantly checking out the surrounding areas for smoke and fire. They have a procedure outlined for them of what to look for and how to report it to the experts. The azimuth helps them to pinpoint coordinates. It's quite interesting. They are always looking for volunteers to be a fire lookout hosts, which is a commitment of 8 1/2 hours per month at the various lookouts in the area. Donations are also welcome. I highly recommend this as a stop when in the area. read more
The day that our little family ventured over to the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower near Lake Arrowhead, CA, there were no tours being offered at the time (mid-morning on 6/12/18). Still, the views are breathtaking. From what I gather from previous reviews, this place offers a variety of perspectives. Historical in terms of the past fires in the area. Scientific in terms of the towers and how they are used during storms. Rescue in terms of how they spot fires and relay information. And so on... We didn't drive right up to the towers as there were a handful of government license plates parked up that way and a few people were dangling off the sides of the towers. We stayed out of the way by parking our truck further down the hill underneath a nice large evergreen. There was a little area where people have set up a painted rock exchange. Had I known this, I would have let our kids participate. I don't think our Garmin ever accurately picked up the location, but I think Waze did on my husband's phone. I just followed the signs. There are several areas where only one vehicle will fit on the road, so beware. For a wonderfully-written review and tons more info, read Niki S.'s review from 6/20/17: https://www.yelp.com/biz/strawberry-peak-fire-lookout-tower-rimforest?hrid=byZCdJl-07L6hFndy6fwFA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 2018 Challenge #120 read more
5 years ago
As the 10th visitor of the day (6/19/2017), Mitch and Allan, who were volunteers for the day gave me an amazing tour of lookout tower. It's the BEST part of my trip! I came not knowing what to expect, parked downhill and walked up in the 90 degrees weather wondering what am I doing here like a lost kid:P Allan showed up at the top of the tower and told me to come up. The climbing is definitely not for the faint of heart or anyone who has Acrophobia. Here's what you can do on the fire lookout tower: -borrow the binocular, each side of the tower has a map that tells you what you are looking at: East: Keller Peak Fire Lookout Tower. West: Lake Gregory, Silverwood Lake, Mt Baldy, Cucamonga Peak and Cajon Pass. North: Lake Arrowhead. South: Santiago Peak, Hwy 18, San Bernadine, Norton Air base, Lake Perris and Yucaipa. Allan came out pointed out each direction and what to pay attention to. I absolutely love the view of Mt.Baldy and Cucamonga Peak. -Inside the tower, they showed me how to use "Osborne Fire Finder" to located the fire. They spotted a fire in the morning and w the confirmation w the Keller Peak tower they notified the fire crew to stop the wildfire. I am truly amazed how this Osborne Fire Finder still in use nowadays. - Mitch showed me the stool w glass legs for insulation that's the only safe thing to stand on when lightening strikes. Direction and Parking: - Map pointer and the direction offered by Apple Map is accurate I had no problem finding the tower. -Look for the Lookout sign on the tree when you turn onto Strawberry Lookout Rd. -There's no designed parking space, either you park in front of the tower or park down the hill and walk up. It might not easy to turn around in front of the tower. -Some part of the road can only allow one car to pass but all are paved. Other information: - There are total over 300 volunteers running the 7 Fire Lookout towers in the San Bernadino Forest , used to be Ranger operated. They usually participate one day per month, so how lucky am I to meet Mitch and Allan on this particular day:) - Here's the list of the 7 lookouts: Black Mountain Butler Peak Keller Peak Morton Peak Red Mountain Strawberry Peak Tahquitz Peak - You can get the completely detailed info from Big Bear Discovery Center, I think some require a bit of hiking, some are just short walk. - The towers that surround the Fire Lookout Tower are cell phone towers, so even it is in the mountain, my Verizon got the full bar. - Fire season is usually from May-Sep. - The 30-foot tower you see today was built in 1934. - Restroom is available off site. - The rest 9 visitors of the day were from Canada and Colorado. - You can get a badge if you visit all 7 lookouts, however, Allan said it's for people 18 and under. They want me to help spread the word, come visit, your visit will be the best support and encouragement for their volunteer work. Donation is also welcome. Thank you:) read more
7 years ago
Amazing place! Great history! Volunteers were so nice. enjoy the view. Park at the base, easy to get too read more
Our guide, Dave, was amazing and very nice. First of all, they congratulated me that I made it to the top....I am terrified of heights. You have to walk up 5 flights of stairs but you can see down as you walk up. Once you get to a certain point, you can feel the wind blowing. At the top, the view is amazing. You capture some great photos up there. The look out tire had some cool instruments to spot fires and to collect weather readings. Dave, told us both how they do everything and what their procedures were. Really cool and definitely a learning experience. You even get a little card that says you made it to the top of the lookout tower. Definitely a must see if you are in the area! read more
8 years ago
Fred, Dave and Keaton...so glad we had the opportunity to meet three fine gentlemen. These guys at the lookout are 100% volunteers! They actually are looking out for fires! That what they do. Had no idea what this place was. Just saw on Tripadvisor on things to do...so glad we did! It's really about 2 flights of stairs. Took us 3 minutes in flip flops. These guys are informative, professional and friendly. Best view ever! The road has some twists and turns to get to the lookout but once you're there it's spectacular! These guys come in day in and day out looking for fires and working with the Forestry, Firefighters, etc., please be respectful to these funny, knowledgeable and honorable men! You can see in one of the pics I'm posting Fred made me giggle with his sense of humor. Fred gave my husband and I a recommendation to checkout the newly revamped Santa's Village. Ziplining, mountain biking, go carts...we will check it out tomorrow! Thanks guys...you are such a treat and we are so very thankful to have help keeping us safe! read more
6 years ago
AmaZing view!!! Check out IG: HERLIFEBEHINDTHELENS for more beautiful images of this location! read more
7 years ago
Definitely a must if your seeking a tiny adventure with a Wow factor! The volunteers are so knowledgeable and very friendly! read more
3 years ago
Amazing views, amazing drive, one of my favorite things to do in Lake Arrowhead! Its a little confusing to get here, and the dirt road may deter you from trying, but you really should try to go, its very well worth it! Ive made the trip with my Mercedes E420 sport edition (it has maybe 4 inches of clearance and low profile tires) many times! so don't be afraid, but I wouldn't do it in the snow. Just drive down Bear Springs Rd., and turn onto Strawberry Lookout Rd., it is unmarked but there is a large brown sign that says "Fire Lookout Tower" on the outside of one of the bends. once you turn onto this road thats really it, just follow it alll the way up, about a half mile, and park and climb up the tower for the best views in all of southern California. plug this coordinate into Google Maps for an exact location of the tower: 34.232095,-117.234651 read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
Amazing views, Ray, who was a volunteer for the day was very friendly, gave us an amazing tour of lookout tower and answered all of our questions. This was our second fire lookout. We will try to volunteer in Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout next year. read more
9 years ago
Great vista point en route to lake arrowhead. The group b4 us was told to go away due to thunderstorms and lightning in the nearby area (not where we were at). We stayed around for a while and BS a little with the volunteer Dave smith by saying how's the strawberry up there and I heard u can see the lake for here. He let go up as soon as the alert was lifted. Amazing view. Spectacular. We saw San Manuel casino and lake arrowhead from the deck. A bit more windy than the base of the tower. We thanked Dave for volunteering. read more
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2 years ago
Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower - localflavor - Updated May 2026
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