If you’re staying in the San Bernardino Mountains and want a lake day with something for everyone, Lake Gregory Regional Park in Crestline is worth adding to your plans. The park sits in a cedar and pine forest at elevation, which means cooler temperatures, cleaner air, and a slower pace than the valley below.

If you are looking for a place to ground yourself before heading into the San Bernardino National Forest, the Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin is one of the most useful stops you can make. It is not a theme park or a ticketed attraction — it is the visitor and nature centre for the Big Bear area of the national forest, and it genuinely helps you get more out of your time outdoors.

Tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains not far from the heart of Running Springs, the Deep Creek Narrows is the kind of place that doesn’t announce itself. There’s no roadside sign, no crowded parking lot, and no interpretive display waiting to explain what you’re looking at.

Wildhaven Ranch is a wildlife sanctuary, education centre, and visitation facility for endangered and indigenous wild animals of the San Bernardino Mountains. Operated by the San Bernardino Mountains Wildlife Society, Wildhaven’s mission is to preserve the wildlife indigenous to these mountains and to leave a valuable natural heritage for future generations.

There’s something about Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain that keeps people coming back decade after decade. It’s not a sprawling theme park with hour-long queues or a place that tries to do everything at once.

This guide covers six beginner-friendly ski resorts within reach of Los Angeles, from the closest (Mountain High, about 90 minutes away) to the most ambitious weekend destination (Mammoth Mountain, about five hours). Two of them — Snow Valley Mountain Resort and Snow Summit — sit in the San Bernardino Mountains and are worth particular attention for beginners.

Just 10 minutes from the heart of Running Springs, Snow Valley Mountain Resort stands as one of Southern California’s most accessible and beginner-friendly ski destinations. This historic resort attracts skiers and snowboarders from across the region, offering a relaxed mountain experience without the crowds and long drives associated with larger resorts.

Big Bear Lake is one of Southern California’s most beloved mountain destinations, and summer is arguably its finest season. When the valleys below are sweltering through triple-digit temperatures, Big Bear offers cool alpine breezes, a sparkling lake, and an endless lineup of outdoor adventures that make it feel like a world away from the everyday […]