Serrano Serenade

Serrano Campground Big Bear Lake

05.05.2015

Marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and ghost stories. Time to gather around the campfire at Serrano Campground. Located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake, this spot is hidden in the national forest just a few miles from the city of Big Bear Lake. Some of the 132 sites are sunny and framed by low brush, while others are nestled below tall pines. Try to score a spot on the quieter Lake View Loop (sites 102–132). A path next to site 116 provides easy access to the Alpine Pedal Path and a short walk to a beach on the shore of Big Bear Lake (next to the solar observatory). Be sure to stroll down to the lake at the end of the day to watch the sunset over the west end of the lake and see the city of Big Bear Lake and the mountains above grow rosy in the fading light.

HIKE BONUS: Set out for a big panorama at Bertha Peak, a summit above Big Bear Lake. From the entrance to Serrano Campground, take the pedestrian walkway that passes below North Shore Drive to the start of Cougar Crest Trail. From here it's a 7.5-mile (round-trip) hike, gaining 1,300 feet to reach 8,200-foot Bertha Peak. After 2.5 miles on Cougar Crest Trail, turn right on Pacific Crest Trail. Make another right on Bertha Peak Road and find your way to the top. The steep summit climb is rewarded by 360-degree views over Holcomb Valley to the north and snow-tipped San Gorgonio Mountain to the south. Below, Big Bear Lake winks your way. Can you spot your campsite?

Serrano Campground is located at 40650 North Shore Ln. in Fawnskin in an area between North Shore Dr. and North Shore Ln. Sites are $30 per night; reservations. The campground and trail are dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View