San Bernardino National Forest

San Bernardino National Forest encompasses a total area of about 824,000 acres of land in southwestern California and just east of Los Angeles. The forest is accessible using several routes including US 60, CA 18 and CA 74. Some of the nearby modern areas include Riverside, Palm Springs, and San Bernardino. The area where the forest land sits was dedicated as a national forest in 1907 and is governed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Several attractions make San Bernardino National Forest a great place for all kinds of visitors. First, the forest includes several water bodies including the best fishing lakes like Big Bear Lake and Lake Hemet. Additionally, the forest is home to Lost Lake, which is the forest's only natural lake. 

Furthermore, the forest also has natural hot springs, the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, part of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, and seven wilderness areas. The wilderness areas include Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness, Bighorn Mountain Wilderness, Cucamonga Wilderness, San Jacinto Wilderness, Santa Rosa Wilderness, San Gorgonio Wilderness, and South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness.

Some of the relaxing, fun and exciting activities that can be enjoyed at San Bernardino National Forest include fishing, swimming, mountain biking, hunting, boating, snowboarding, hiking, camping, water-skiing, OHV riding, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross-country and downhill skiing. 

The forest has several amenities to facilitate these activities including 23 campgrounds, cabins, dispersed camping, three visitor centers, five equestrian campsites, 13 picnic areas, 21 group camps, two fishing piers, trails, unpaved roads, OHV areas, scenic drives, three shooting ranges, five downhill ski areas, and a snow play area.

You can bring your tail-wagger into the forest, but you must follow the forest rules if you want to enjoy your time with your pooch. Some of the main rules that you must observe include keeping your dog on a leash at all times. Ensuring that you are respectful of the forest’s resources and making sure that you clean up after your dog.