I ventured out to Heaps Peak Arboretum one day just to get out of the city, and I was pleasantly surprised! It is a very scenic little spot that would be perfect for a family trip or a solo adventure. My Garmin watch calculated the entire loop as ~0.8 miles. I wanted to get some trail running in, so I did a bunch of loops. The trail is not too difficult, with some elevation gain but nothing crazy or technical. The scenery is super beautiful, and you'll be surrounded by towering pine trees and lush greenery. There is also a wildflower garden/exhibit out front that you can take a quick stroll through as well. The garden was a bit overgrown but still nice to get your extra steps in. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrooms here are closed and locked up. Because of this, you do not need to display a Forest Pass to park here. When the facilities open back up, you will need a Forest Pass which you can buy at gas stations in the area. The parking lot is right off of the freeway and is pretty small. Overall, I think it's a fun activity if you're in the area or want to get out of the city for a little bit! Please wear a mask when you're out on the trails. read more

Get your adventure card ($5) for parking! The booth at the entrance will sale them until 3pm on weekends. If they're not there, the closest gas stations will have them too. Limited parking! Open 24/7 !! If you're coming up the 330 Highway to the 18, it'll be on your right hand side. Great hike, a little less than a mile trek. Easy for all levels hikers! The trail loops around, so take your pick left or right! I went towards the end of February 2018, and the trails were filled with fresh fallen snow! It was a gorgeous winter wonderland! Do be careful, some parts were icy and you might slip. There are some areas you can wander off the trail, and it's great for sledding or simply taking pictures. #doitforthegram. read more

Heaps Peak Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Lake Arrowhead, California

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Definitely do this if you are in Lake Arrowhead. It was my favorite part of our trip. I went in not expecting much and it is actually an easy and entirely scenic 1 mile hike through the forest and mountains. I felt like I was on a real trek through nature but it was entirely manageable for everyone in our party including my dog who was living for it with her inner wild wolf coming out. I would highly recommend to anyone with kids or pets as it is a super manageable walk. There are tons of beautiful photo ops and my only regret was that it wasn't longer. You do need a forest pass to display on your car to park there and you should not expect there to be anyone on-site to sell it to you. They are $5/day. We picked ours up at the 7-11 near the village but they also sell them at the local gas stations. read more

This was a great find for us while staying in Lake Arrowhead. Dogs are allowed while on leashes. Arboretum was educational and planned nicely. They have good bathrooms and picnic tables. Opened 24/7 . We loved the one mile Sequoia Trail. A parking pass is require in window of car. They can be purchased for five dollars at convenience stores, such as 7 Eleven . Pass is for one day, unless you buy an annual pass. This is a bit inconvenient when just driving by and wanting to pull over. read more

Heaps Peak Arboretum - This place great for a one mile walk with pups! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Lake Arrowhead, California

This is simply a cute nature walk with lots of shade and interesting plant life. The views were limited but there was some nice spots. It's well maintained and parking was easy. Great place to bring kids read more

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Easy hike. Very family friendly. Great for kids of all ages. A nice easy loop. Great pamphlet available at the beginning with a lot of useful information. Amazing group of sequoia tress in the middle of the hike. Easy to park. Trail clearly marked. Highly recommend for all nature lovers. Lots of majestic vistas. read more

I used to come here as a child with my Girl Scout troop to walk the nature trail and learn about the local plants, trees, and animals. There is a children's area with animal footprints stamped in the cement path. There are information posts all throughout the almost one mile loop. There are benches for picnics and nice bear proof trash canisters. This trail is good for all ages. If you are not used to high elevation approx 5,600 feet, you may feel winded due to thin air. As an adult I love to exercise here. I take my dog and jog the trail. It is beautiful year round. I posted both winter and summer pictures. Make sure you display your Adventure pass. If you plan on visiting more than one state park or basically parking anywhere on the mountain off the HWY 18, 330, or 38. Get the year pass. $30 I believe vs the day pass of $5. You can do the trail in approx 30 minutes. I usually do it twice, so I can enjoy all the beauty. The trail never closes but the information box office has limited hours. The trail is a little secluded, so hikers that are walking along please be aware if your surroundings. The beautifulness of the mountains can give one a false sense of security . Safety first and enjoy! read more

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Not so much of a hike but rather a nice 1 mile walk, this trail is a pleasant 20-30 minute stroll in the woods with a clearly marked path and multiple signs pointing out different kinds of trees. The difficulty level is really none, and we saw folks with toddlers, infants and elderly strolling along. There is a nice picnic area on the front (3-4 tables) and also a little self-guided tour featuring the animals one can encounter in local forests. This small arboretum park is literally along the 18 highway and there are parking spots along the road. The sign said we were to display parking passes, but one of the regulars told us it was not required. We visited on a glorious October day and enjoyed ourselves immensely! read more

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Great trail for families with little ones. The loop is about a mile-ish. You will not get lost, plenty of shade and areas for snack breaks. The entire trail is very easy and not scary for you folks who are afraid of heights. Some parts are narrow, so just hold on to the lil ones to avoid any accidents. read more

I took my teenaged son and daughter here in the second week of October, 2019. Both of them were not impressed with the view of it from the road (RIm of the World Highway) and did not want to visit this place. After a bit of cajoling, they agreed to go and do the little hike there, and shockingly, they both loved the place. It is an easy walk/hike that they enjoyed, plus they got to see a small deer up close while they were hiking/walking, which they both were delighted with. The sequoia trees were great to see, and were a pleasant surprise for all of us (they are not giants, but they are Sequoias). Since the trail starts right near the parking area, there is no wasted time. The way the trail has been set up and maintained makes it a very pleasant experience. If you are in the area like we were while camping, or just passing through, it is worth the little time and effort to visit this place, especially with little ones. Only real drawback is the restroom situation, which could be a turnoff for man people, so just make sure you and your party go potty before coming here. read more

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A well maintained trail that goes in a loop. If you want to get to the Sequoia Trees faster I would start at the exit. It took us about 25 minutes to complete. Would highly recommend!! I would consider this place to be a hidden gem. read more

I was actually pleasantly surprised! It was a quick stop for our family on the way home from our weekend trip in Lake Arrowhead and I'm glad we did it. Less than a mile long. Short and sweet but very informative. Loved that it had a trail guide pamphlet and number markers along the way with information you can follow along to. The path is well taken care of. There are picnic tables and bathrooms. There is also a concrete "Footprint Path" with footprints of different animals and labels to identify them. Very enjoyable! read more

This was one of few walking paths I could find near the neighborhood where we rented a weekend home in Lake Arrowhead (just east of the lake on highway 18. It's an easy walk, less than a mile (I believe it's a .9 mile loop). It has a little bit of everything. First, expect to pay $5 per car. It's not much for as many people as can fill a car, but just in case you don't carry cash, it's nice to know. There's a little guide that you can read (then recycle) as you stop at numbered signs, keeping those who want to learn a bit, occupied. There are boulders, local trees and flowers, squirrels, slight inclines and dips, and a few bridges (with a dry creek just inches below). For those who hike miles into a national forest (like my Boy Scout son), this is NOT that. But anyone who just wants a 20 minute stroll through a wooded area, like city slickers who want a little dirt, some green, a little shade and sun, and just a tiny taste of the mountain, this is your place! read more

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My husband and I loved this little hiking trail and the animal tracks garden. Plus it has decent outdoor-type restrooms. Make sure to have your Adventure Pass on display. The hike takes you along various types of pines, oaks and sequoias. It was dry and hot on our hike, so the creeks were dry. The smell of trees and earth was refreshing! I'd have been happy just parking on the benches for lengths of time taking in the scents and scenery. The hike is not strenuous and takes about an hour at a leisurely pace. The little garden near the kiosk contains mountain flowers and shows what some animal tracks look like. Definitely worth a stop. Right off 18, just past Arrowhead Lake. read more

Went here based on the 2 reviews and one picture. It was a simple loop hike, perfect and simple enough for old people and pregnant ones--or out of shape ppl. The hike was nice and quiet, but wasn't anything special. Almost all the trees that were labeled were either dead, burnt, or had no leaves on it (I suppose because it's winter-although it was very warm for a Feb day). We paid $5 for parking, the hike took about 30 min, and there was not much to see. Maybe spring would be better? read more

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This is a very nice loop trail for people who don't often hike. There's plenty of shade and very nice views. We finished it well under 30 minutes. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. It is described as "flat", which is not completely accurate. There is some easy elevation change--it's not hard but it was a surprise for us who were expecting a flat trail. This is a great trail for anyone. There are nice benches if you need a rest. We will definitely do it this one again. read more

Simply gorgeous place, never too crowded. Love how all the flora is labeled, you get a bit of education while enjoying the regalia of Mother Nature. read more

This is a great, easy, short trail. And it's dog friendly! You make a loop and there are numbered stops along the way. Grab a map before you go so you can read about whatever the corresponding number is to where you are on the map, and you'll learn a thing or two. We went here because my husband wanted to see the sequoia. It was indeed there (towards the end of the loop....or the beginning if you go backwards like we did) but it was partially dead it seemed. I think it was too hot for it. There are bathrooms here but they're pretty gross, so beware! read more

Quaint little park with a .8 mike easy hike. Unfortunately no great views but very pretty and easy to get to right off the road.

This is a really nice and well-maintained Arboretum. It is about a .7 mile loop with a wide and not steep path. It does seem to be wheelchair accessible. The Arboretum maintainer seems very friendly and will point out stuff that you would want to know or need to know. There is also a self guided tour which allows you to look at little brief bits of history in the Arboretum as well as information on trees in the Arboretum and indigenous native Americans. Overall it's a really pretty Arboretum that is well-maintained, and offers nice views. read more

Gorgeous hiking trail. Great for kids too. Only about a mile around the loop. Great views of the high desert to the North. Get the little map from the kiosk desk and read up on all the local trees and wildlife that surround. read more

Great spot for a stroll! Nice paved trails, easy. Plenty of parking too. Restaurants nearby. Clean area. Has a variety of trees, shrubs, etc... read more

We lived this place for a short hike with a 4 year old. It was so beautiful and had many little pit stops to enjoy nature. I will definitely be back. I also enjoyed the ranger pointing out some cool areas of interest like an ant hill and saddleback mountain in the background read more

It's a beautiful and easy hike we take our young kids on. Fairly flat terrain, no climbing necessary. Visit in spring to see a variety of wild flowers. During the summer months, things seem to dry out, but it is still much cooler than down the hill. Plenty of species of birds and small animals to watch. read more

Nice, easy walking place with good info markets. It's definitely worth a quiet hour.

Great easy hike with the kids! Beautiful well maintained trails with a cool Sequoia grove midway!

We love this place. It's a beautiful, easy hike. Our kids love it. We felt very safe letting our little ones explore

I love this place. The kids can run around, the hike is easy and there are places to have a picnic.

My family just went to go on a hike today (Friday afternoon) and we were being watched and followed by a guy on his phone. Every time we stopped, he stopped. We barely reached the bathroom and let him pass us. He walked up to the front of the bathroom and stopped and pretended to play on his phone. It was weird, so we decided to leave. The guy saw that we were going towards his car and decided to leave right behind us. He acknowledged someone in the parking lot on his way out. I am not sure what they were up to, but it was no good. This place is a great place to take your kids to learn about nature, but make sure you are aware of your surroundings! The guy drove away in a tan 4Runner (older model). read more

Me and my three kids went for a hike here at Heap's Peak. It had an amazing view with brisk nature to breath. The trail is marked with numbers and literature for you to read through out your trail about the location. My kids and I would love to go back. read more

Beautiful little trail with placards to help identify local plants. Great picnic spot. I love bringing my children here.

Nice short hike close to Lake Arrowhead. About a 30 min trail. They have a self guided brochure to take at the trailhead that explains points of interest along the way. read more

Heaps peak is a great place to stretch legs and get some walking in.The elevation changes are only a hundred feet or so but can be challenging.Wish there was someone at the booth on weekends .Must be seasonal. Not spectacular but if you want to see real nature in its native state this is the place. read more

Heaps Peak Arboretum began in the 1980 and has a .85 mile hike that loops through groves of dogwoods and giant Sequoias. The Arboretum has representation of many native plants from the San Bernardino National Forest. There is no cost to enter, only an adventure pass must be displayed to park. It is open 365 days a year. Children are particularly interested in the animal tracks that are engraved in the pathway. Well worth stopping to enjoy the beauty of the forest. There are restrooms and picnic tables. The Arboretum is handicapped accessible. read more