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    Manker Flats Campground

    3.8 (34 reviews)

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    A small bear came through the campground.
    Rebecca C.

    I camped here from October 19 (Thursday) to October 22 (Sunday), and it was my first experience at a first come first serve campground. There were plentiful spots on Thursday and Friday morning, but by Friday evening there were slim pickings at this campground, which I imagine is the pattern at most first come first serve places. There were envelopes that you could use to deposit cash (bring the exact amount!) and they also accepted check. I'm including a picture of the instructions/fee information. On the USFS website for Manker Flat Campground it says "Bears are very active in this area, so it is recommended that all campers use provided bear boxes, personal bear canisters, or seal all food as to eliminate scent" but there are NO BEAR BINS PROVIDED. We thought that perhaps bears were not that big of a problem in the area because of this, but we did see a bear in the middle of the campground on Saturday night while we were around our campfire. We all stood up and made some noise which led it to walk off. We had left our trash out after dinner, so we made sure to clean up more quickly from then on. The campsites are fairly close to each other, and ours was separated from the next one only by some rocks arranged in a line on the ground. Some spots were hard to put stakes in as well, but overall no real complaints. I thought the bathrooms were fine. They are your standard pit toilets, and while they were running a little low on toilet paper (though there was still some) on Thursday, rangers must have come by because by Saturday morning they had been completely restocked. They don't have light or hand sanitizer, so be sure to bring a headlamp and your own soap/sanitizer. In another review, I saw someone was concerned about the lack of service in case of emergency. We stopped by Mt Baldy Lodge & Restaurant and they had free wifi, so if you have an emergency that might be an option if it is open. Overall, this was a great place to camp and we did Cucamonga Peak (a short drive to the trailhead) and Mt Baldy (the trailhead is a short walk away) during our stay.

    Sandra L.

    Please note that the last review appears to be about a year and a half ago and I visited Manker Flats on a weekend. A friend of mine told me she was taking her siblings for a snow day up at Mt. Baldy, specifically Manker Flats campground. I decided to join her. We went on a Saturday, it's a relatively easy trip to Mt. Baldy from the 210 freeway. We didn't need chains for the tires despite the sign indicating that we did. Once you pass Ice House Canyon, the road gets really twisty so take the turns carefully. There are signs everywhere indicating where you're at so it's difficult to get lost. Manker Flats has ample parking on the sides of the road and at the median, you will need an adventure pass to park at Manker Flats. I guess I need to disclose that I went on a Saturday around 11 am and it was recently after rain and cold weather. What I'm getting at is that everyone in the 20 mile radius decided to make it a snow day as well. After waiting in a slow turtle crawl of a wait to find parking, I needed to use the loo like no one's business. There was a blue porta potty parked in the outer area of the campgrounds which had a line that stretched a good 30 feet. Luckily my eagle eye son had spotted a row of porta potties further up the road. Hiking up the mountain in icy terrain - super fun! Please note there are 4 portable bathrooms to the left of the road and they virtually had no wait at all! Worth the trek! After the relief, we decided to hit the "snow". At best, it was packed and patchy. Now..the 2 stars are not for the over crowding, not for the traffic, not for the lack of snow, not for the lack of closer portable toilets. No. The 2 stars is for the filth and trash that was everywhere. I wish I could say that there was a lack of trash cans or otherwise, but in truth there was trash strewn recklessly all over the campground. There were pieces of plastic from broken sleds all over. Bottles, capri sun pouches, a water bottle that had some interesting yellow fluid in it, and the piez de resistance was a paper plate with rice and beans and plastic fork dug in it. It was difficult to walk around without stepping on trash. How difficult is it to pick up after yourself or teach your children to pick up after themselves? I admit I wasn't expecting Arrendale or anything like that, but I was expecting something a little more decent. If you decide to visit Manker Flats during snow season (when and if we have it) , might I suggest a weekday? Lastly, please pack it out. Every small bit helps!

    The group campsite
    Ashley A.

    It really wasn't all that bad. We went in March so it wasn't packed at all but the road was closed and water was turned off so you do have to hike in and bring your own water. Parking is close by to the outer campsites so it can be an easy hike in like less than a mile. There's no manager/camp host. The bathrooms are basically outhouses however pretty clean. It was beautiful though.

    The bathrooms were great! Flushing toilets and clean, not like some other reviews I read on here
    Amber K.

    Great place to camp but get there early! Friends and I arrived at around 5:30 p.m. on the Friday after memorial day and the camps were already all taken. We set up tent in an area that we weren't even sure was a night spot, may have been a day only, and luckily one of the camp sites only had one car and the guy let us leave our car next to his. We were waking up at 2:30 a.m. to leave for a hike so we kind of squatted, we did have an adventure pass displayed and put $11.00 into the box. Anyway, get there EARLY in the afternoon or probably be out of luck. Happy to have our temporary campsite staked out we were happy to find the Snowcrest inn right down the street about 1/5 mile from where we pitched ten. It is a very quaint ski lodge meets backwoodsy bar meets the Shining! Friend and I played 2 rounds of pool and we could have had drinks had we not just drank some of our own beers. Roaring fire in the fireplace and some very vibrant locals in the bar! Loved it!

    Flora K.

    The bathrooms were quite disgusting. Pros: Cheap. $12/night w/out adventure pass or $10/night with. $35 for pass at visitor center. Close (if u live in IE) Large spots good for groups, there are a few spots that I saw could easily accommodate 4-5 tents. Good hiking, waterfall. Have never had a problem arriving and getting a spot. Cons: Absolutely disgusting bathroom situation. Idk what was wrong but there was constantly a puddle of water all over the floor the whole time I was there. So I could not use the bathroom without getting my shoes wet which I know it's camping, but the wetness was over the line for me. During the day, there was so many flies that were attracted to the water all over the floor that I could not bring myself to enter, it sounded like a beehive. I approached the doorway but I could not bear it. The only reason I gave it 1 instead of 2 stars is that I have been camping at this spot 2 other times in the past and both of those experiences were very pleasant. The last time, there was a female park ranger and I saw her clean the bathrooms thoroughly every morning and they were kept in great condition the whole time I was there. I guess the bathroom situation is hit or miss depending on who's working. I will give them that I think the bug and bathroom situation might have been exacerbated by the season/weather. This was our first time camping here during hot weather, the last 2 times it was cold. Even given the weather I think they could have made a little more effort to at least keep the bathroom dry even if it's not the cleanest. Especially since the wetness attracted so many bugs that it was literally rendered unusable during the day. It's a pretty flat and open campground so there's not many places for a female to pee without being obvious.

    Ubaldo C.

    I recently camped here with my wife and 1 year old daughter and it was a great experience for us. Bathrooms aren't the best but what can you do. The park ranger was very friendly and chatty. We went the first week of April and it was a bit chilly and very gusty early before the sun came up. It's very close to Mt Baldy so a lot of traffics noise in the day time. Overall great spot. Had tons of fun.

    Jennie M.

    Manker flats is a very simple campground. It's also very affordable and true to authentic camping. First come first serve, no need to book 6 months ahead like other sites. Good for a last minute getaway. Absolutely no luxury here. We were there for 3 days, 2 nights. It was really cold 30's-50's all day(ok..I'm so cal girl). Luckily, they allow fire pits to stay warm. There was no cell reception. Yes, I know camping is to "get away" but I couldn't help worry what we would do in an emergency. My son has life threatening allergies so I was on the edge all weekend. I didn't see anyone mention that, so for other allergy mom's it's worth mentioning. Fire department is a good 2 miles down the mountain at least. The flushing toilets were out of service so port-a-potties were all that was available. They were disgusting, it wasn't until we left Sunday I saw someone come to clean them. In the end, my kids had a great time and that is what matters most.

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    5 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Used to get high here in the 90s. Cool spot to party. Be respectful. Dont trash it or it will be Gone.

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    3 years ago

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    7 months ago

    Great place to get away and back into nature... Every season is has a special experience!!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    I don't feel safe here. No host, no bear box, no light at night. There is a homeless living there permanently.

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    4 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    4 years ago

    A nice little place to escape the city. Greatfor a family day or a nice date. Plenty to enjoy.

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    4 years ago

    Cool spot to camp at. Rocky terrain makes it kinda hard to stake your tent. About 20 or so campsites.

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    14 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Manker Flats Campground

    Is this camp ground open year round?

    We're going to hike mt baldy this weekend, can we park here?

    no, not unless you pay for a campsite.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Manker Flats Campground

    Like everyone else said its cheaper if you have a adventure pass, and not much has changed from 2009 to 2010.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Dogwood Family Campground - Yellow Jacket infestation (each trap had between 50 to over 100 in 2 days). We had 6 traps set up.

    Dogwood Family Campground

    4.2(202 reviews)
    24.0 mi

    Super close drive from down in the IE. nice easy entry gate, reservations made online. Firewood is…read moreavailable at the entry area for small fires at campsite with a built in grate. Site are spacious and most are not paved except for your "parking spot". We brought our RV but commonly here you will find tent or small van camping. The sites are surrounded by multiple trees making your area secluded. Great area to rides bikes and walk. Several birds & squirrels running around with lockbox for food at each site. Will definitely be returning for another memorable R & R.

    9/7/2026 thru 9/9/2025…read more We come to Dogwood every year because we really Love it here. We do the hiking trail twice a day, grill some meats, take Hot showers before bed and sleep in tents. It is beautiful here, the facilities are clean and most importantly you can take Free HOT showers. This year we planned to stay two nights at Campsite #87. But left early, only staying the one night leaving around 1pm on 9/8/2025. During the night around 1am we heard someone or an animal walking around outside our tent. (We have Never experienced any kind of wild life animal or people walking into our campsite before. This was the first time this happened to us). The steps were light and almost human. The light grunting and chewing on what sounded like twigs or maybe acorns and light heavy breathing is what made us realize it was not human. But we were not sure and all of us were scared to look outside. After staying still and playing dead for two to three hours we finally fell asleep and woke up around 5:30am. And started our day. Went for a hike and came back to our tent / campground. HUGE Black Bear encounter. We got back to our campsite before 10ish, ate, relaxed and were drinking tea. When suddenly out of no where I saw a huge Black Bear just casually strolling into our neighbors campsite walking past their RV camper and headed we towards the garbage dumpsters or towards the Rimforest high school. We Jumped into our car and stayed there until the bear was out of site. Then we met with the Park ranger and let them know that we just saw the Black bear. Park ranger then confirmed that the bear was also here last night. And that that there was a Mountain Lion lurking around as well. So we had to be on high alert and if we see the mountain lion to hide or get in your car. I gave my family members one look and within one second we agreed to pack up and head back home. Although we know bears can be seen whenever you go hiking or camping. We never expected it to actually ever happen to us. So to be safe we had to cut our trip short.

    Photos
    Dogwood Family Campground - Great place to come with families from our church.

    Great place to come with families from our church.

    Dogwood Family Campground
    Dogwood Family Campground - The camping spots were really nice.

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    The camping spots were really nice.

    North Shore Campground

    North Shore Campground

    3.3(51 reviews)
    26.6 mi

    Very peaceful and relaxing area of the mountains…read more First time visitors as we are here with a group of 18 family and friends. It is a well kept area, clean and quiet dispute all the critters walking around our tent last night including two hollowing ??? About fifty feet away. This is nature after all. Not a big deal to some but for someone that has not camped in over 30 years, I was wide awake most of the night and now, I need a short nap to recharge. Fully recharged after my nap and I am ready to enjoy the this outing once again. We visited this camp ground with a group of eighteen in all and we had a BLAST! We had camp sites 5, 6, 7 and 8. We all had 6-person tents yet had enough room for twenty-tents as our areas combined were HUGE! We played games, bonfires, ate together, used cots, went hiking, visited a public playground less than one mile away and used a zip line, played volleyball and had a picturesque view of Lake Arrowhead. There is also a hospital w/ emergency services directly in front of our camp ground entrance if such services were ever needed. I can definitely see us returning in the near future but for now, the memories we created will stay with us forever.

    Hello, the campground was full this weekend. On Thurs I got…read morea wild hair and checked for reservations and coincidentally I got one night only at the best site #19. Incidentally, when we arrived to check-in, we were greated by a delightful Dennis! He was a wealth of knowledge. He rakes each site before the next person comes. Aside from making it clean for the next person...he picks up all tiny trash and food bits we toss around and dont make it into the fire pit. He cleans all of this up which prevents "visitors" while were sleeping. Yes, visitors. Were in nature but it belongs to squirrels, mice, snakes, bears, coyotes and mountain lions. So we took note and did a full look for any bits we left behind so Dennis could just rake and not worry about out food and trash. He's a great guy and youll hear his cart going around checking on things. He is actually security, housekeeping, front desk, greeter, janitor, grounds keeper, friendly neighbor, game warden for the little camp ground, so be respectful bc he lives where he works. If you hate the thought of snakes and bears, stay some place like a city KOA. This area is lush with trees and full of dry brush...(snakes like the brush!) Also bugs werent an issue whatso ever!....we sprayed ourselves with OFF and were fine. Kept tent zipped up in case of critters. We did not see any snakes or bears. Upon departure we saw a coyote in the morning near the entrance doing his own thing. Upon arrival check in with the Delightful Dennis, your camp host. Follow his directions to a T and youll be fine. I keep a bear bell, air horn and utility knife for protection in my tent. No swimming or showers at camp ground... Swim at Lake Gregory!!!- Arrowhead is a no swim lake.

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    North Shore Campground
    North Shore Campground
    North Shore Campground

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    Pilgrim Pines Camp

    Pilgrim Pines Camp

    4.4(22 reviews)
    42.1 mi

    Pilgrim Pines Camp was an amazing experience for a school trip. The drive up the mountain was a…read morelittle scary with all the winding roads, but the views along the way were absolutely beautiful and made the trip even more memorable. Once we arrived, the camp itself was really well maintained. The cabins were clean, comfortable, and a great setup for a group. I was especially impressed with how clean the showers and restrooms were, not always something you expect at a camp, but they were kept in really good condition. The staff were all very friendly and welcoming, and they helped make the whole experience run smoothly. The views and surrounding landscape are stunning, and it's such a peaceful place to spend time outdoors. Overall, it was a great experience for a school trip and a perfect place for kids to enjoy nature in a safe, clean, and beautiful environment. I would definitely come back again.

    New Leadership + Hard-Working Staff = An Amazing Experience!…read more We've been bringing groups to this retreat site for over five years, so we could immediately tell that something had changed--and it was a wonderful change! From the moment we booked our group to the time we left the campsite, everything went smoothly. Two weeks ago, we brought over 100 college students to Pilgrim Pines for a new student retreat, and we were pleasantly surprised by the level of attention and care the staff provided. The main lodge was clean and well maintained. The staff went above and beyond to help us set up our technology, including microphones and a projector for workshop presentations, as well as surround sound for our dance party. They also made sure the bonfire was well stocked with plenty of wood for our large group. But the biggest difference--aside from the attentive staff--was the food! We've been here more than five times, and the new chef did an outstanding job. We enjoyed broiled chicken, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and other healthy options, all kept warm in chafing dishes. The salad bar was fresh, and the condiments were well stocked. And, the local area is known for their apple orchards, so they incorporated them into a warm apple sliced dessert. It was not too sweet, but fresh and gave us a nostalgic feeling. I can go on and on, but we just wanted to thank you for making our stay a memorable one. Until next year!!!

    Photos
    Pilgrim Pines Camp
    Pilgrim Pines Camp - Another beautiful sunset

    Another beautiful sunset

    Pilgrim Pines Camp - Students enjoyed a game of frisbee and volleyball during their break

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    Students enjoyed a game of frisbee and volleyball during their break

    Manker Flats Campground - active - Updated September 2026

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