1. Manker Flats Campground

1. Manker Flats Campground

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Claremont, CA

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Manker Flats Campground

3.7 (33 reviews)

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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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3 months ago

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2 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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5 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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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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3 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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5 years ago

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14 years ago

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

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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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15 years ago

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11 years ago

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Ask the Community - Manker Flats Campground

Which campsite is recommended here?

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.

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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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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
Weiners
Weiners
Lake

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Lake
Mountain Lakes Resort

Mountain Lakes Resort

3.3
(271 reviews)
8.0 mi

We've spent countless seasons at Mountain Lakes for at least 20 years and have been members for 10!…read morePrior to becoming members, we couldn't turn down a guest invitation, until we finally bought our own membership. Our family and friends have made so many wonderful memories here. The amenities and grounds are very well maintained. Throughout the years we've seen many changes, improvements and upgrades. The splash pad is perfect for families with little littles. We've always felt safe, comfortable and welcome. The rangers are good at keeping order and safety. This place is a little oasis, filled with family friendly fun spaces and even adult only relaxation/party zones! The HOLIDAYS and all the seasons!! Omg! SO MUCH FUN! New Years, Easter, Summer, HALLOWEEN, Winter! The ambiance, activities and events are core memory makers for sure. Unfortunately the meadow area was washed out by a winter rain storm (Dec. 2025), but we're excited to see what it will look like once it's back open. Chillaxin in the creek was top tier! The staff is pretty friendly and will answer your questions the best they can. Looking forward to making more memories here over the years to come. Definitely one of my most favorite places!!

Mountain Lakes is truly a hidden gem! From the moment you arrive, you can tell it's a place…read moredesigned for families to relax, have fun, and make lasting memories. The entire facility is clean, well-maintained, and incredibly comfortable. The staff is always friendly, welcoming, and happy to help with anything you need. The cabins are spacious and have everything you could ask for--including cookware, dinnerware, a microwave, stove, and full-size refrigerator--which makes packing and meal prep so much easier. My kids absolutely love the splash pad, mini golf, and the family swimming pools. One of my favorite perks is the adults-only pool, where you can unwind with a drink from the full-service bar while the kids enjoy all the family activities. My husband always looks forward to fishing in the trout and catfish ponds, which always seem to be well stocked. The convenience store on the property is another huge plus--it has all the best snacks along with basic groceries, so you never have to leave the resort if you forget something. Overall, Mountain Lakes truly has it all. Whether you're looking to relax, fish, swim, or spend quality time with family, this is the perfect place. We've made so many wonderful memories here and can't wait to come back. Highly recommend!

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Mountain Lakes Resort
Kids are at the pool or the arcade and there's no place like home relaxing on a beautiful Labor Day weekend.
Kids are at the pool or the arcade and there's no place like home relaxing on a beautiful Labor Day weekend.
In these photos are the lakes, mountain lakes has both a trout and catfish lakes

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In these photos are the lakes, mountain lakes has both a trout and catfish lakes

Manker Flats Campground - active - Updated July 2026

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