What a gem this park is, we got done walking around the Village so we decided to take the girls to…read morethe park for a bit before we went to meet up with our other friends to watch the bands play. Wow this park is amazing, it was very windy and foggy but the kids didn't mind. We brought blankets so through them over us lol and walked over. They have swings when you first walk up, but if you walk a bit further they have the playground. They also have a tennis or bad mitten court and basketball courts too. The playground is so nice and clean and they have a cool zip line for the kids to play on, they loved that so much and had a blast going on it lol. It even has a cute little gazebo such a beautiful park. The girls had a blast we would love to come here again. If you have never been to MacKay Park you should if you have little ones it's really beautiful here. Even if you don't it's peaceful and in the mountains and so lovely. The parking lot is pretty big too so plenty for everyone. Have a beautiful day, be kind to everyone :) Aloha

Went to MacKay park last month, I did not take any photos that day, but it was a small park good…read morefor family and children. Upon arriving, parking lot is not as big as you would expect, we squeezed in besides the trash cans to park, however it was really clean, and everyone's vibe is nothing but smiles and nods. They do have bathrooms, on the right hand side near the parking lot are swings, to the left and middle part closer to the parking lot has two pickleball courts, and if you walk past the swings the walkway leads to a view and a children's playground. My fiancée and I came for the dog park, which was literally a walk to the left past the actual parking lot. Spacious with a few trees and limited spots for shade. But enough room for your furry friends to stretch their legs!

Just went the other day, the road was still open to make it just a very short hike to get to the…read morecool creek and bridge area. IT DEFINITELY IS STILL ILLEGAL TO VISIT UNTIL MAY 21st 2021 at least. The website doesn't say so but several signs out here do and there is no reversal of that order anywhere to be found in the internet. Honestly was a cool place that i can't wait to explore more but I'm thankful it's closed because it's too easy too access which enables non nature people to go easily and trash it and disrespect the area, and not responsibly socially distance. If you aren't a local please don't visit this spot Go explore trails and nature area in your home towns and if there isn't enough than get your voice heard in local city council meetings and demand some more.

This spot was absolutely perfect for a family hike and some fun splashing about in the river and…read moreswimming holes. It is an extremely simple hike, no rough terrain and clearly marked. We had driven from Arizona for some cooler weather and had the hardest time simply finding a good spot for the kids to play and swim without needing to pay a fortune (We dont have to pay to swim in lakes in Arizona which I didn't know was a novelty??) We rented a cabin by Arrowhead lake and found out AFTER we got there that it is a private lake. We were told by locals that a great family lake was Lake Gregory which was about 20 minutes away. We drove to lake Gregory only to be told by park rangers that we cant swim in the lake unless we go to the designated family beach area and pay $10 per person (adults and children included) to use a small crowded beach area. That particular day I gave in and paid so my children could have some fun outside and in the water. I was determined to continue looking... FINALLY, I searched for rivers, streams and hiking nearby to get some peace and adventure and came across this little gem. Maybe we got lucky since it was in the middle of the week, but there were very few people on the trail, not to mention only one other family with kids at the swimming hole that my kids played with. The water was clean and cool, it was not crowded, there was ample shade and sandy beach areas...it was PERFECT. I would highly recommend this area for family use.

Came across this beach Club while we were on our way from a OHV lane, it's for members only which I…read moredidn't know but I needed to use a restroom so I was focused on that. We saw the sunset and got our feet in the water -it was surprisingly warm!! People were so welcoming I had no issues with anyone and the facility was very clean. There's a playground with swings and slides and a campo rental among some boat docks. I posted pictures.

Burnt Mill is a private beach, part of Lake Arrowhead Association. Lake Arrowhead is a private…read morelake, the only way to join the association is to own property in Lake Arrowhead. With all that said, Burnt Mill is a quit little family beach. There's another beach on the other side of the lake; Tavern Bay which is larger but Burnt Mill is better for launching paddle boards and kayaks.

Lake Gregory Water Day…read more We made the most of our day at Lake Gregory! We tried the inflatable water park, paddle boarding, and a Duffy boat ride and each one was a different kind of fun! Paddle boarding More challenging than it looks, especially when you're trying to keep your balance, but so much fun once you get the hang of it. Duffy boat Definitely the relaxing part of the day! Cruising around the lake, enjoying the scenery, and taking in the beautiful Mountain View's Inflatable water park: The kids had a blast! Adults be prepared to work for it because the climbing and balancing are no joke! Overall, such a fun family day at Lake Gregory. Definitely recommend trying all three if you're visiting!

This was our third visit on 9/5. We had such a great experience during our first two visits that we…read morechose to return to celebrate our birthday twins. Unfortunately, this visit was incredibly disappointing. We reserved a cabana and arrived as soon as the lake opened, only to find guests setting up pop-up tents directly in front of the cabanas, completely obstructing our view of the lake. During our previous visits, tents were not permitted in this area--which is part of what made paying extra for a cabana worthwhile. I brought the issue to both the cabana hostess and the office. I explained that had we known pop-up tents would be allowed directly in front of us, we would have brought our own instead of spending the additional money on a cabana. The only solutions offered were to move or leave. I wasn't asking for a full refund--just a reasonable discount because the experience we paid for was clearly compromised--but the manager refused. To make matters worse, the wind later picked up and the tents began blowing around, creating the exact type of safety concern this policy should prevent. We've enjoyed this lake in the past, but the manager's poor handling of the situation and complete lack of customer service left us extremely disappointed. If you're considering paying extra for a cabana, I recommend confirming beforehand whether tents will be allowed to set up directly in front of it. Otherwise, the cabana may not be worth the additional cost.

Great little hike with some shade for the family. Park by the Metate Trailhead sign and cross the…read moreroad to where trail begins. According to AllTrails the hike is called Metate Trail and is approximately 2 miles of fairly flat trails. There are many different trails that links to this so you can extend your hike and go a totally different way. The Indian Rock Camp is only about 1/4 mile into the trail if you take the entrance on the left that says "interpretative." Once you get to the sign you will need to explore the hill for the Rock Camp. Our kids had a blast exploring and looking for acorns to play with. There is also a small hut for the kids to explore. Further down the trail is a small creek and lots more trail to explore. We saw signs of a large herd of deer so if you are quiet you maybe in for a surprise.

Starting at the Rock Camp Forest Service Station a very short trail (maybe a mile) winds through a…read morebeautiful grove of ponderosa pines and soon you will see a sign for the centuries (and maybe millennium) old Serrano Indian rocks that were used to grind acorns into meal for use as food. I love this place because it brings everyone back to reality, letting us know that we were not the first ones here, and we will not be the last. Its a really neat little piece of history in a secluded patch of woods. The trail head is located at 34.287955, -117.212582, just walk east and you'll run into it. I'm pretty sure there is a map and sign there as well.

Updated review: Second attempt after a year. Made it to the top this time but trail was still…read moresomewhat confusing in some areas. Last stretch to the top requires rock scrambling. GPS of the AllTrails route was required to give a general direction. Overall, plenty of nice views including Silverwood Lake from a distance. Short video of the hike: https://youtu.be/LKLBBaKxJ7U

Definitely a hike for experienced hikers! Very few signs indicate the trail direction. If you…read moreaccidentally deviate from the trail (which is very easy to do), the difficulty increases tenfold. I made it to the top only by staying on the trail with the help of my trusty iPhone. The view at the top is amazing - you get a 360 view of Silverlake, Victorville, Apple Valley, and the mountains surrounding Lake Arrowhead. Going back down is much more challenging than going up!

My family and I had a great experience here. From all the variety and choices of activities to how…read moresmoothly everything runs and is operated. We found this to be a great way to enjoy the outdoor weather and be active in Lake Arrowhead. This park is very accessible and was 20 minutes from the cabin we were staying in. The only thing we would do differently next time is bring our own mountain bikes. Good value also.

Was unsure if this was adult friendly or more kid friendly. Hands down BOTH. If you're in the area,…read morethis is a must. They charge for parking ( $15 at the door vs $10 on line) The price of the ticket gets you- axe throwing, bow shooting, bb gun range shooting, ice skating, petal car, rock wall climbing, bike rail, and zip lining (zip lining requires reservation, do that immediately entering park). Arrive earlier to avoid the crowd and long waits. They have plenty of shows, food, sweets, beverages, and coffee. This def was one of the top favorite activities during my stay. Worth the price

The children's forest is a great local place to hike, walk, camp, or have a picnic. It is located…read moreoff HWY 18 in Running Springs . One would not necessarily notice the area unless you were looking for it. There are many trails and some loop around so if you can't walk too far you can double back. There is camping and group camping spots available. There are picnic areas and informational trailheads. Safety first , remember cellphones may not work in all areas. Bring food , water, appropriate clothing per the weather. Have a first aid kit accessible for emergencies. Remember that there are animals in the forest . Bring pepper spray or bear spray to scare off most wild animals and humans ! Don't forget your Adventure pass. This can be bought at the Rangers station or Jensen's store off HWY 330 in town.

This review is specifically for the Exploration Trail, which is the 8-mile hike located in the…read moreChildren's Forest. I'm relatively new to the realm of hiking, and really enjoyed exploring the Children's Forest this past weekend. I would definitely label this trail as a moderate hike! While there is no major climb or obstacles, the majority of the trail is uphill. Since the trail is located in Running Springs it can also great pretty chilly, so I would suggest a jacket and pants! Luckily a member of our group thought ahead and brought hand-warmers, which were the highlight of my night. Overall, this is a hike that is great for those looking to escape the city life and immerse themselves in fresh air, plus it highlights the beauty of California's forests.

Crest park is nestled in San Bernardino mountains, located near big bear. It is a small park with a…read morefew parking spaces. However, it is such a lovely park to visit as for a picnic nature is surrounded all around. Often times when you visit you could be the other visitor at the time visiting almost like the whole area to yourself. Certain times of the year there could be snow and everything looks even more magical covered in snow. There are restrooms and every time I have visited it was as clean as clean gets. Don't miss the chance to stop here when I'm the area as the views are quite lovely. A recreation/local adventure pass is required. Adventure on! "Adventure is not outside people; it is within!"

Small picnic area on Highway 18, we had to burn some time before check in time and this was an OK…read morepublic area to pull over and see some snow during the off season. The picnic area itself is on the sunny area of the mountain, and the snow melts faster on this side. There are 4-5 picnic tables with benches underneath some trees near the parking lot. It's right on the edge of a mountain with no gates or paved trails so you can wander off and truly feel like you are in the wild. Because we went in February if you want snow action head across the street. There is a large area here with trees and leftover snow, there are flat areas and a small river for kids to make snowballs and play in. Spread throughout are also small hills good for short sledding with the benefit of not having to trek far back uphill over and over.

Baylis Park is small and just right off highway 18. You must, I repeat you must, everyone must have…read morean adventure pass presented in vehicle to park here. The parking lot is also very small. They have restrooms, picnic tables, and bear proof rubbish cans. There were loads of rocks and naked trees as the leaves had fallen off. It was also quite windy on the day I arrived. I thought it would be nice to snap a few photos of the city with the high elevation. It's also great for kids and also if you have pets. I'm glad I stopped by as it was really nice to soak up some sun (ooh girls just wanna have sun? Lol) and appreciate all the beauty surrounding me. I had my tripod with me as per usual. It's a nice place to have a picnic, stretch your legs, and take a breather! "Change your expectations for appreciations and the world changes instantly!" -Tony Robbins

A small little park on the rim drive…read more You are able to picnic and barbecue with a permit. We stopped by to enjoy the magnificent view. It was breathtaking.