The good: I came on a Tuesday and it was completely empty…read moreand serene. We came with our almost 3 year old but we carried him most of the time. The trail was mostly shaded and there were creeks with running water. We saw blue jays, chipmunks, squirrels, woodpecker and other birds. It was breezy with nice views of the mountains and far out in the canyon areas. The bad: We didn't get to finish the trail because we had a toddler. I think there were only 2 parking spots. I am not sure if there were other areas you can park. It was just on the dirt by the campgrounds sign. The interesting: Lots of the trees were burnt and fallen over. We saw red plants and some interesting mushroom growing on the trees. Some areas of the trail are more narrow with a sloping hill off to the side so be careful if you're coming with kids.

Well maintained trail with lots of shade and high elevation. Some parking available in a small lot…read morenear the beginning of the trailhead. The map had me go through the ski resort next door to safely get to the off road to park. I was confused at first but realized that Google Maps would not break any traffic laws therefore I couldn't cross the double yellow lines and make a left into the lot. The trail was peaceful with birds chirping, the sound of water flowing from a stream and beautiful views. I didn't see a bridge as I had in a couple pictures online, not sure if they removed it? I hiked the trail on the AllTrails app and noticed there was a fork near the bench (about the half-way). It's possible that the bridge was on one of those offshoot trails. The trail leads up to a campground area and also the Discovery ski lift connected with the ski resort nextdoor. A little beyond the trail you will find the PCT. I met five people and two dogs on the trail. It was a beautiful day and a good hike. Oh, I placed my annual pass signature side up on my dashboard of my car for the hike but I'm not sure if anyone checked. I went to what appeared to be a ranger station after my hike and it was closed, no one was there. It said it was open to the public on Saturday I think. Either way it's better safe than sorry. You never know when someone will check for the adventure pass (or interagency pass) so yes, I believe a pass is still recommended.

Big Horn Mine is a nice escape from the city, without having to travel too far…read more All trails will have you thinking it's a difficult hike, when the main thing to keep in mind is that you need to dress appropriately. Wear hiking boots/shoes and this will be a breeze. The recent fires still show some burn scars and lack of shade, so ideally get in/out before early afternoon. Other than that it's lovely.

Did a little exploring, no signs or maps and we still found it. Such an amazing view!read more

A great little wooded area with picnic tables. Bathrooms and trash cans. You can also access a…read moretrailhead to some pretty nice hikes. Moderate level

The Aspen Glen Picnic Area is a day use area only that is open year round. It's a quaint area for a…read moreleisurely picnic or a great starting point to accessible trail heads. Some picnic tables, a community fire ring, and some barbecues are provided for use. I wouldn't rely on the restrooms. Also, be prepared as there's no potable water on-site. There is a small parking lot that fits about 15 small vehicles. Parked vehicles must display a valid recreation pass. You can purchase a pass from the Mountaintop Ranger District & Discovery Center along with other vendors (see the USDA Forest Service website for a map of vendors located under the "Passes and Permits" tab).

The good: They have an adaptive swing. The seesaw for four…read morewas fun for adults with kids. There's several climbing structures and two different playground areas for different ages. I liked that the park had lots of benches and shade. There were four slides and 5 (?) swings. The bad: My kids wore Crocs so the tanbark got uncomfortable in their shoes so make sure to wear sneakers and socks! The interesting: My kids didn't want to leave! The seesaw is pretty tall.

The park itself has a ton of toys for the kids-rock climbing wall, swings, playground, etc. set in…read morethe heart of downtown Wrightwood. It's in great condition and clean. There are some tables, not many, and porter potty bathrooms. The park feels a bit crammed like everything is on top of each other but there's a lot of toys for kids in a small space.

Very beautiful place. Just an hour's drive from La Crescenta, much closer than Big Bear…read more There's still snow there, the road is clear, and along the way, there's a mountain stream and a reservoir where you can stop. Download a map in advance, as there's no signal there. There's a small lake where you can take a walk, and a forest with a cozy family café where you can grab a snack.

Plenty hiking opportunities, refreshing air, and a nice scenic drive in. Be sure to have a full…read moretank, as there is no gas services. There is a cafe/ convenience store across from the campground where you can also purchase your day use park pass for $5. I experienced a foggy day, which gave a cooling effect to my hiking. Restrooms are vault toilets, so unpleasant smells and a mess are a given. The lake has lots of swampy algae, therefore not appropriate for swimming or water sports. However, they do allow fishing with permit. I am a nature enthusiast and it was saddening to see the lack of humans respect for nature, with graffiti and trash in some areas of the park. Crystal lake definitely could use more funding to preserve its natural beauty. The loveliest part is listening to woodpeckers as they work, watching an eagle fly above with a fish in its talons, and treading quietly not to startle the squirrel who is crossing my path. I suggest picking up a map with hiking trails from the rangers post or convenience store, before planning your day!

Boulder Bay Park is one of Big Bear Lake's most picturesque (and busy) spots, offering stunning…read moreviews of the lake, towering boulders, and plenty of open space for you and your dog to enjoy. Located on the western side of Big Bear Lake, this park is a popular destination for both locals and visitors, particularly those looking to enjoy a peaceful and leisurely walk with their pets, a picnic, or just some quiet time by the water. There is a free parking lot adjacent to the park, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. If the lot is full, there is additional street parking available nearby. The park is open year-round, but the best times to visit are during the spring, summer, and fall when the weather is mild, and the lake is at its most beautiful.

This is a PACKED and very busy Park that attracts people coming into Big Bear Lake or leaving Big…read moreBear. We came in at night, so we hit this park leaving Big Bear Lake. Many people taking pictures or selfies, some people fishing off the small pier, while others were walking their dogs. It was very clean, there is restrooms available (yes there was a line) and plenty of parking, although you may need to wait for a spot. It is a cool park to check out, I've seen pictures of people kayaking, however there are signs that say to stay on the path and not cross over the railing. A nice picnic place perhaps or family photos with the bear. The boulders in the area/park make it a cool photographic area.

Nice park near my house, has a lot of different areas of activities: basketball courts, tennis…read morecourts, volleyball court, shaded children's playground, 4 baseball diamonds, soccer field that also doubles as football field. There are picnic tables and bbqs throughout the park, a track lines the perimeter and there's also a vending machine library. I really enjoy walking my dog there. With the new builds in the area the park has gotten super busy, but still a great place to visit.

Sunset Ridge Park is easily one of the nicest parks in the High Desert! It's always so clean and…read morewell-maintained, which I really appreciate. They recently added one of those cool library vending machines, and I love that touch--it makes the park feel even more welcoming and community-focused. The playground is great, the baseball fields are well-kept, and it's the perfect place to walk, relax, or hang out with family. It's definitely my favorite park in the area. If I had one suggestion, it would be to add a trash can and hand dryers inside the restroom. Other than that, I just hope people continue to take care of it--it's such a beautiful space and it deserves to stay that way!

I had no expectations of this place prior to showing up, but overall if you're looking for a snow…read moretubing place for your kids, this could be a good place. We came on a weekday a few days before Christmas and it was still fairly open. There were plenty of different size tubes and they seemed to be in OK shape. My 6 year old had no problem going up the stairs and coming down himself. They have staff at the bottom yelling at your if you get too close to the tubers or if you don't move fast enough to get out of the way. Bring cash! The line for the ATM was long and I heard it's slow. One hour was more than enough for my kid

Disclaimer: I am writing a review for an experience that happened in February of 2024 so things…read moremay have changed since them. I wish I could give this place negative stars. It was a terrible experience. It took us almost an hour to get our tickets. I do not know why it was so difficult to say, "how many tickets do you need? here is what you owe. thank you." Once we got in, we were told we would be able to go during a window of time only. That's fine. We can wait on a patch of snow that the kids can play on. There are sleds we can use. One problem, some ladies decided to use the sleds to sit on and wouldn't let anyone else use them. It would have been nice for employees to ask them to let the kids use them. (I asked the ladies myself but they refused.) Once it was finally our turn, it was another line to get to the top. The people mover was so slow. Then at the top, they could not figure out how to get guests into lines and move them along. And the organization at the bottom of the slide was so dangerous. People were crossing over as we were coming down. We almost ran into a lady and a kid. The whole cycle took 30 minutes. With this timing, we would be able to ride only 3 times MAX within our allotted time frame. We heard from some others that they were able to get a voucher, as they were not giving refunds. That sounded reasonable. We trekked to the customer service window and waited again to get the vouchers. This was super kind of them to do. A problem for us, we were never able to use the vouchers, as no opportunity presented itself again with enough snow for us to go again.

Great group site. There are 6 running toilets with a hose bib outside to wash hands. The site has…read moretons of shade and picnic tables and a fire pit. There is a 3.5 mile downhill bike to Jackson lake. The observatory is a 10 minute walk from the campsite and offers great views.

I would agree with everything the previous reviewer said. This place is is private since you have…read moreto unload your stuff and then go park your car in the lot 250 yards away. The group sites are for 40 people but realistically can fit about 20 people comfortably. There is a BBQ, Fire pit, huge long tables and flush toilets. There are a couple of short hikes from the site that offer great views, but nothing too hard core, so if you're looking to hike through, this probably would not be the place for you. The host is a nice old man who is good about enforcing quiet hours, but is lenient at the same time. Quiet doesn't mean complete quiet :) This place is good for one or two nights, but anything more would be a stretch.

It is so beautiful and amazing. The view is surreal. When…read moreyou go into the nature center and visit the snakes and beetles it's cool but then you walk out to an observatory type deck and it's breathtaking!

This review is for the Devil's Chair Trail:…read more Went with two friends and we finished in around 3 hours. The start is the hardest part since there's little to no shade, and there are still burnt trees along the trail. We also ran into a fallen tree on the trail and had to climb over it. I took some photos and one video from our hike. Once we got to the Devil's Chair, the views were nice, just not the most impressive compared to other hikes. Worth doing once, but I wouldn't go out of my way to repeat it which is why I give it 4/5 stars.