Serrano Serenade

Serrano Campground Big Bear Lake

Marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and ghost stories. Time to gather around the campfire at Serrano Campground. Located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake, this spot is hidden in the national forest just a few miles from the city of Big Bear Lake. Some of the 132 sites are sunny and framed by low brush, while others are nestled below tall pines. Try to score a spot on the quieter Lake View Loop (sites 102–132). A path next to site 116 provides easy access to the Alpine Pedal Path and a short walk to a beach on the shore of Big Bear Lake (next to the solar observatory). Be sure to stroll down to the lake at the end of the day to watch the sunset over the west end of the lake and see the city of Big Bear Lake and the mountains above grow rosy in the fading light.

HIKE BONUS: Set out for a big panorama at Bertha Peak, a summit above Big Bear Lake. From the entrance to Serrano Campground, take the pedestrian walkway that passes below North Shore Drive to the start of Cougar Crest Trail. From here it's a 7.5-mile (round-trip) hike, gaining 1,300 feet to reach 8,200-foot Bertha Peak. After 2.5 miles on Cougar Crest Trail, turn right on Pacific Crest Trail. Make another right on Bertha Peak Road and find your way to the top. The steep summit climb is rewarded by 360-degree views over Holcomb Valley to the north and snow-tipped San Gorgonio Mountain to the south. Below, Big Bear Lake winks your way. Can you spot your campsite?

Serrano Campground is located at 40650 North Shore Ln. in Fawnskin in an area between North Shore Dr. and North Shore Ln. Sites are $30 per night; reservations. The campground and trail are dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View