Heart Bar Campground
The Heart Bar Campground provides access to some of southern California's greatest backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, as well as a nice play to experience nature. A variety of recreation opportunities are available in the surrounding area as well, leaving little more to be desired from a campsite.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 63 |
| RV, no hookups | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
66 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 040 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 041 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 042 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 043 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 044 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 045 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 046 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 047 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 048 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 053 | Aspen Loop | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 029, 031 are listed accessible |
The campground offers multiple single, double and accessible campsites, available for tent and RV camping. While there are no hookups available at the campground, a dump station with potable water is available nearby. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground. Additional parking is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | San Bernardino National Forest |
| Booking | Call 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made as early as 6 months or as late as 24 hours in advance. |
| Fees | Single Site $29 - Holiday $31 - 8 person maximum. Double Site $56- Holiday $58 - 16 person maximum. Camping fee includes entry for 1 vehicle. Extra vehicle fee $8 per night. Checks under $50 not accepted. |
| Rules | This campground requires a 2 day minimum stay on weekends. This campground requires a 3 day minimum holiday weekend stay. Pets must be leashed. No firearms or fireworks are allowed to be discharged in campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-10 in San Bernardino, take the Alabama exit in the city of Redlands to Lugonia Avenue (State Highway 38). Travel northeast on Highway 38 for approximately 30 mile,s to Forest Route IN02. Continue less than a mile to the campground.
| Coordinates | 34.1595° N, 116.7856° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.).
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 5.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗ | 17.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Soboba Flight Park ↗ | 25.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Heart Bar Campground - San Bernardino National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Big Bear Lake and its adjoining town are located approximately 20 miles from the campground, offering a variety of water-related recreation opportunities, as well as golf, shopping and restaurant options.
- 5.5 miJenks Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 7.3 miOhv Road 2N61Y ↗OHV / range
- 7.6 miRattlesnake Canyon Ohv Road 2N70Y ↗OHV / range
- 9.6 mi
- 11.7 miGrays Peak Trailhead Day Use ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miWildhorse Creek ↗3.9 mi trail
- 0.9 miAspen Grove ↗2 mi trail
- 2.4 miLost Creek ↗4.7 mi trail
- 2.6 miFish Creek ↗6 mi trail
- 2.7 miGrinnell Mountain1.2 mi trail
- 2.8 miPCT Section 23 ↗6.2 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside San Gorgonio Wilderness, which overlaps Sand to Snow National Monument.
- inSan Gorgonio Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 101,574 acres
- inSand to Snow National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 174,844 acres
- inSan Bernardino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 805,483 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Henry Washington Survey MarkerObject · Big Bear City · 8.7 mi
Natural features
The campground is nestled among pine-covered mountains, at an elevation of 6,880 feet. The mature trees provide some shade to the area, but understory is limited, leaving campsites with little privacy in some places.
Recreation
A variety of backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be found near the campground, including the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which provides miles of scenic mountain views and points of exploration. The Wildhorse Creek Trail, which explores 5 miles of rolling terrain in the area, is accessed just north of the campground and leads to a remote camping area south of Wildhorse Meadow. It climbs nearly 1,100 feet in elevation and is moderately difficult. Creek fishing is also available nearby.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Heart Bar Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Heart Bar Campground?
Single Site $29 - Holiday $31 - 8 person maximum. Double Site $56- Holiday $58 - 16 person maximum. Camping fee includes entry for 1 vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Heart Bar Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Heart Bar Campground?
Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.).
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Heart Bar Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Heart Bar Campground have?
66 sites, including 63 standard sites without power and 3 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Heart Bar Campground?
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Heart Bar Campground?
While there are no hookups available at the campground, a dump station with potable water is available nearby.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Heart Bar Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Heart Bar Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Heart Bar Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. This campground requires a 2 day minimum stay on weekends.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Heart Bar Campground?
Sites 029 and 031 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Heart Bar Campground?
A variety of backcountry hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be found near the campground, including the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which provides miles of scenic mountain views and points of exploration. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation