U.S. Forest Service · San Bernardino National Forest · California

Oso Group

The Oso Group Campground is nestled in the beautiful Barton Flats area of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is surrounded by picturesque pine trees and miles of scenic landscape. In addition to a nearby lake and river access, a variety hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be accessed from the campground. Its location also provides a great place for visitors to relax, take in the fresh mountain air, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Shade, picnic tables & fire pits of the Oso Group Campground.Road leading to the Oso Group Campground SignShade, picnic tables & fire pits of the Oso Group Campground.Shade, picnic tables & fire pits of the Oso Group Campground
Photos courtesy of Vista Rec · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
1Pull-through40GravelPartial100 / 25Yes

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 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The group campground offers one large group campsite, available for tent and RV camping. It can accommodate up to 100 people and about 20 vehicles. There are no utility hookups at the site and roads, as well as the parking area, are gravel and dirt. The site is equipped with multiple tables, a campfire circle and grills. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided at the campground. Tent pads are shaded but group areas are primarily in the open.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestSan Bernardino National Forest
BookingCall 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made as early as 12 months or as late as 24 hours in advance based on availability.
FeesSingle Site $480 - Holiday $490
RulesCampground capacity, maximum of 100 persons and 20 vehicles. This campground requires a 2 day minimum stay on weekends. This campground requires a 3 day minimum stay on holiday weekends.

San Bernardino National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Oso Group30°40°50°60°70°January: 4.51 inches of precipitation, 13.4 inches of snowFebruary: 4.39 inches of precipitation, 14.3 inches of snowMarch: 2.37 inches of precipitation, 11.7 inches of snowApril: 0.78 inches of precipitation, 3.0 inches of snowMay: 0.42 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowJune: 0.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.69 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.82 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowNovember: 1.35 inches of precipitation, 3.4 inches of snowDecember: 3.31 inches of precipitation, 11.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.8°F averageFebruary: 34.7°F averageMarch: 39.1°F averageApril: 44.2°F averageMay: 51.5°F averageJune: 59.3°F averageJuly: 65.1°F averageAugust: 64.1°F averageSeptember: 58.5°F averageOctober: 49.2°F averageNovember: 40.6°F averageDecember: 34.8°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Big Bear Lake, 6 miles from the campground at 6,753 feet, station USC00040741 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 20 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 59 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Take I-10 East to Redlands. Take the University Street exit, EXIT 80. Turn left (northbound) on University Street. Turn right onto E. Lugonia Avenue/SR-38. Continue on State Highway 38 for approximately 22 miles to the campground entrance.

Coordinates34.1757° N, 116.8625° 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 stationDump station ↗0.8 mi
RV sales & serviceMountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗17.5 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗24.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The Grayback Amphitheater on State Route 38 provides evening educational programs on most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer months. Programs are hosted by the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association and pertain to the area's background that is rich with history.

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside San Bernardino National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is located in a dense pine forest, at an elevation of about 6,400 feet. The entrance to the Oso Group Campground is the same as for the neighboring Lobo Group Campground. Both share the region with a variety of wildlife and bird species.

Recreation

The campground provides access to the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which when completed will travel all the way from the mountains to the pacific ocean, providing spectacular views along the way. It is currently popular for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Rio Monte Trail is also accessed from the campground, taking hikers to the Rio Monte Panorama, which overlooks the deep gorge of the Santa Ana River Valley. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and non-motorized boating at the nearby Jenks Lake, a small mountain lake with a picnic area and access to hiking trails. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, as well as largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish and catfish. Rowboats, canoes and kayaks are permitted and fishing is also available at the nearby Santa Ana River.

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Oso Group?

Sites at Oso Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Oso Group?

Single Site $480 - Holiday $490

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Oso Group?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Oso Group?

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 Oso Group open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Oso Group have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Oso Group?

The longest site here provides 40 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 Oso Group?

Flush toilets and drinking water are provided at the campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Oso Group?

Yes, pets are allowed at Oso Group. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Oso Group?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Campground capacity, maximum of 100 persons and 20 vehicles.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Oso Group?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Oso Group?

The campground provides access to the famed Santa Ana River Trail, which when completed will travel all the way from the mountains to the pacific ocean, providing spectacular views along the way. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation