U.S. Forest Service · San Bernardino National Forest · Fawnskin, CA

Shady Cove Group Campground

Shady Cove Group Campground is a beautiful place to camp within the Children's National Forest. It provides access to numerous trails and a lookout tower, with a climbing area nearby. The Children's Forest was burned in a devastating wildfire and was rebuilt with the help of area children.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov3 sitesFrom $114 per nightFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · group sites in California · accessible sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
View from Shady Cove Group CampgroundSHADY COVE GROUP CAMPGROUNDView from Shady Cove Group Campground.Shady Cove Trail
Photos courtesy of Vista Rec, Silvana Friedman, inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +) (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group tent areas3
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
APavedFullYes / –30 / 8YesYes
BPavedFullYes / –30 / 8Yes
CPavedFullYes / –30 / 8Yes

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

EquipmentTents
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesGroup Site $114 - Holiday $126
AccessibilitySite A is listed accessible

The campground offers three group sites, one of which is accessible, for tent. Each site can accommodate up to 30 people and eight vehicles. Each site is equipped with picnic tables, pedestal grills and a campfire circle. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
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.
FeesGroup Site $114 - Holiday $126
RulesVehicles park in designated areas only. 3 night minimum reservation window. 2 night minimum on weekends, 3 night minimum on holidays. No refunds due to weather. Adventure Pass may be required when parked outside of the campground.

San Bernardino National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Shady Cove Group Campground30°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, 8 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

From Running Springs, drive approximately one mile on Highway 18 to the Deerlick Ranger Station/Children's National Forest Visitor Center. Turn right on Keller Peak Road and continue about five miles. Follow signs to the campground.

Nearest townFawnskin, California
Coordinates34.2079° N, 117.0436° 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 ↗8.3 mi
Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗16.8 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗18.8 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Arrowbear Lake is about five miles from the campground, where rainbow trout are stocked annually in the spring. The lake is adjacent to the community of Running Springs, which offers a variety of dining and shopping options, as well a grocery stores and fuel stations.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

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 easily accessible, just off a paved road, and has forested tent campsites. It is situated in the mountains of Southern California at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.

Recreation

Hiking, biking and birding are popular activities. Many trails begin near the campground, including The Trail of the Phoenix. It is a short, paved interpretive trail that begins at the entrance to the Children's National Forest, which is about three miles from the campground.

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 Shady Cove Group Campground?

Sites at Shady Cove Group Campground 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 Shady Cove Group Campground?

Group Site $114 - Holiday $126

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Shady Cove Group Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Shady Cove Group 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 Shady Cove Group Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Shady Cove Group Campground have?

3 sites, including 3 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Shady Cove Group Campground?

Shady Cove Group Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Does Shady Cove Group Campground have hookups?

Yes, water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Shady Cove Group Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Vehicles park in designated areas only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Shady Cove Group Campground?

Site A is 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

Is there cell service at Shady Cove Group Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, 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 Shady Cove Group Campground?

Hiking, biking and birding are popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation