Heart Bar Campground
5Heads up5 fires, nearest 18 mi
- Right now
- Listed not openA database flag with no reason and no date
- A night
- $29–$56Across the site types the agency prices
- Sites
- 66All of them booked ahead
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 6 notices
In the agency’s own words
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. Keep reading
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.
Facilities
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. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 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.
Natural Features
The campground is nestled among pine-covered mountains, at an elevation of 6,880 feet. It is not far from Big Bear Lake, but far enough to retain a remote and secluded atmosphere. The mature trees provide some shade to the area, but understory is limited, leaving campsites with little privacy in some places.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Charges & Cancellations
Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. 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.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
What the agency tells you
There is no guarantee on First come, First serve sites. What shows on reservations is not accurate for First come First serve sites. Call 909 866-8550 for availabilty.
Click here for more information on the San Bernardino National Forest
Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather-related closures contact the forest supervisor's office, at (909) 382-2600.
Everything else this campground posts · 3
In accordance with standard industry practices, Mountain Top Recreation will be assessing a $8 additional vehicle fee per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicles in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles. The fee will be collected at the campground if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.
This facility is operated by Mountaintop Recreation, a division of California Land Management. Your comments are appreciated; comment forms are available from campground hosts or on CLM's website.
Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 66
- Hookups
- None
- Longest rig
- 45 ft
- Paved pads
- All
- Accessible sites
- 2
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Toilets
- Vault Toilets
- “…campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Firewood is…”
- Drinking water
- Yes
- “…grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Firewood is available for purchase at…”
- Dump station
- Yes
- Firewood
- Sold here
- Camp host
- On site
- recreation.gov lists “Host”
- Stay limit
- 14 nights
- recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake, River, Creek, Meadow
- Biking
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Night sky · 1090th darkest of 1,201 in CA
- Bortle 4
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
Every site here is reservable, and the record lists none held back for anyone who drives up.
No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
Tell me when the season opens
Watch for the season to open
One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 15
What you actually pay
“In accordance with standard industry practices, Mountain Top Recreation will be assessing a $8 additional vehicle fee per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicle…” · the U.S. Forest Service’s own agency notice
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $29–$56 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
“Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.” · this campground’s own no-show terms
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 7
rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
66 sites · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 66 mapped sitesAll 66 sites
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 66 of the 66 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 66 of the 66 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| Aspen Loop | 040 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 94 ft | 977 ftSanta Ana River | 1,245 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 041 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 37 ft | 893 ftSanta Ana River | 1,311 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 042 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 20 ft | 863 ftSanta Ana River | 1,341 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 043 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 20 ft | 846 ftSanta Ana River | 1,336 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 044 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 17 ft | 750 ftSanta Ana River | 1,459 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 045 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 17 ft | 744 ftSanta Ana River | 1,445 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 046 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 59 ft | 702 ftSanta Ana River | 1,505 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 047 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 81 ft | 665 ftSanta Ana River | 1,584 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 048 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 94 ft | 548 ftSanta Ana River | 1,769 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 049/50 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 60 ft | 455 ftSanta Ana River | 1,834 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 051/52 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 60 ft | 431 ftSanta Ana River | 1,805 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 053 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 126 ft | 438 ftSanta Ana River | 1,691 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 054 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 74 ft | 406 ftSanta Ana River | 1,556 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 055 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 74 ft | 360 ftSanta Ana River | 1,536 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 056 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 77 ft | 360 ftSanta Ana River | 1,413 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 057 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 53 ft | 324 ftSanta Ana River | 1,262 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 058 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 77 ft | 316 ftSanta Ana River | 1,380 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 059 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 53 ft | 309 ftSanta Ana River | 1,241 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 060 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 27 ft | 388 ftSanta Ana River | 1,108 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 064 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 54 ft | 543 ftSanta Ana River | 894 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 065 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 25 ft | 589 ftSanta Ana River | 863 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 066 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 25 ft | 599 ftSanta Ana River | 845 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 067 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 27 ft | 870 ft | 583 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 068 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 77 ft | 668 ftSanta Ana River | 796 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 069 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 72 ft | 752 ftSanta Ana River | 742 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 070 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 21 ft | 884 ft | 609 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 071 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 39 ft | 829 ftSanta Ana River | 691 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 072 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 39 ft | 805 ftSanta Ana River | 729 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 073 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 21 ft | 901 ft | 630 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 074 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 24 ft | 901 ftSanta Ana River | 647 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 61/62 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 27 ft | 391 ftSanta Ana River | 1,093 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Aspen Loop | 63/63 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 77 ft | 492 ftSanta Ana River | 964 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 020 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 96 ft | 805 ft | 35 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 021 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 79 ft | 885 ft | 125 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 022 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 79 ft | 962 ft | 202 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 023/24 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 62 ft | 1,039 ft | 365 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 025 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 62 ft | 1,097 ft | 401 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 026/27 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 41 ft | 1,168 ft | 452 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 028 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 41 ft | 1,209 ft | 490 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 029 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 58 ft | 1,195 ft | 446 ft | $29–$56 |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 030 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 58 ft | 1,167 ftSanta Ana River | 452 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 031 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 76 ft | 1,082 ftSanta Ana River | 385 ft | $29–$56 |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 032 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 76 ft | 1,025 ftSanta Ana River | 390 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 033 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 50 ft | 944 ftSanta Ana River | 417 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 034 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 50 ft | 925 ftSanta Ana River | 448 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 035/36 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 35 ft | 865 ftSanta Ana River | 555 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 037 | rv nonelectric | 40 ft | 35 ft | 849 ftSanta Ana River | 574 ft | $29 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 038 | rv nonelectric | 40 ft | 89 ft | 883 ftSanta Ana River | 539 ft | $29 | |
| Grinnell Peak Loop | 039 | rv nonelectric | 40 ft | 95 ft | 877 ft | 482 ft | $29 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 001 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 49 ft | 593 ft | 203 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 002 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 49 ft | 546 ft | 250 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 003 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 54 ft | 495 ft | 304 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 004 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 72 ft | 393 ft | 349 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 005 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 72 ft | 381 ft | 284 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 006/07 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 80 ft | 342 ft | 231 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 010 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 63 ft | 264 ft | 239 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 011 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 61 ft | 353 ft | 160 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 012 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 61 ft | 293 ft | 220 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 013 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 80 ft | 419 ft | 171 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 014 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 54 ft | 455 ft | 224 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 015 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 57 ft | 580 ft | 180 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 016 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 46 ft | 509 ft | 217 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 017 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 41 ft | 655 ft | 235 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 018 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 46 ft | 555 ft | 221 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 019 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 41 ft | 692 ft | 272 ft | $29–$56 | |
| Sugarloaf Loop | 08/09 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 63 ft | 281 ft | 245 ft | $29–$56 |
25 of 66 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Heart Bar EquestrianSan Bernardino National Forest · 0.0 mi
Wild Horse Equestrian FamilySan Bernardino National Forest · 0.4 mi
SkylineSan Bernardino National Forest · 0.4 mi
Skyline Group CampgroundSan Bernardino National Forest · 0.5 mi
Heart Bar Equestrian Group CampgroundSan Bernardino National Forest · 0.8 mi
Coon Creek Group CampgroundSan Bernardino National Forest · 1.1 miFrom 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.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Big Bear City, CA
Typical weather
Typical October night 35°F, day 63°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical December night 24°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it
What threatens this place
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land
Heart Bar Campground is in California’s 23rd congressional district. Its representative, Jay Obernolte (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →