San Bernardino National Forest

Rising dramatically from the Mojave Desert and the Inland Empire urban corridor, San Bernardino National Forest protects 824,000 acres of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountain ranges, providing a vital mountain escape for the densely populated region of Southern California. San Gorgonio Mountain, at 11,503 feet the highest peak in Southern California, anchors the San Gorgonio Wilderness, while the San Jacinto Wilderness protects the precipitous granite face of Mount San Jacinto, accessible via the world-famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains serve as major year-round resort communities, with skiing at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain in winter and boating, fishing, and hiking in summer. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the forest for over 100 miles, crossing both mountain ranges through diverse ecosystems ranging from desert chaparral to subalpine forest. The forest provides critical watershed for Southern California communities and protects habitat for the endangered San Bernardino flying squirrel, bighorn sheep, and mountain yellow-legged frog. As one of the most heavily visited forests in the nation due to its proximity to the Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino metropolitan areas, the forest manages intense recreation demand while addressing chronic wildfire risk in its fire-adapted chaparral and conifer ecosystems.