Children's Forest Trailhead — Attraction in Running Springs

June 20 2022. Keller Peak Mtn. Is in California near the town of Running Springs. (By way of Highways 330 and 18). Location: San Bernadino National Forest. Keller Peak Rd. has Free Camping and 2 marked Hiking trails. Free camping - YES (14 days) Hiking - YES (2 marked trails) Picnic tables - YES Water - NO (June 20 2022) Restroom - CLOSED (June 20) FIRE RESTRICTIONS in effect.

BIKING: YES. Keller Peak Rd is UP HILL all the way. Favorite location for bicyclists.

CAMPING: YES. First come first served (FF). Keller Peak Rd has only 9 marked free camping locations with picnic tables. 14 day camping limit per 30 day period. (Check with the rangers to see if there is a maximum number of days of free camping per year in San Bernadino National Forest.)

HIKING: YES. There are 2 marked hiking areas 4 miles up the hill of Keller Peak Rd, where the road forks. The marked adult Hiking trail is on the right with a small dirt parking area. The marked CHILDRENS Hiking trail is to the left and has a paved parking lot as well as a paved hiking path. The vault toilet here is LOCKED! No water available! (June 20 2022)

Also, Keller Peak Group Camping is allowed for a fee ($104 per night in June 2022.) Reservations through RECREATION.gov are required for group camping! The group camping area has a paved parking lot and a vault toilet. ( The toilet is maintained by a contract service company and should be made available during your reservation time ).

Nearby: Lake Arrowhead is app. 8 miles from Running Springs. Big Bear Lake, located 15 miles from Running Springs, has a $dollar Tree store ($1.25 for a 7 lb. bag of ice). Also, restaurants!!, grocery store, gas station, park, laundromat, campgrounds, nice downtown and a zoo are in Big Bear. Highland, Calif. Is within 20 miles and has big name grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations.

Fee based private, as well as San Bernadino National Forest camping, are available, also. Go to RECREATION.gov for info on fee based San Bernadino National Forest campgrounds (CG). Pine Knot CG, Hanna Flat CG, & Serrano CG are 3 located in the Big Bear Lake area. Also, Applewhite CG, Bear Creek Trailhead Camp, Black Mtn CG, Boulder Basin CG, Crab Flats CG, Dogwood CG, Fern Basin CG, Green Valley CG, Heart Bar CG, Marion Mtn CG, Northshore CG, Siberia Creek CG and other campgrounds are in the San Bernadino National Forest. Some are hike-in camping. June...

We have been hiking in Children's Forest for years, and it never fails to please all, children and adults alike. The trails are easy to hike, bushes are kept back so they don't encroach on the hiking path (important when you have small kiddos running at breakneck speed, giggling hysterically and happily breathing in the fresh air!). The forest has grown back beautifully strong since the fire years ago, the Manzanita is thick and growing tall, the vistas are gorgeous, and even on a hot day like today, the breeze is usually blowing and there is shade available with cool, smooth rocks to sit on when someone needs a break. There are bathrooms and a drinking fountain at the trail head to utilize prior to your hike, and several picnic taes scattered around the parking lot for a quick lunch or snack. Parking is close to the trail head and plentiful, and there are signs stating that an adventure pass is needed for vehicles making use of the area. Trails meander gently and are neither difficult nor too long for any ability, and it is paved, though roughly, and you could probably get a powered wheelchair over most of it with a good battery, or strong arms for a manual wheelchair. We often see strollers on the path as we pass folks, and when our boys were small we hiked with them in the baby backpack comfortably all over the area. There is a small reservoir you can see and take pictures and see off in the distance, and several benches to sit on if you choose to not utilize the many rocks. We were pleased to not see trash or graffiti, as so frequently idiots forget to clean up after themselves - such a treat to hike in a clean forest! I would highly recommend it for any age,...

I did this Trail on a weekday. The weather was amazing! 70F with sun! Perfect for a mild hike on the mountain!

I went off the main paved road after passing Camp #2 and reached the boulders and decided to climb to the top. For me it was a fun and easy climb to the top and you come to the amazing views all around.

I even took a little nap up top, relaxed and meditated for 10 minutes before heading back down. I was a little lost after coming down from the boulders but at the end I found my way back! There are good signals in the area of the park and that help a lot too.

It’s such a fun place to hike and explore up the mountain. Would go...