As the largest county in the country, San Bernardino County offers a diverse landscape where exciting experiences abound. The idea of seeing the best of the mountains and the desert in one vacation may seem like an impossible task, but here in San Bernardino Country, you will find California’s outdoor playground, the best of both worlds in less than 90 minutes.
Check out these tips on how you can experience a few great outdoor activities in the desert and mountains of San Bernardino County!
Joshua Tree National Park
This internationally known park is an outdoor playground. With over 9,000 established rock climbing routes; Joshua Tree is the world’s largest climbing area. The landscape are filled with hiking & biking trails, rock formations, backpacking routes and dozens of landmarks to see. Book a custom guided rock climbing tour with Joshua Tree’s own Cliffhanger Guides. From first-timers to experienced enthusiasts Cliffhanger Guides provides unforgettable rock climbing experiences. Click here for rates and reservations.
Wildwood Canyon State Park – Yucaipa
At the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, the state park offers stunning views of nature showing off the areas grasslands, native plants and wildflowers. There are many unofficial trails places throughout the park, so each turn leads into its own undiscovered adventure.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve – Morongo Valley
At 31,000 acres, the preserve links the San Gorgonio Wilderness with the San Bernardino National Forest and Joshua Tree National Park. Following any one of the numerous trails lets visitors explore California’s preserved history and see desert wildlife in its natural habitat.
The Rim of The World Scenic Byway – Crestline
On the drive through the mountains, you have to remember to make a stop on Rim of the World Scenic Byway. The mountain highways wind through the San Bernardino Mountains, taking riders along the edges of the mountains for sweeping views of Southern California. It would be almost a crime to not pull off and take a few photos. Drive into town for a “flash brew” at Higher Grounds Coffee House, check out the local’s fav.
Heart Rock Trail – Crestline
Roundtrip, the roughly 1.5-mile dirt trail is a moderately easy hike. Covered in a grove of trees the shaded path leads, visitors to a naturally shaped heart near the top of a 200-foot waterfall.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
The winter wonderland attractions turn into an outdoor adventure playground after the holiday season. It’s a great place for families to enjoy an outdoor adventure together as SkyPark at Santa’s Village offers a range of action-packed activities such as mountain biking trails, hiking, archery, rock climbing and bouldering, pedal cars, zip line, roller skating, fly fishing and more.
With so many great adventures available, you are going to want to stay awhile. Click here for the complete list of hotels and other places to stay in San Bernardino County!
