The Coon Creek Group Campground is located in the pine-covered mountains of Southern California. The unique campground is home to three historic cabins and a stunning view into the Coachella Valley on clear days.
The campground is adjacent to a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, a famous hike that spans more than 2,600 miles from Canada to Mexico. The trail is available for hiking and horseback riding only and offers multiple entry and exit points along its lengthy route, making it ideal for short nature walks or day hikes.
In addition to touring the campground's three historic cabins, the campground also offers access to mountain stream fishing and bird and wildlife viewing. The San Gorgonio Wilderness is vast and offers a variety of trailheads and points of exploration.
The somewhat rustic group campground offers one large-group campsite, available for tent or RV camping. It can accommodate up to 25 people and 10 vehicles. Utility hookups are not available and parking spurs are gravel. Drinking water is also not available at the campground.
The site is equipped with multiple tables, a campfire circle and grills. Vault toilets are provided. Parking is available within the campground and on the adjacent roadway. Camping is prohibited within the log cabins and campfires must be kept outside of the buildings.
The campground is situated at an 8,000-foot elevation, overlooking the San Bernardino mountains. Mature pine trees dot the area, but provide little shade over the rocky terrain.
The campground is less than 20 miles away from Big Bear Lake, which offers a variety of water-related recreation opportunities. The adjoining town provides golf, shopping and restaurant options.
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
From San Bernardino, take I-10 to the Alabama exit in Redlands, California. Turn onto Lugonio Avenue (Highway 38). Head northeast on Highway 38 for approximately 31 miles to Forest Route IN02. Continue for approximately 6 miles to the campground.
Quite a lot history behind this place, which is now a beautiful group campsite.
Beautiful trail ride with an amazing view of the palm sprigs valley floor. Awesome historical Cabin and out buildings.
View of Palm Springs from way up top is sensational, regardless of the route you take to get to the cabin..we took the off-road version.
This spot a few miles up the dirt road from Heart Bar is a beautiful place to spend the weekend. It's not the cheapest campground (especially with so many free Yellow Post sites on the way there), but it is the best spot for a breathtaking view, a lot of space, and a toilet (although with the number of flies in the outhouse I would almost prefer squatting in nature). It's situated atop the Coon Creek Jumpoff with a spectacular view of the Coachella Valley, and the Pacific Crest Trail passes right by -- these are good things, but they do make for quite a few strangers passing through or parking at camp each day, which is a minor annoyance. Overall, it's an excellent choice for camping with a group out in the SB National Forest.
Great place to trail ride for the day or to stay overnight in a cabin by the stream. There are lots of little spots to pull off and have a nice little picnic with the family or friends! Cars could make it on the dirt trail, not to ruff. Doesn't get too busy. there are cool biking trails as well. Also, I saw a good amount of people fishing off the side of the road, not sure what type of fish they were catching, though. Would recommend bringing chairs, and there are no charcoal fire bbq allowed at this site. The steam has lots of water from all the snow melt this year.