By:
Submission
Shady Cove Group Campground is a beautiful place to camp within the Children's National Forest. It provides access to numerous trails and a lookout tower, with a climbing area nearby. The Children's Forest was burned in a devastating wildfire and was rebuilt with the help of area children.
Hiking, biking and birding are popular activities. Many trails begin near the campground, including The Trail of the Phoenix. It is a short, paved interpretive trail that begins at the entrance to the Children's National Forest, which is about three miles from the campground.
The campground offers three group sites, one of which is accessible, for tent. Each site can accommodate up to 30 people and eight vehicles.
Each site is equipped with picnic tables, pedestal grills and a campfire circle. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
The campground is easily accessible, just off a paved road, and has forested tent campsites. It is situated in the mountains of Southern California at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.
Arrowbear Lake is about five miles from the campground, where rainbow trout are stocked annually in the spring. The lake is adjacent to the community of Running Springs, which offers a variety of dining and shopping options, as well a grocery stores and fuel stations.
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 Running Springs, drive approximately one mile on Highway 18 to the Deerlick Ranger Station/Children's National Forest Visitor Center. Turn right on Keller Peak Road and continue about five miles. Follow signs to the campground.
Site C is a great one. You have your own set of vaulted toilets and a spigot (not potable). It's dusty, however, and is subject to strict fire restrictions (we weren't allowed to make a campfire!). There's a rock formation about 10 minutes away via foot.
We camped at Shady Cove with our Cub Scouts over an exciting weekend. There are three sites (A, B, and C), each with nearby parking areas and bathroom facilities. The rock formations around camp site A are amazing!
Shady cove camp ground in Big Bear is one of the places to group camp. If you are from SoCal it is just a couple hours away. Getting out there really makes you feel removed from the normal city life.
This camp ground has vaulted toilets, and a spigot with non-potable running water. There are plenty of picnic tables, and charcoal BBQs.
There are good hiking trails around and this site is about 30 minutes from Big Bear lake.
Awesome place for camping!!!
We had a great time camping with our large group! The campsite was clean and easily accessible. The toilets were adequate for camping and there are numerous trail heads within walking distance. Keller Peak offered amazing views and was easily handled by our 5 year old daughter. Definitely recommend this site 😀
Great set of three group campsites nestled next to the ski slippers of Snow Valley. Great place to bring a group for a weekend of hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing.
