Late June 2022:
San Bernadino National Forest near Running Springs, California. For information go to website: fs.usda.gov.
The 4 miles long and paved KELLER PEAK RD. is located off of Hwy 18 (Hilltop Rd.) near Running Springs and has 8 yellow post first come, first served campsites and 2 trails. Campsites are free for a 14 day limit in a 90 day period.
Hunting and shooting of weapons is not allowed!
FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT!!! No charcoal or wood fires!!!
A PERMIT is required for use of propane camp stoves.
A Calif. Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking at the trailheads. (For info: fs.usda.gov).
++ Keller Peak Rd is off Hwy 18 (Hilltop Rd.) near Running Springs. We drove to Keller Peak from Highland, CALIF. by way of hwy 330. Two trails are located 4 miles up Keller Peak Rd.: the Observation Trail and the Children's Forest Trail. The Observation Trail also has a parking area on Keller Peak Rd. about 1/8 of a mile in from Hwy 18. FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT. Permit required for use of a propane camp stove.
DETAILs:
- absolutely beautiful area!
- Group camping is available for $104 a night through Recreation.gov & is located near the Children's Forest Trail. A paved parking lot, one bear container for trash disposal, 4 picnic tables and a locked restroom is at this trail.
- Free first come, first served 14 day free camping during a 90 day period (only 8 marked campsites available):
#1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.
#3 campsite is CLOSED!
2 cars/6 people per campsite
Campsites #4, 5 & 6 are near each other. #4 & #5 campsites on Keller Peak share a parking area & are large campsites with picnic tables. They are located across the road from #6 campsite. (There is an OLD trailhead that is being entered by way of campsite #6. People still come to hike this OLD trail and are parking in campsites #4 & 5s parking area. There is a large empty turnout on the right, just before campsite #4, that is better suited for parking for this OLD trailhead).
Other campsites on Keller Peak Rd are much further apart from each other (sites 1, 2, 7, 8, 9) but are smaller in size.
- Peaceful most of the time.
- Road is used by bicyclists during the day.
Dislikes:
- THEFT!! Yes, theft!!
- Car break-ins at trailheads
- Walkthroughs of the occupied campsites by people who are 'just looking'. They actually were looking for a forest 'toilet' and actually took care of 'business' in an area very close to our campsite.
- several people wanted to use our campsite table.
- Noisy campers nearby with too many vehicles.
- Our campsite parking being used by #6 campers, as well as others who were looking for hiking areas.
- Fires being burned during the fire restrictions period
- 5-6 pounds of trash picked up in campsite #4. Most of it was broken glass, rusty metal items and used toilet paper
- Only 8 free campsites.
- Locked restroom at end of Keller Peak Road.
- No water available
- Trash bin at the Childrens Forest Trail is usually full
- Night traffic!!
- SQUATTERS. After dark we had disturbances by a male squatter in the woods. Law enforcement is on this issue. June 2022.
- Did we mention mountain lions? Yes, this is their home.
Have a pleasant day!