Serrano Campground, Big Bear Lake, California

Located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake, this campground is a quick getaway for Los Angeles residents. After an hours drive up the mountain road (twists and turns are frequent!), you will find yourself at the Big Bear dam. The road forks here: take a left and you will head to the north shore, head straight and you will mosey along the south shore and find yourself in downtown Big Bear Lake. The north shore, where Serrano campground is located is quieter and offers an abundance of outside activities. Hiking is top on the list here with a variety of trails that lead you along or up the mountainside towards the ever famous PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). Occasional PCT hikers will make their way into Big Bear for replenishment. The campground also offers easy access to the Alpine Pedal Path, which traverses from the Big Bear Solar Observatory to the Stanfield Cutoff, which will take you across the lake. The paved path runs along the length of this large, wooded campground and is fairly level and is busy
with bikers and walkers. Branching off of the Alpine Pedal Path is a paved trail that takes you to the Big Bear Discovery Center, which features exhibits by the USFS about the region's wildlife and terrain. You can find hiking advice from a ranger here as well as gifts from a small gift shop. Big Bear Lake is a quick walk from camp and shore access is aplenty.
     At camp itself, Serrano offers paved interior roads and site pads. Most site pads are slightly sloped, so be prepared to level with blocks or jacks. Campsites are spacious, wooded and a couple even offer peekaboo views of the lake (sites 112/113, 114, 115/116). The campground is wooded with pines and has a sagebrush undergrowth, much like you would find in the eastern Sierras. Four loops comprise this campground of just over 100 sites. We stayed in the Snowberry RV Loop which has full hookup sites for RVs. The campground is open from April through October, and during our visit in mid April, the hookup was nice in the evening when the campfire just wasn't getting it done. All sites have picnic tables, fire pits, bear boxes and ample space for tents and campsite amenities. Sites are spacious and you really can't go wrong selecting a site here. Sites in the first loop, the Summer Wind loop are the least wooded, while sites in the Lake View and Evening Star loops are the most wooded. The camp hosts here are plentiful and highly visible, making sure you have what you need to make your stay comfortable. If a hookup site is a must and unavailable here, you can find one at Big Bear Shores RV Resort which is adjacent to Serrano Campground and offers lakefront sites for a premium.

Best Sites: 44, 47, 57, 62, 63, 96, 97, 99, 100, 117, 124, 129, 132
Poor Sites: 104, 123
Hookups: Electric, Water & Sewer in Snowberry RV Loop only
Potable Water: Yes
Dump within Facility: Yes