Overview
A brief introduction to San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino ( SAN BUR-nə-DEE-noh) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the 18th-largest city in California. San Bernardino is the economic, cultural, and political hub of the San Bernardino Valley and the Inland Empire. The governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico have established the metropolitan area's only consulates in the downtown area of the city. Additionally, San Bernardino serves as an anchor city to the 3rd largest metropolitan area in California (after Los Angeles and San Francisco) and the 12th largest metropolitan area in the United States; the San Bernardino-Riverside MSA. Furthermore, the city's University District serves as a college town, as home to California State University, San Bernardino.
San Bernardino was named in 1810, when Spanish priest Francisco Dumetz led an expedition through the area. In 1839, the Mexican government granted Californio ranchero José del Carmen Lugo the right to settle the area, which was formalized when he was granted Rancho San Bernardino in 1842. Following the American Conquest of California, the community on the rancho incorporated as a city in 1854. The city grew significantly in the late 19th century as a commercial hub at the crossroads between Southern California and the American Southwest. Today, San Bernardino is an important hub for the Inland Empire and Southern California.
ARE San Bernardino National Forest campsites SOLD OUT?
We can help! Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. Just tell us when you’d like to camp at San Bernardino National Forest, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll text you when a suitable spot opens up!
Scan for cancellationsContact San Bernardino National Forest
- Recreation.gov
- Booking site: https://www.recreation.gov
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Other nearby parks
Open to camping at other nearby parks? Here are a few other parks you'll find in the vicinity.
Reviews
Camper reviews for San Bernardino National Forest
Big Bear, Serrano
A hidden gem on the Fawnskin side of the lake. The park staff were wonderful and helpful. The best part was using campnab to snag a wonderful hookup site of the campground! There are many things to do up in the Big Bear area and camping with the lake close by was awesome. There is even a nice zoo to visit!
Map
View a map of San Bernardino National Forest
UNABLE TO RESERVE A CAMPSITE?
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