Category: Destination4x4

Belle Campground

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Belle Campground in Joshua Tree National Park
Belle Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

Belle Campground is a small campground with 18 campsites located in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic destination for those interested in Outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Joshua Tree National Park.

The campground is at an elevation of 3,800 ft (1,158 m) and camping is located around large boulders and among Joshua Trees, for which the park is named. This is a First-come, first-served campsite with vault toilets and no other service beyond trash removal.

No water so bring plenty of your own. Belle is a great campground to see dark night skies.

Because of the park’s very dry climate, fire danger in Joshua Tree is almost always very high. Be cautious. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grills that are found in park campgrounds or picnic areas. Keep fires small. Bring your own firewood. You may not gather park vegetation, whether living or dead, to fuel your campfire. If you plan to have a campfire, bring extra water to douse it thoroughly.

Campground Summary

NameBelle Campground
LocationJoshua Tree National Park,
San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.0014648,-116.0215814
Elevation3,800 ft (1,158 m)
Number of Sites18
AmenitiesFirst Come First Serve

Belle Campground Map

Directions

From the North Entrance:

Continue along Park Blvd and turn left onto Pinto Basin Road. Drive approximately 1.5 miles south along Pinto Basin Road. Turn left into the campground at the campground sign.

From the West Entrance:

Drive along Park Blvd and turn right onto Pinto Basin Road. Turn left into the campground at the Belle Campground sign.

From the South : Drive north on Pinto Basin Road. Turn right at the campground.

References

Holcomb Valley Campground

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Holcomb Valley Campground features 19 single-family campsites and is located along 3N16 in Holcomb Valley, just outside 0f Big Bear, in San Bernardino County, California. Big Bear is a fantastic destination for those interested in outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Big Bear and the campground is an ideal place for access to the Gold Fever Off Road Trail.

Holcomb Valley Campground is located in a lush pine forest in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino Mountains, California
Holcomb Valley Campground is located in a lush pine forest in Holcomb Valley, San Bernardino Mountains, California

Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernardino mountains of California about 90 miles east of Los Angeles in southern California. The area is a full four season resort which offers great skiing in the winter.  Back country 4×4 trails offer a variety of opportunities from the daily driver to a purpose built 4×4. Hiking, biking, boating and camping are great activities in the spring, summer and fall.

Each family campsite accommodates a maximum of 8 people. Amenities include a picnic table, 1 fire ring, bear boxes and vault toilets. There is no water available. A campground host is on site during mid May through October.

Campground Map

Campground Summary

NameHolcomb Valley Campground
LocationBig Bear, San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.302593, -116.895933
Elevation7,375 Feet
Number of Sites19
AmenitiesTent camping,Picnic tables,Toilets,Parking

References

Serrano Campground

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Serrano Campground is a campground with 108 campsites located near Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino, California. the campground is located just across the highway from Big Bear Lake. Big Bear is a fantastic destination for those interested in outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, skiing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Big Bear.

Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernardino mountains of California about 90 miles east of Los Angeles in southern California.  The area is a full four season resort which offers great skiing in the winter.  Back country 4×4 trails offer a variety of opportunities from the daily driver to a purpose built 4×4. Hiking, biking, boating and camping are great activities in the spring, summer and fall.

Big Bear Lake covered in snow near Serrano Campground
Big Bear Lake covered in snow.

Recreation

Visitors enjoy access to a number of hiking and mountain biking trails found within a short distance of the campground. The Alpine Pedal Path and the Cougar Crest Trail are nearby and provide access to the Pacific Crest Trail. The Big Bear Ranger Station is within a mile of the campground. Rangers can provide maps of the area and answer any questions about trails.

Fishing and boating at Big Bear Lake are popular activities. The campground does not provide direct access to the lake, but a boat ramp is available about a mile away. Anglers can look forward to a possible catch of trout, bass, catfish, carp, bluegill and crappie, among others.

Campground Map

Campground Summary

NameSerrano Campground
LocationBig Bear, San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.2628059,-116.9154313
Number of Sites108
Elvation6,800 feet
Amenities

References

Hanna Flats Campground

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Hanna Flats Campground is located near Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernardino mountains of California about 90 miles east of Los Angeles in southern California.  The area is a full four season resort which offers great skiing in the winter.  Back country 4×4 trails offer a variety of opportunities from the daily driver to a purpose built 4×4. Hiking, biking, boating and camping are great activities in the spring, summer and fall.

Hanna Flats Campground is an established campground located on Coxey Truck Trail – 3N14 in Big Bear, San Bernardino California. The campground features eighty five campsites and is located in a pine forest. Big Bear is a fantastic destination for those interested in outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, skiing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Big Bear.

Recreation

A number of hiking and biking trails are nearby, including 3.5-mile Gray’s Peak Trail that connects to Hanna Flat Trail, and 10 miles of unmarked trails that lead to Coxcomb Creek.

Fishing and boating at nearby Big Bear Lake are popular activities. Anglers can look forward to a catch of trout, bluegill, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass. Because of cold water temperatures and the presence of underwater obstacles near the shorelines, swimming at the lake is often discouraged.

Campground Map

Campground Summary

NameHanna Flats Campground
LocationBig Bear, San Bernardino, California
Number of Sites85
Elvation7,115 feet
AmenitiesPicnic table, fire ring, – no hook-ups, Vault toilets, tap water, campfire circle

References

Coyote (Canis latrans)

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Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park - Photo by James L Rathbun
Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park – Photo by James L Rathbun

A symbol of the American Southwest, the howl of the humble Coyote (Canis latrans) is synonymous with wild places. A member of the canine family and cousin to your pet, the coyote is a carnivore, predator, scavenger and survivor and even have a gord named for them, the coyote melon. The mammal is also known as the “little wolf”, “brush wolf”, “prairie wolf” and “American jackal”.

Although not necessarily nocturnal, they may hunt at night in the presence of humans. Regardless, they are more active in the evenings. They prowl and hunt in small groups. Their cries and howls at night are the reason they are known as the most vocal wild animal North American Animals. Personally, I welcome their vocalizations echoing access the desert night.

Coyote hunt reptiles, birds, small mammals, fish and even the larger bison, deer, elk and sheep. They roam up to ten miles per day on a constant hunt for food. In urban areas, this opportunist animal will eat dog and cat food, and known to attack domestic dogs and cats. In Death Valley National Park this resourceful jackal will eat large quantities of beetles and hawkmoth caterpillars for food. They are extremely resourceful and opportunistic survivors.

The coyote is classified in 19 different subspecies throughout the North America. A typical male will weigh between 18 and 44 pounds, while the female tips the scale a at a more modest 15 to 40 pounds. The fair color ranges from a light grey, tan to dark browns or even black depending upon habitat.

Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park - Photo by James L Rathbun
Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park – Photo by James L Rathbun

In Native American cultures, folklore depicts the coyote as a trickster. For this Irish American over a certain age, the coyote is call as wiley, known as a super genius and has, upon occasion, ordered an abundance of explosive from the Amce Corporation .

Resources

Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Genus:Canis
Species:C. latrans