San Bernardino National Forest

About Us

The wild lands of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain Ranges were designated a National Forest more than a hundred years ago.

The Forest Reserve Act was passed in 1891, giving the president authority to "set apart and reserve, in any state or territory having public land bearing forests . . . as public reservations." From this act was born the San Bernardino Forest Reserve, which became the San Bernardino National Forest in 1907. The San Bernardino National Forest as public land was set aside for the conservation of natural resources such as trees, water, minerals, livestock range, recreation, or wildlife.

Today, the San Bernardino National Forest serves as southern California's outdoor year-around recreation destination, as well as providing valuable watershed protection. Drive the scenic Rim of the World Scenic Byway and Palms to Pines Scenic Byways to discover your local National Forest.

The San Bernardino National Forest is comprised of three Ranger Districts spanning 676,666 acres in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Read more

In The Spotlight

AMGEN Tour of California - May 16-23

About The Tour

The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23.

Founded in 2005, Breakaway from Cancer continues to raise awareness and funds to support valuable services and programs, provided free of charge, that help people living with cancer. The initiative was created by Amgen as a complementary component to the company's sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California. This year, the initiative continues to support the important programs and tools offered by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and The Wellness Community. Read more

Stage 6 on the San Bernardino National Forest - May 21

Stage 6 will travel from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake, entering the San Bernardino National Forest in Wrightwood on State Highway 2. The route enters the Rim of the World Scenic Byway near Lone Pine Canyon Road and State Highway 138 and travel across the Rim of the World Scenic Byway through Lake Silverwood into the Crestline community. The route then travels east on State Highway 18 along the rim passing the Lake Arrowhead area, through Running Springs into the Big Bear Valley. Read more

San Bernardino National Forest Seeks Public Comment on Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Application

San Bernardino National Forest officials will submit a cooperative grant application to the State of California Off-highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division for 2010/2011 "Green Sticker" grants, and are seeking public comment on the application. Comments on the application must be received between March 2, 2010, and April 5, 2010.
Green Sticker grants provide funding to help protect, maintain, and enhance the Forest's designated off-highway vehicle (OHV) system. If awarded, grant money would be used for facilities maintenance, signage, wildlife and cultural resource protection, restoration projects, and law enforcement support at OHV areas. Public comments can be posted on the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation website on the Grants tab, beginning March 2nd.

Bald Eagle Counts

Volunteers are needed to help the Forest Service count bald eagles this winter in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains! Volunteers will be stationed at various vantage points around the mountain lakes, where they map and note any eagle observations during a 1-hour period on a Saturday morning. This is the 31^st year that the San Bernardino National Forest has organized monthly winter bald eagle counts.

The final Eagle Counts for this winter is scheduled for Saturday morning March 13. Mark your calendars now. Volunteers will be needed for each census. Volunteers need not have experience--just bring binoculars, a watch, and dress warmly. Concurrent Bald Eagle counts are held at Big Bear Lake, Baldwin Lake, Little Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Silverwood, and Lake Hemet. Read more

ARRA Projects

Many of the communities most affected by the economic downturn are located near national forests. Using funding from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we'll create jobs that support our mission of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Read more

Abandoned Mine Closures and Protection of Bat Habitats

The Mountain Top Ranger District, on the San Bernardino National Forest, and the State of California, Department of Mine Reclamation has successfully closed seven mine entrances for public safety and protection of bat habitats along Forest System Road 3N03 and near Sheep Canyon. The gates not only prevent the public from entering into dangerous mine openings but also protect bat roosts and maternity wards. Read more

Penny Pines Reforestation Program

The national forests in California cover some 20 million acres, or about 1/5 of the state. That is equal to an area just slightly larger than the state of South Carolina. Stretching from the Mexican border to Oregon , these forests include a variety of terrain and vegetation types. These areas of great beauty and majestic stature are plagued by divesting problems, such as natural and man-caused fire, pests and disease. These cause vast depletion and destruction of the national forests in California. In time some land may recover naturally. Penny Pines provides a helping hand. It is a conservation program in which everyone can participate. In 1941, California's first Penny Pines plantation was sponsored by the San Francisco Sports-women's Association. Over the years these groups have contributed more than a million dollars to the Penny Pines Reforestation Program. Through these donations, more than 27 million of seedlings have been planted, renewing 88,000 acres of national forest land in California--truly an outstanding achievement. Read more