Hiking

I'd like to hear others input on good day hikes near Lake Arrowhead or Crestline.

One easy one that comes to mind is the short hike to the Indian Rock camp that starts near the Forest Fire station off of 173.

Any other good ideas?

Another nice easy hike is Heart Rock:

From Crestline, take State Hwy 138 Northwest 1.5 miles, down to the Camp Seeley entrance road at mile marker 138 SBD 35.00. Turn left, then left again just outside the gate to Camp Seeley, and follow the narrow paved road to a parking area on your right (0.4 miles from the highway).

Directions copied from Sunflowers in Crestline thread.

Thanks, I have seen photos of the heart rock and this is one hike that I plan to make.

This should help you out.
http://www.mountaininfo.com/hiking.html

What kind of hike are you looking for? There are several nice hikes of varying difficulty. Here are a few of my favorites:

Pinnacles Peak. Sort of long. You should know how to read trail markers as the path gets a little confusing in places. Steep in places. You need to boulder at the end. Million dollar view at the end.

Bradford Ridge Path. Goes to Deep Creek Hot Springs. Long and meandering. A bit steep and narrow at the beginning and very steep at the end. Worth it if you are up to a long hike. I don't know what the fire damage has done though. Have to park somewhat far from the trailhead due to bridge reconstruction.

North Shore Trail (behind the hospital/campground). Goes to Splinter's Cabin in Hook Creek area. Lovely lovely spring hike. I wouldn't do it now but definately have it on my list for spring flowers. Not too hard. You can have a pick up at Splinter's cabin so you don't have to walk all the way back. But even that isn't too bad.

Of course, there is the Arborteum trail. Short. Informative. Again, I would wait until spring when things are growing.

There are two books that I would highly recommend if you would like to find other hikes. One is "Hiking in the San Bernardino Mountains" by Jim Manning. It's about 62 pages, browish cover. The other is "San Bernardino Mountain Trails" by John W. Robinson. 100 trails listed from one end of the mountain to the other. These two books will keep you busy for years.

Have fun and tread lightly!

I would echo what Khiori wrote. Those are my favorite hikes around here. I just did The Pinnacles Sunday with my favorite hiking buddies--my wife and my border collie. It is the best one around here when there is snow, and a great one to bring the dog along on. I also took the Bradford Ridge Path in the fall after the fire. The fire had done a lot of damage there, but it was already coming back, and there was a lot of natural beauty left, especially down low in the streams. I saw a mountain lion and two bighorn sheep there on that day.

We did the Pinnacles on NY Day as usual, wonderful, a little bit strenuous. But if you take your time, and go the right way! It's a breeze. The North Shore hike was just strangely beautiful the spring after the Old fire. Bring a Wildflower book. Otherwise you might miss something!

Thanks for the ideas guys. I have done the North Shore trail a few times. I did a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail where it parallels Deep Creek from Splinters Cabin on new years day and the area is looking better and better since the fire.

Here are some shots from the Pinnacles hike on Sunday with snow.

http://www.1000wordsphotos.com/pinnacleswinter

Those are lovely photos. I totally fell in love with the whole side back there a few years ago. We take our dogs to walk there several times a week. Or just as often as we can. We have the green ford explorer with the roof rack, in case you happen to see us parked somewhere along 173. (with landseer newfoundland and white collie in tow)

Me too. It's the best place to hike with high-maintenance dogs like yours and mine. The life zone between the high desert and the mountains is the most interesting place for me and mine up here. The Bradford Ridge Path is spectacular when the big waterfall is going. In case you missed it, here are my photos from Nov. 19 when I took the Bradford Ridge Path to Deep Creek for the fall colors. I'm the Dark Green Isuzu Trooper with racks. I'll look for you.

http://www.1000wordsphotos.com/deepcreek

Great shots Lee! It was your shots of Heart Rock that I refered to earlier in this thread.

Thanks 4paws.