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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

Pineknot

Forest Service campground in San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California. 6,956 feet. 0.7 miles from Big Bear Lake.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service San Bernardino National Forest
Elevation
6,956 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
47 47 standard non-electric
Longest rig
26 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
San Bernardino County

Overview

Pineknot Campground is located in the mountains of San Bernardino at Big Bear Lake. It is a popular destination for many outdoor enthusiasts looking for respite from the busy cities nearby. While the campground can accommodate RVs, it is best situated for tent camping. It is in a prime location for mountain biking.

Recreation

Its location at the base of a ski mountain provides visitors with unlimited access to popular lift-served mountain biking trails. Hikers also enjoy the campground's proximity to a number of trails that vary in levels of difficulty.

Big Bear Lake offers a variety of water-related recreation opportunities, including boating and fishing. A marina is located about five miles from the campground. The cold waters of the lake aren't too popular for swimming, but canoeing and sailing on the lake are viable options.

Facilities

The campground offers dozens of single-family sites for tent or RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Firewood is available for purchase. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. No hookups are available. Trash collection bins are also available and a campground host is on-site. A dump station is available across the lake at Serrano Campground. Additional parking is available just outside of the campground.

Natural Features

The campground sits at the base of Snow Summit Ski Resort at an elevation of 6,900 feet. It is nestled in a dense forest of fir, pine and oak trees, which provide ample shade in the campground.

Nearby Attractions

The adjacent town of Big Bear Lake provides opportunities for shopping and dining.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • mountain biking

The land around Pineknot

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated September 1, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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