A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service group campground

Shady Cove Group Campground

Forest Service group campground in San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California. 7,322 feet. 8.9 miles from Big Bear Lake.

Managed by
Forest Service San Bernardino National Forest
Elevation
7,322 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
3 3 group tent only area non-electric
Hookups
Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Shady Cove Group Campground is a beautiful place to camp within the Children's National Forest. It provides access to numerous trails and a lookout tower, with a climbing area nearby. The Children's Forest was burned in a devastating wildfire and was rebuilt with the help of area children.

Recreation

Hiking, biking and birding are popular activities. Many trails begin near the campground, including The Trail of the Phoenix. It is a short, paved interpretive trail that begins at the entrance to the Children's National Forest, which is about three miles from the campground.

Facilities

The campground offers three group sites, one of which is accessible, for tent. Each site can accommodate up to 30 people and eight vehicles.

Each site is equipped with picnic tables, pedestal grills and a campfire circle. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground is easily accessible, just off a paved road, and has forested tent campsites. It is situated in the mountains of Southern California at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.

Nearby Attractions

Arrowbear Lake is about five miles from the campground, where rainbow trout are stocked annually in the spring. The lake is adjacent to the community of Running Springs, which offers a variety of dining and shopping options, as well a grocery stores and fuel stations.

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

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Shady Cove Group Campground

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

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

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.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated August 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.