San Bernardino National Forest

The forest is divided into two large areas or tracts on United States Geological Survey maps, a northern and southern portion.

The west border of the forest adjoins Angeles National Forest and runs north-south about ten miles west of Interstate 15. At its widest parts, the northern portion of the forest runs about {{convert|57|mi|-1}} on an east–west dimension. It runs about {{convert|24|mi|-1}} on a north–south dimension. This portion of the forest encompasses the San Bernardino Mountains. The area extends west of Mount San Antonio and Wrightwood in San Bernardino County. The eastern portion of the forest extends about ten miles east of Big Bear City and includes the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The southernmost portion is bisected by the Riverside County line and borders the Morongo Indian Reservation north of Cabazon.

At its widest point, the southern portion is about {{convert|27|mi|-1}} on a north-south dimension and about {{convert|30|mi|-1}} on an east-west dimension. Toro Peak and the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation are near the south extent. At the north is Snow Creek Village and the Morongo Indian Reservation. Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness is carved out of the southern portion. The community of Idyllwild is surrounded by national forest lands.

While most National Forests include lumber resources, these two areas also include:

• Residential communities and resorts
• Indian resources such as historically important caves and pictographs
• The University of California-owned James Reserve research stationAnthony, Craig E., Unit Chief, Riverside Unit Fire Management Plan 2005, (Perris, California: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Riverside Unit, 2005.)

The two tallest waterfalls in Southern California, Big Falls and Bonita Falls,{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} are located in the San Bernardino National Forest.

There are seven official wilderness areas lying within San Bernardino National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. One extends into neighboring Angeles National Forest and three into land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (as indicated).

• Bighorn Mountain Wilderness (mostly BLM)
• Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness
• Cucamonga Wilderness (partly in Angeles NF)
• San Gorgonio Wilderness (partly BLM)
• San Jacinto Wilderness
• Santa Rosa Wilderness (mostly BLM)
• South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

File:BDF E57.png

The San Bernardino National Forest has its own fire stations and engine companies.{{cite web |url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/esperanza_00_complete_final_draft_05_01_2007.pdf |title=Esperanza Fire, Accident Investigation and Factual Report |publisher=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |access-date=2013-02-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/Esperanza%20Fire%20-%20ROI.pdf |title=Esperanza fire fatality investigation |publisher=Office Of Inspector General-Investigations, USDA |access-date=2013-02-10}}

As of 2001, eight Air Tactical Group Supervisors (ATGSs) work out of the Forest Supervisor's Office in San Bernardino.Region 5 Air Tactical and Forest Aviation Management Program: Strategic Plan, Fiscal Year 2002, (San Francisco: USDA, US Forest Service Region 5, 2001).

File:San Bernardino National Forest After Fire in 2016.jpg in the summer of 2016 along State Route 138.]]

There are many different species of trees, many coniferous, that grow in the mountains. Pines, such as ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, Coulter pine, lodgepole pine, single-leaf pinyon, and knobcone pine all thrive here. Other coniferous trees, such as white fir, bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa), incense cedar, and western juniper also thrive here. Canyon live oak, California black oak, and Pacific dogwood are other trees that also grow here. The forest contains an estimated {{convert|87400|acre|km2}} of old growth. The most common types are Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests, white fir (Abies concolor) forests, Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forests, and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests.{{Citation

| last1 = Warbington | first1 = Ralph

| last2 = Beardsley | first2 = Debby

| year = 2002

| title = 2002 Estimates of Old Growth Forests on the 18 National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region

| url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/rsl/publications/oldgrowth/oldgrowth2002.html

| publisher = United States Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region

}}

Rock climbing is popular in some areas of the San Bernardino National Forest, most notably at Tahquitz Rock near Idyllwild.{{cite web|title=One of two climbers found dead near Idyllwild was former Dallas Cowboys player Gavin Escobar|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/09/29/gavin-escobar-found-dead-near-idyllwild/8131131001/|author=Perez, Eliana|website=usatoday.com|date=September 29, 2022}}

In the 2013 videogame Grand Theft Auto V, the Paleto Forest is based on the San Bernardino National Forest.{{cite web|url= https://gamerant.com/grand-theft-auto-v-locations-real-life/|title= GTA 5 Locations That Are Based On Real-Life|first1=Ritwik|last1=Mitra|first2=Ben|last2=Painter|date=May 19, 2024|work=Game Rant}}

Bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow, whose nest is live-streamed by Friends of Big Bear Valley, is located in San Bernardino National Forest.{{Cite news |last=Cruz |first=Rene Ray De La |date=March 6, 2025 |title=Fans in frenzy as Jackie and Shadow’s third eagle egg begins to hatch in Big Bear nest |url=https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2025/03/06/jackie-and-shadows-third-eagle-egg-begins-to-hatch-in-big-bear-nest/81814155007/ |work=Victorville Daily Press |language=en-US}}

• List of national forests of the United States
• Big Bear Lake
• Deep Creek Hot Springs
• Big Bear Discovery Center
• Fires in San Bernardino National Forest
• Valley Fire
• Cranston Fire

{{Reflist}}

Yellow Post Camp Site Info Dated Feb 2014 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow_camp_site_info_big_bear.pdf

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf/ Official San Bernardino National Forest website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316163400/http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_4472.asp Local Hikes.com: Southern California Trails in the San Bernardino National Forest]
• [http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/San_Bernardino_National_Forest Off-Road Trails in the San Bernardino National Forest]
• [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/newslog/january2006/focus/sbnf.html SBNF Supervisor's webpage (2006)]

{{Protected Areas of California|NF}}

{{National Forests of the United States}}

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Category:National forests of California

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Category:San Jacinto Mountains

Category:Protected areas of Riverside County, California

Category:Protected areas of San Bernardino County, California

Category:Parks in Southern California

Category:Protected areas established in 1907

Category:1907 establishments in California

Category:Protected areas of Southern California

Category:Tourist attractions in San Bernardino County, California