Serrano Campground

Serrano is in a great location to serve as base camp for adventures around Big Bear Lake. The Cougar Crest Trailhead and Solar Observatory are nearby, as are East Public Boat Launch and West Shore Beach. The Big Bear Discovery Center is a short bike ride or drive away, and rangers there can provide endless information on where to go and what to do.

Serrano is the area's largest campground, with over 100 sites available. All sites have picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and nearby restrooms with showers. Some sites have hookups and dump stations for RVs. There are also interpretive trails and guided programs that the camp host or Forest Service rangers can tell you about.

Because of its location between two fairly busy roads, the campground is not especially quiet, but most of the sites are fairly large and spread out, and there are still plenty of trees to provide a shady forest ambiance. The advantage is camping in a prime spot for exploring around Big Bear without any hassle of driving dirt roads or navigating outside of town. All the sites are walking distance from the lake's north shore, but there is no direct access. You can walk through the adjacent Meadows Edge Picnic Area to get to the water. To launch boats, use the East Public Boat Launch or one of the nearby marinas.

Serrano has a fairly long season, and it is typically open from February 26 to November 27. Some sites are available first-come, first-served, but reservations are recommended, especially during summer. Make your reservation up to six months or as late as 24 hours in advance.