Pineknot sits at the base of Snow Summit Ski Resort in a dense forest of fir, pine, and oak at 6,900 feet elevation. The campground works best for tent camping despite accommodating RVs, and serves as a launching point for lift-served mountain biking trails and Big Bear Lake recreation. It's positioned for those wanting mountain access with town conveniences five miles away.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 47
- 💵Fee per Night
- $34
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 7,000 ft
- 📍GPS
- 34.23588, -116.88608
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📞Phone
- 909-866-8550
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The 47 sites spread through thick forest cover that provides solid shade throughout the campground. Each site comes with a table and fire ring with grill, though you'll need to buy firewood on-site. Flush toilets and drinking water are available, but no hookups — plan accordingly if you're bringing an RV. A campground host stays on-site, and trash collection bins are scattered throughout.
If you need to dump your RV tanks, you'll have to drive across the lake to Serrano Campground. Additional parking sits just outside the campground boundaries if your site feels tight.
The Draw
The real appeal here is the immediate access to Snow Summit's lift-served mountain biking trails. You can literally walk from your tent to the base of the mountain biking network. Hikers get access to multiple trails with varying difficulty levels, though the source material doesn't specify which trails or their exact locations.
Big Bear Lake sits nearby with a marina about five miles from camp. The water stays cold year-round, making swimming less appealing, but boating, fishing, canoeing, and sailing all work well.
What to Know
Reservations are required and can be made six months in advance for individual sites. At $34 per night, this isn't budget camping, but the location and amenities justify the cost for mountain bikers and lake enthusiasts.
The adjacent town of Big Bear Lake offers shopping and dining options when camp food gets old. The elevation means cooler temperatures than the surrounding desert, making this a popular escape from Southern California's heat.