Tanglewood sits in dense pines at 7,542 feet, eight miles northeast of Big Bear Lake, built for one purpose: groups that want their own piece of forest. The single campsite handles up to 40 people and eight vehicles, making it a straightforward choice for extended families or club outings who don't want to deal with neighbors.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $10
- 📍GPS
- 34.29285, -116.86423
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 909-866-3437
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground offers one large group site in a pine forest setting along the Gold Fever Auto Tour Trail. You'll reach it via a dirt and gravel access road — something to consider if anyone in your group is driving a low-clearance vehicle. The site comes equipped with multiple picnic tables, a campfire circle, and grills, plus vault toilets.
Two important gaps: no drinking water and no trash collection. Plan to haul in your water and pack out everything you bring. At this elevation and distance from town, that's standard operating procedure.
What to Know
The $10 nightly fee is remarkably low for a group site that can accommodate 40 people, making it one of the better deals in the San Bernardino Mountains. Group sites typically book 12 months in advance, so plan accordingly.
The campground sits directly on the Gold Fever Auto Tour Trail, which includes interpretive sites highlighting the area's gold mining history — a built-in educational component for groups with kids or history buffs.
Nearby
Big Bear Lake offers fishing for trout, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass, though swimming is discouraged due to cold water and underwater obstacles near shore. Several trail options begin nearby, including the Gold Fever Trail, plus mountain biking and off-road vehicle routes.
For resupply, a general store and restaurants are about eight miles southwest in Fawnskin. If anyone in your group needs a shower, the closest facilities are at Serrano Campground east of Fawnskin. Climbing is also popular in the area, though specific locations aren't detailed.