Placed directly in the San Bernandino Mountains, just a few hours from Los Angeles, Crestline, California, is home to the giant Lake Gregory and other historical landmarks in Southern California.
Crestline is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, and while they do experience some snowy winters, you will still be able to enjoy the landscape the small city has to offer.
Regarding things to do in Crestline, you can enjoy a scenic view of Lake Gregory and take in Crestline’s mountainous landscape. Many tourists enjoy boating, swimming, kayaking, and antique shopping in Crestline, California.
Tourists also take in the Crestline nightlife at the lake after a long day of exploring. It is quite easy to get to Crestline, California, if you fly directly to LAX and drive over by car.
While there is no way to take the Amtrak train directly into the city, you can go to the nearest station in Riverside and make your way by a rental car or a rideshare service.
With plenty of outdoor adventures and a small-town feel with local restaurants, bars, and wineries, Crestline is a great spot to visit if you want a rural escape. Below, you can see all the best things to enjoy and participate in Crestline.
TL;DR
- Most significant landmark – Heart Rock on Seeley Creek Trail
- Park to visit – Lake Gregory Regional Park
- Free activity – Mozumdar Temple
- Activity for kids – Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center
- Activity for adults – Sycamore Ranch Vineyard And Winery
- Place to eat – The Bear House Family Restaurant
- Nightlife – Bear Claw Saloon
- Place to stay – Sky Park at Santa’s Village
Things to Do in Crestline, California
1. Heart Rock on Seeley Creek Trail
Address: 250 CA-138, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Seeley Creek Trail is one of the Crestline’s best outdoor destinations, featuring wildlife spotting, recreation, and relaxation amidst the classic California nature. When visiting, you can’t miss out on the waterfalls.
At the end of the Seeley Creek Falls Trail, the waterfalls have created perfectly heart-shaped holes in rocks. The hike to the Heart Rock on Seeley Creek Trail is a one-mile round trip through the San Bernardino Mountains from Crestline, the entrance of the mountains.
The hike is along the Sylvan Stream, and throughout the trail, blue hearts and arrows are painted on the rocks to keep you on course. As you explore the trail, you will be surrounded by the forest and beautiful outdoor scenery.
After hiking about half a mile, you will reach the steep water slide where the Heart Rock resides. The best view is overlooking Steeley Creek Falls and viewing over the edge. From here, you will see the almost perfectly carved-out heart.
The best time to go on the trail is spring and summer, when the waterfall flows strongly after the snow melts. You can check out the San Bernardino Forest website map to plan your start on the trailhead.
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2. Lake Gregory Regional Park
Address: 24171 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Lake Gregory Regional Park is surrounded by a cedar and pine forest within the San Bernardino Mountains. Lake Gregory is active throughout the year, with a wide range of activities on the lake.
The regional park has 84 acres of water for swimming and other sports. Other activities in the park include a fitness trail, an inflatable water park, boat rentals, picnic areas, fishing, a skate park, sports courts, and playgrounds for the kiddos.
Lake Gregory Regional Park is a great place to spend the day with the whole family. There are activities for everyone, and the views are simply sumptuous. If you would like beach access or access to swimming, fishing, or kayaking, you must pay a $10 daily fee and book it on their website.
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3. Mozumdar Temple
Address: 865 Mozumdar Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Akhoy Kumar Mozumdar built the Mozumdar Temple within the vast forest of the San Bernardino Mountains. The temple was built to unite people from different religions and cultures under one roof. Mozumdar, unfortunately, passed away before the project was finished.
While you cannot tour the interestingly placed temple, you can view it as you drive down the road. You can also take in the vast landscape surrounding the temple and the mountains surrounding Crestline, California.
You can visit the temple’s website. However, there is currently no information about booking a tour. Still, it is certainly photo-worthy!
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4. SkyPark at Santa’s Village
Address: 28950 CA-18, Skyforest, CA 92385, United States
Looking for some Christmas cheer? The Sky Park at Santa’s Village combines children’s activities like mini-trains and outdoor adventures such as ax-throwing, fly fishing, and ziplining. There are giant candy-cane street lamps and gingerbread houses that line the pathway.
There are also places to eat in the village, and the food options are quite vast, ranging from burgers and BBQ to craft beer, ice cream, and ginger doodles. The SkyPark at Santa’s Village opened in 1955 as a thriving amusement park with horse-drawn rides, a monorail, tours of Santa’s house and workshop, and free-roaming reindeer.
In 2016, new owners took over Santa’s Village and added mountain biking on the 230-acre property to the list of activities. Since the owners were Crestline locals, they knew how important it was to keep the original layout of the village and decided only to update the park.
Buying a day pass costs $59 for adults and $49 for children. You can purchase your tickets on their website. This place is also one of the top accommodation locations in the area. Many options include camping and RV parks, the Saddleback Inn, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, and Lake Arrowhead Lodge.
5. Lake Arrowhead Queen Boat Tour
Address: 28200 CA-189 c100, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States
The Lake Arrowhead Queen Boat Tour is a great way to view nearby Lake Arrowhead. The lake has a small town on its banks and is surrounded by the forests of the San Bernardino Mountains.
A tour is typically a one-hour narrated boat tour that takes you around the lake. You will learn about the history of the lake and how the town came to be. Throughout the tour, you will also see all the elegant homes along the lake shore.
If you decide to take the boat tour to take in the majestic view of the surrounding forest, there is a $25 pass for adults and a $20 pass for children. Private charters can also be booked for weddings or other special events.
You cannot buy tickets ahead of time on their website. Instead, you must buy them at LeRoy’s Boardshop (11E E State St, Redlands, CA 92373).
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6. Sycamore Ranch Vineyard And Winery
Address: Dart Canyon Rd, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Sycamore Ranch Vineyard and Winery is a winery that produces all its wine locally, right here, in Crestline, California. The owners are local to the area and started their vineyard after purchasing an old apple farm.
The ranch is home to a 65-tree apple orchard, cherry and pear trees, raspberry and blackberry patches, as well as Zinfandel and Syrah vineyards and garden rooms.
The ranch is within the forest and mountains of the San Bernardino Mountains. The mountain estate will allow you to relax completely and enjoy the natural landscape, added to the taste of local wine and hard cider.
If you decide to visit them, the ranch, winery, and tasting room are open by appointment only. When reserving a tasting session, a table can seat four people with a maximum of 6. You can also request a picnic-style tasting where you bring your chairs and blankets.
The tasting fee for the vineyard is $25 for the wine flight of 5 vintages and $15 for a hard cider flight, and you may even waive the wine flight cost if you purchase two bottles of wine. To make a reservation, you can call or email them beforehand.
7. The Bear House Family Restaurant
Address: 23420 Crest Forest Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
The Bear House Family Restaurant is a great local choice for classic American food or top Mexican fare. The restaurant has a vast menu, serving breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. They are open from 7 am to 8 pm daily.
With daily specials, the bear-themed restaurant also has a large electric train that runs through the crown molding and around the restaurant. Choo choo! They also have beer and wine available at your leisure; if you are on the go, you can get your food to go, too!
The Bear House Family Restaurant is a great dine-in place to get a meal for everyone in the family. If you have a long day of hiking ahead of you, you can take your food to go or even head there after a long day’s worth of activities.
While they do not have a website, you can check out their Facebook for their daily specials.
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8. Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center
Address: 23991 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
If you are looking for entertainment for the whole family, Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center is a great place to visit. It features a bowling alley, arcade, and restaurant, options that suit various interests.
The entertainment center can easily be found off Lake Drive in Crestline, California. If you want family fun, you can find bowling and arcade games to keep the wee ones occupied. You can even grab some Italian food here at Giuseppe’s Italian Pizzeria.
If you’re looking to slay some pins, reservations are available and recommended for busy, rainy days. You can reserve a time and lane by calling ahead. It is worth calling to avoid having to wait for a lane.
9. San Bernardino County Library Crestline Branch
Address: Crestline Park, 24105 Lake Gregory Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, the San Bernardino County Library Crestline Branch is a great place to stop on a rainy day or if you’re looking for something quieter and laid back on your trip.
The quiet library allows visitors to slow down with a book and take in some of the beautiful scenery that Crestline has to offer. The library is very noticeable as you drive by and has a modern structure compared to other buildings in Crestline.
With ample seating and a perfect lake view, it is a serene spot to catch up on the hottest books of the year or cuddle up with a classic. Be sure to check out the library’s event calendar for the latest events and library happenings, including family game nights.
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10. Bear Claw Saloon
Address: 24087 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325, United States
Right off of Lake Drive is one of the only pubs in Crestline. Bear Claw Saloon is a great place to grab a brew and catch live band performances, all with a view of Lake Gregory.
The bar also hosts karaoke for a fun night out and has reasonably priced drinks. This is also a favorite haunt of many Crestline locals at that bar, who are inviting and friendly. Food trucks are around the bar, so you can grab something to eat while listening to a live band.
They hold different events each day and larger events weekly at this hopping pub. To see their calendar and plan your visit, check out their website to know what to expect!
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Places to Stay Near Crestline
If you’re looking for some of the top-rated hotels and vacation rentals in the area, here are our top picks.
Getting around Crestline, California
Getting around may be difficult if you opt out of renting a car or bringing your own. When traveling to a small town like Crestline, California, navigating the mountainous city may be difficult with no transportation.
To get around the city, renting a car to get from place to place quickly is best. A free trolley on Fridays and Saturdays runs from 3 pm to 10 pm, so you can get around on the weekend. However, apart from the trolley, that is the only public transportation.
You can also use local services like A+ Mountain Ride Services, which will easily take you around the city and other places.
Travel by Car
If you want to see all the Crestline sites easily and efficiently, you should rent a car to travel. If you are traveling as a family or with a group, it is also efficient to travel together easily by having a car at your disposal.
You can rent a car from travel websites like Kayak or Rentalcars.com. You can also find great deals on booking.com and accurately note your travel dates.
Rideshare Options
Uber and Lyft are used throughout Crestline. The apps offer easy and affordable options to get around. If there are days when you are accommodated when it comes to getting around, relying on rideshare options is a great way to travel. You will be able to save on the days that you will not need to travel by car.
Best Way to Get Around as a Solo Traveler
If you are traveling on your own as a solo traveler, you can use Amtrak to enter and leave Crestline, California, starting in Los Angeles, California. You can also take a Greyhound bus directly into the city if needed. If your stop is outside Crestline, you must take a taxi or rideshare service to your destination.
Best Way to Get Around for Groups or Families
If traveling by group or with your family, renting a car is the best way to get around Crestline. You can easily reach all places around and outside the mountainous town. When going into the mountains, going to ranches, biking, and hiking, getting to every place is best by renting a car.
FAQ
What are the best tourist attractions in Crestline, California?
SkyPark at Santa’s Village and the Mozumdar Temple are the best tourist attractions in Crestline, California. There are plenty of great spots and sites to see in Crestline, California. You will undoubtedly have a peaceful and wonderful time visiting the mountain area.
What is the best thing to do with kids in Crestline?
If you travel with kids in Crestline, you can visit SkyPark at Santa’s Village and Lake Gregory Regional Park or even check out the heart-shaped rocks on the Heart Rock trails. There are plenty of places to visit for kids that will entertain the whole family.
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