10 Fun & Best Things to Do in Crestline, California

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. 

When it comes to things to do in Crestline, California, you can enjoy a scenic view of Lake Gregory and take in the mountainous landscape that surrounds Crestline, California. Many tourists enjoy boating, swimming, kayaking, and antique shopping in Crestline, California.

At the lake, tourists also take in the Crestline nightlife 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 over by a rental car or a rideshare service. 

With plenty of outdoor adventures to offer and a small-town feel with local restaurants, bars, and wineries, Crestline, California, is a great spot to go to if you are looking for a rural escape.  Below, you can see all the best things to enjoy and take part in Crestline, California.

TL;DR

Here are the top activities and things to do in Crestline, California for people of all ages and interests.

• Most significant landmark – Heart Rock on Seeley Creek Trail
• Best park – Lake Gregory Regional Park
• Best free activity – Mozumdar Temple
• Best activity for kids – Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center
• Best activity for adults – Sycamore Ranch Vineyard And Winery
• Best food – The Bear House Family Restaurant
• Best nightlife – Bear Claw Saloon
• Best all-around accommodation – Sky Park at Santa’s Village

Best & Fun Things to do in Crestline, California

1. Heart Rock on Seeley Creek Trail 

Address: Route 138, San Bernardino National Forest, Crestline, CA 92325

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, California, the entrance of the mountains. 

The hike is along the Sylvan Stream and throughout the trail are blue hearts and arrows 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 of 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 during the spring and summer when the waterfall is flowing strongly after the snow melts. To find the trailhead, you can check out the map on the San Bernardino Forest website. 

See Related: Most Exotic Places in California to Visit

2. Lake Gregory Regional Park

Address: 24171 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325

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 is 84 acres of mostly water used for swimming and other water 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 will need to pay a $10 daily fee and book it on their website.

Want to go on a side quest? Book a Napa Valley Guided Wine Tour or enjoy the Sunset Whale Watching activity in Monterey.

3. ​​Mozumdar Temple

Address: 865 Mozumdar Dr, Crestline, CA 92325

Akhoy Kumar Mozumdar built the Mozumdar Temple within the vast forest of the San Bernardino Mountains. The temple was built as a way to bring together all 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 that surrounds the temple and the mountains that surround 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!

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Palm Desert, California

4. SkyPark at Santa’s Village

Address: 28950 CA-18, Skyforest, CA 92385

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 originally 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. 

To buy a day pass it is $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. There are a bunch of different options to choose from including 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

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 be able to 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 will need to go to LeRoy’s Boardshop to buy them (located at 11E E State St, Redlands, CA 92373). Want more boat tours in California? Book the San Diego Harbor Cruise, Golden Gate Bay Cruise, or South Lake Tahoe Sightseeing Cruise.

See Related: Best Things to Do in Oakhurst, California

6. Sycamore Ranch Vineyard And Winery

Address: 174 N Dart Canyon Rd, Crestline, CA 92325

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 completely relax and take in the natural landscape added to the taste of local wine and hard cider. 

If you decide to pay them a visit, the ranch, winery, and tasting room are open by appointment only. When it comes to reserving a tasting session, a table can sit 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 ahead of time.

7. The Bear House Family Restaurant

Address: 23420 Crest Forest Drive, Crestline, CA 92325

To enjoy classic American food or top Mexican fare, The Bear House Family Restaurant is a great local choice. 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, and 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. 

See Related: Best Things to Do in California

8. Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center

Address: 23991 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325

If you are looking for entertainment for the whole family, Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center is a great place to visit. Featuring a bowling alley, arcade, and restaurant, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The entertainment center can easily be found off Lake Drive in Crestline, California. If you are looking for 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: 24105 Lake Gregory Dr, Crestline, CA 92325

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 view of the lake, 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.

See Related: Best Places to Travel in December on a Budget

10. Bear Claw Saloon

Address: 24087 Lake Dr, Crestline, CA 92325

Right off of Lake Drive is one of the only pubs in Crestline, California. 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. There are also food trucks 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 to plan your visit, you can check out their website to know what to expect!

See Related: Best Things to Do in Merced, California

Getting around Crestline, California

Getting around Crestline, California, may be difficult if you opt out of renting a car or bringing your own. When you are traveling to a small town like Crestline, California, navigating the mountainous city may be difficult with no transportation.

To get around the city, it is best to rent a car to quickly get from place to place.  There is a free trolley on Fridays and Saturdays that 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 of your own 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, California. 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 will need to take a taxi or rideshare service to your destination. 

Best Way to Get Around for Groups or Families

The best way to get around Crestline, California, if you are traveling by group or with your family, renting a car. You can easily reach all places around the mountainous town along with places outside Crestline, California.

When it comes to going into the mountains, going to ranches, biking, and hiking, getting to every place is best by renting a car. 

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