San Bernardino is a city of about 220,000 in San Bernardino County, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is best understood as a gateway: to the mountains and lakes to the north, the high desert to the east, and Joshua Tree to the southeast.
San Bernardino National Forest
The San Bernardino National Forest rises from desert floor to alpine peaks, including San Gorgonio (the highest point in Southern California) and San Bernardino Peak. It has hundreds of miles of trails, campgrounds, and lake access. Note that the 2020 El Dorado Fire burned a large part of the San Bernardino Mountains, so some trails and recreation areas were still recovering as of recent seasons — check the forest’s alert page before you go. Permits are required for overnight trips in places.
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake, up in the mountains, is the region’s main resort: summer boating, fishing, and hiking, winter skiing and snowboarding at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. The Pacific Crest Trail passes near the lake. It is busy on winter weekends, so book lodging ahead.
Original McDonald’s Site and Museum
San Bernardino is where Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their restaurant in 1940 and developed the assembly-line Speedee Service System that shaped fast food. The original site, on E Street, is now a free McDonald’s museum with signage and memorabilia — a quick, no-cost stop for anyone interested in the brand’s history.
Deep Creek Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs sits in the mountains northeast of the city, reached by about a 2.5-mile hike from the Bonita Ranch area. It is a natural hot-spring soak; the trail and the springs are clothing-optional in practice, and the area is managed for limited use, so check current access rules.
Joshua Tree National Park
The southern part of Joshua Tree National Park lies in San Bernardino County. It is the high-desert destination for rock climbing, bouldering, and hiking among the namesake trees, about a 45-minute to hour drive from the city depending on the entrance. Summer is dangerously hot; spring and fall are the comfortable seasons.
Conclusion
San Bernardino is a practical base for mountain, desert, and lake trips rather than a destination itself. Use it for Big Bear in winter, Joshua Tree in spring/fall, and the forest for hiking — and check fire and road closures, which are common in this county late summer and after wet winters (burn areas close). The McDonald’s museum is the easy in-town stop. If you are passing on I-10 or I-215, it is a reasonable fuel-and-food break with more to do nearby than the strip-mall look suggests.
