Yellow Post sites are free, un-reservable, individual, dispersed, primitive camping sites (marked with a yellow post) located in the San Bernardino National Forest. There are yellow post sites around Big Bear Lake, Mountain Center and Idyllwild (each area has a detailed map online which includes the fire roads to take to arrive). We chose South Shore Big Bear Lake, taking Forest Road 2N10 and 2N86 to get to the secluded spot. This is the first time we have ever camped at a yellow post site before. It seems as though we have been missing out. It felt like we were camping so much further away from home, which was exactly want I wanted, just us and the trees. Throughout the three hour drive, I was a little apprehensive we were going to wind up at a hotel, uncertain that we would be able to find an available site for the night (arriving on a Saturday, considering that every single campground was booked solid this weekend and every other weekend) but we lucked out. As we pulled up, the campers at site 30 were packing up. It was meant to be.
All yellow post sites have a picnic table and a fire ring (although no fires are currently permitted, a shame considering it dropped to the 20s at night). Site 30 has a ton of rocks to scramble, and large trees that easily become hammock posts. The campsite is large, and there is enough distance amongst the trees that stargazing is accessible.
Although I would camp again at yellow post site 30 in a heartbeat, I am so curious what the other sites look like. We have a lot of exploring to do.
This is one of my All/Time favorite posts! Your photos are fantastic! Makes one want to pack up & head to Big Bear tonight! And, I actually had never heard of yellow post campsites before! What a find! And such ‘synchronicity’ that you arrived just at the moment #30 was being vacated! What a great experience to share…🌲🌲🪵🌲🌲🪵🌲🌲🪵🌲🌲🪵
Eric has been talking about these sites for a few months, he mountain biked past some in Mountain Center. Maybe we will try there next.
“The mountains are calling and I must go!” Muir had nothing on you guys! What a blast. It was meant to be. You all look so happy and spot #30 was idyllic. What a fabulous resource for camping and your weather was perfect, albeit chilly! What a great, great Day # 9 for Eric’s birthday month. Woo hoo.
Soooo cold!! We will try the Trabuco next. They have open camping too and it’s close. And maybe not AS cold!