Barton Flats Campground

Love this camp ground. Lots of forest and hiking trails to keep you busy. Also has trailer and RV parking and clean restrooms.

Camped here this weekend for the first time and we loved it. clean bathrooms and showers. camp host was nice. we were at space 45 it was nice a spacious. the only downside was it was by the road but it didn’t bother us much during the night. we would definitely come back to barton flats!

A lovely place to camp. Clean and spacious sites with great views and trails. I especially loved the camp hosts — an elderly man and woman. They could be seen 6 – 8 times a day driving around all the sites, cleaning up, talking with campers, and helping out. They were there, ready to check us in and give us our parking pass for our car within ten minutes of us arriving and parking at our site. The bathrooms are well kept and the pumps for water are nearby every site, so it’s very convenient. I didn’t get any internet/​phone service at the site — I have T Mobile — but I did get some on the Jenk’s River trail nearby, so if you want to check in with family members back home or check email, it’s not a bad walk away.

Very nice, clean and quite. Can’t say a bad thing about this place. Very nice trails and areas to hike. Seems to be dog friendly. We will be back.

Decent campground just a couple hours away from LA. Flush toilets, reservable online, located right on the highway. 3G service from both Verizon and AT&T. Glamping, indeed.
Unfortunately the weather was awful during our stay (the ONE weekend we had bad weather in SoCal…) so we didn’t try any of the nearby trails, but we did drive over to Jenks Lake to check out the people fishing in the fog and rain. It would be a nice place for a picnic lunch on a sunny day.
We stayed in site 27, which was a small site located a bit too close to site 25, but our neighbors stayed in their tent most of the time because of the rain so no big deal. Worst thing about site 27 is that it has almost NO grate over the fire pit. Most other sites had a raised fire pit with a removable grate. We made do but we wished we had known beforehand. Our site was located in a large clearing, so stargazing was great when the clouds allowed it. Would have been perfect on a nicer night!
Bear boxes are provided but we weren’t given notices about using them and the dumpsters weren’t bear-​proof either, but better safe than sorry, so we put everything in.
Restrooms were minimal: flush toilets, toilet paper, and a sink. Bring your own soap. There are mirrors only in the main bathroom at the front, and some showers too.
Campground hosts were chill, they’re reachable in RVs at the front of the campground. They drove around with firewood to sell on occasion. If you need firewood, though, get it at the general store in Angelus Oaks for a couple bucks less. Because it was so cold we used 8 bundles over the weekend plus some logs given to us.
I would definitely come back here for a quick camping trip close to home.

I’m going again so it reminded me to write a review of my last visit earlier this year.
We had a large campsite, big enough for 16 peeps they said; we had a party of two. :o) However, we were meeting a larger group that had the adjacent campsite, so it really worked out well. Basically, we paid for a parking spot. We pitched our tent in the neighbors’ yard.
Facilities are excellent when you really want to just car camp. Everything you need you can pretty much leave in your trunk and get it when you want. Compared to the last camping trip I did, this was soooo cake. Last trip was a pure back country, pack it in, pack it out type of «vacation.» That term is used loosely.
Barton has hot showers, speedy camp helpers when the toilet needs un-​sticking, cords of firewood are plentiful, Jenks lake nearby for fishing. What else could a nature lover ask for? Well, maybe a little bit more solitude. Although tis great to be friendly, you really get a bit crowded in when it’s nice weather and everyone wants to get in that last bit of recreation before going back to the daily grind.
So, this time around, hopefully the crowds will be scared by the overnight temp forecast… 14 degrees is possible. Sure, that means bringing the zero degree bag and lots of extra layers, but for the possible peace and quiet… it’s totally worth freezing your buns off, IMHO.
Enjoy yourself wherever you are…

Perfect for first-​time campers or people who like «glamping»…lol. Not too far from LA and one of the first campsites you are going to drive past on the way to Big Bear.
Campsite is equiped with flush toilets and showers. Besides having an RV, it doesn’t get any easier than this. The showers are not reserved for people at this campsite. You can stay at another campsite and drive here to take a shower. There is a parking lot in front of the showers.
We rented campsite 37 and 38 for eight people. It worked out perfectly because one campsite probably would have been too small for us (we like to spread out). We picked these two campsites for privacy. The back is a hill, so you don’t have to worry about people trampling through your campsite throughout the day. Like privacy? Definitely pick sites on the outer loop that are away from spigots and dump sites. We also chose sites that were away from the highway (to avoid the hikers trying to get to Jenks Lake). Avoid campsites near the bathroom. You will hear the toilet flush all day and night and people will trample through your campsite at all hours to get there. Each campsite comes with a picnic bench, fire pit w/​grill, and a log to sit on. I definitely recommend bringing your own camping chairs.
Campsite is bear-​friendly, hence, store anything that smells in your car or bear box. Firewood is $ 7 a bundle. We used about three bundles a night. Camp hosts are nice but extremely strict. We got yelled at because they caught us with our dogs off their lease on our campsite. They are serious about checking for parking permits on every car (which cannot be parked on the dirt) and will drive by at least once an hour. Two car maximum per campsite. No problems with bugs here. You can definitely hear the cars on the highway.
We hiked up the hill behind our campsite one day. Super pretty view! It is also about a 45 minute hike to Jenks lake. Jenks Lake is available for fishing only. They fill the lake occasionally with fish. Must have a fishing license to fish… you can get this at the general store (about 10 minutes away). Fishing license is $ 15 a day or $ 30 for a month.
Had a great time here! I definitely recommend this campsite for first-​time campers!

We have camped here for the past two years now and love it! The first year was just our family and we had such a great time that this year we got a group site and brought the rest of our extended family! The bathrooms are always clean, they have showers, and the whole site is well maintained.
You can buy firewood by going to the camp hosts or asking them when they drive by. I think it was $ 8/​bundle or so.
The camp hosts are GREAT! It was the same couple this year that was also there last year. They are happy to answer any questions you have about the site, campground, surrounding trails, etc. very knowledgeable and friendly. Make sure you say hello to them!
See ya next time, Barton Flats!

I’ve been going to Barton Flats for many years. The camp ground is always clean and well maintained. The on-​site manager is always friendly and helpful. Sites are larger than most other camp grounds.

Had a three day, two night stay and it was truly awesome! We were in site 24 which is a clearing near showers/​restroom, which was nice at night but hot during the day. The starlight at night is magnificent, and very quiet too. The facilities were clean but there was no hand soap or paper towels (but your out camping right?). The rangers were really nice and helpful and did rounds often. The sites were all well maintained and provide a firepit, bearproof cabinet, and picnic table. We did have a bear come through the site in the morning knocking stuff over so make sure you put your food away! Definitely take a heavy blanket, it dips down to a teeth chattering cold at night. Great site, great people, amazing experience!

This place is truly as good as it gets in the Los Angeles area! Lots of trees, plenty of wildlife (birds, squirrels, etc.), and nice hiking trails. Bathrooms and showers were clean. No services at each campsite but water spigots are available all over the park (and it’s good clean water). Camp hosts were extremely nice and very helpful. They cleaned each site before you arrive to include raking the camping area… very nice! Hosts have firewood for sale. Campsites clearly marked.
We stayed in site #13 with a motorhome and would book that one again (right size, somewhat secluded, etc.). But some of the sites looked small and very close to each other so highly recommend looking at the site map before booking.
My only disappointment was that they now charge $ 10 for the dumping station (it used to be included in the campsite fee). And the host warned me that it’s now timed so you have to be quick about it too. This is the way of the world so we just need deal with this one.
Overall a great camping experience! I gave 5 stars because it is exactly as advertised and more. True campers will enjoy this place! Happy camping! Kurt

I stayed here for one night during a weekend fishing trip to nearby Jenks Lake. The campsite was a 5 minute drive to the lake and very clean. Our individual campsite (#27 in the Columbine loop) had plenty of room lengthwise but the width was a little short. We were pretty close to camp 26’s driveway but it wasn’t any bother. Camp 27 is situated directly in between the showers, a separate bathroom and two water spigots but we had no people trudging through our camp. There are special trails leading to and from the bathroom. The campground itself is very beautiful, shaded with lots of pine trees. At the end of the day, the sun peeking through the pines as it set was almost magical. The only downside to my stay was a large group of young guys singing and yelling loudly well into the night. Voices carry very easily in the area so be sure to be mindful of others. I’d recommend this campground to anyone in Southern California looking for that Sierra feel without the drive.

Barton Flats Campground is located in a plain within the San Bernardino National Forest that shares its namesake, the Barton Flats. According to a placard along the adjacent Rio Monte hiking trail, the first car that made it up the mountain to Barton Flats did so in 1913 and by the 1930s a water system was installed that provided water fountains, flushable toilets, and hot showers. This led to an influx of visitors to Barton Flats and the surrounding campgrounds (San Gorgonio, Heart Bar, etc.)
History lesson aside, Barton Flats is an intimate campground with about 50 sites for tent camping. It consists of two loops that resemble a Figure 8. Centrally-​located is the main restroom with showers and each loop has its own respective toilet-​only restrooms. Water faucets are scattered across the site and the campground is serviced by friendly and elderly hosts that do a great job of maintaining the restrooms and refilling the teepee paper because we need the teepee for our bungholes.
Located 2 hours from Los Angeles, this campground is far away enough from civilization that you won’t have cellular phone service, but you will be able to take showers and flush your poo. The stars seem to just spill all over and really make you think about how beautiful nature and the universe really is when we aren’t staring at our stupid phones and laptops.
Camping really makes me reflective and helps me appreciate life and nature. And as the Dalai Lama once said about man, «we sacrifice our health to make money, then we sacrifice money to recuperate health… then we are so anxious about the future that we do not enjoy the present… the result being that man does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.»
Sorry about the tangent… too much time in the woods!
So… each site has an elongated picnic table and a fire pit with firewood sold at $ 7 a bundle by the camp hosts. Also, there are ants, flies, and other gnarly insects, but heck, we are invading their homes so who are we to whine? Pine trees abound at the campground along with squirrels, birds, and lizards. While dogs are allowed, keep them on a leash since you don’t want your little lapdog to get swooped up by a hawk.
The campground is nice and there are a ton of things to do in the area. As mentioned before, you can trek along the Rio Monte Trail or take a hike to either Jenks Lake or the Santa Ana River. You can also checkout the Greyback Amphitheater (driving distance) up Highway 38 where the rangers have nightly programs during the summer (around 7:30 PM) and if you’re really lucky you might be bestowed by a guest appearance by Smokey Bear.
Whatever you decide to do, Barton Flats is a nice campground that has a little of everything. The family stayed at Site #20 which had partial shade and was within walking distance to the restrooms. Could have had more shade though.
* The campground is on the left (north) side of Highway 38 and since there is no separate left turn lane on Highway 38, prepare to signal in advance so you don’t get rear-​ended. A tip would be to get ready once you pass the Barton Flats Visitor’s Center (approximately ¾ of a mile before the campground).
Photo the Wifey Took of Campsite #20:

Just stayed at site #16 early may 2014 and had a BLAST !! The campgrounds are clean and very well maintained. Lots of hiking options and my personal favorite fishing, either at lake jenks or off of glass road for some river action !! The couple of cons I Had were #1 a pretty bad ant problem at our site anyways, I’m talkin freakin mutant fire ants that looked big enough 2 take off with one of your kids. Nobody was bitten but it was in the back of all of our minds, so be aware of that. #2 would have 2 be the water situation. While they had water spouts here and there the campground is small enough for more water stations 2 be placed around. All in all not too bad and like I said we did have a BLAST ants and all.

Barton flats is CLOSED till next year!!! My wife and made reservations over a month ago for Oct 18 — 20^th. When we arrived it was closed and never got any notification!!! Spoke with the camp ranger told me sorry but due to the government shutdown they are not opening back up till next year.

This place is great for all campers. There’s running water, bathrooms, and toilet paper. Oh and they also have showers but who SHOWERS while camping??? There are plenty of hikes around to keep you busy during the day and the camp host was very nice and helpful. There are fire pits and plenty of pine cones around! You can always purchase firewood at the campsite.

It’s hard to find anything wrong with this campground. It’s extremely clean and the sites are very roomy. The best part of this campground is the free hot showers and how clean the showers/​bathrooms were the whole weekend we were there. That says a lot to me about the camp hosts at this campground. Oh and our site was raked when we arrived, nice! We stayed at site 31 and there were huge trees surrounding the site which made for nice shade and beautiful scenery and our neighbors were a good distance away. This site has the perfect two trees to hang your hammock and take a nap. If I had to find anything to complain about it might be that you can hear the road noise from the campground. I’m sensitive to it but it did not bother my husband so take that for what it’s worth. We drove ¼ mile down the road from the campground to the Barton Flats information center and then hiked to Jenks Lake. It was a beautiful walk and a great way to spend the day (or a couple of hours).

Barton Flats is the perfect campground for someone who wants to camp last minute. We decided we wanted to head into the wilderness to get away from the stress of our upcoming finals and to enjoy some fresh air. We paid for the campsite when we arrived and many of the sites were still empty despite it being the weekend. I’ve grown up doing a lot of camping and this has to be one of the cleanest campsites I have ever been to. Each campsite is very roomy and many of them are very secluded from the other campers. They offer the luxuries of hot showers and flush toilets. I was very impressed with how clean everything was! This is the perfect place for first time campers who want to go experience the outdoors and those who want a relaxing time with family and friends. We had no problem with the camp hosts, they were very kind and helpful (maybe there are new hosts now!) There is a nearby lake and several trails to venture out on. Overall, I really enjoyed staying at this campsite and it is a great place for a quick weekend getaway.

Wonderful campground. Clean restrooms and a great staff!

What a great campground! It has everything you need for a fun successful camping trip. Our campsite #31 backed up to the forest and accessed absolutely gorgeous hiking trails with amazing views!!! Campsites are very roomy with a picnic table, fire ring with grill and has lots of extra room for the kids to play! The facilities are pristine. Free Hot showers, flushable toilets, sinks, mirrors and outlets for accessories. Lights are on inside the facilities after dark so no need to bring your lantern! Potable water near every campsite made it very convenient for washing dishes after meals. Overall, very pleased with this campground tucked in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest! Took away so many fun, adventure filled memories, we’ll be back!