Something Silverwood

Hike at Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

Most people think of Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area in the San Bernardino National Forest as a summer outing, but a hike along the 6.6-mile (round-trip) Cleghorn Bike Path proves this park might be even better in the fall. In the summer this area is jam-packed with families barbecuing and swimming, but in the fall and winter it’s a much different scene with the majority of the crowds gone.

Hike in solitude among oaks, ponderosa pines, and manzanita trees. The Cleghorn Trail is a mostly flat and easy hike (or bike ride), climbing just 328 feet in elevation as it circles the lake along the occasionally paved path. Most of the elevation gain happens all at once, but with frequent stops to admire the views of the lake and the San Bernardino Mountains it doesn’t feel so bad.

As you leave the parking area, the trail starts out hugging the lakeshore, passing through the Cleghorn Day Use Area. After that the trail leaves the lake for a while, offering a peaceful escape deeper into nature, and even intersecting with the Pacific Coast Trail for a it.

Then the trail wraps back around and follows the lakeshore (this time on the opposite side of the lake) before ending at the marina; go back the way you came. Birdwatching opportunities are plentiful this time of year, with great blue herons, snowy egrets, loons, and Canada geese calling this park home. If you get lucky you may even spot a bald eagle, seen here only in fall and winter.

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area. Dog-friendly...ish (some parts are off-limits to dogs).

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa's Art of the Matter

    Downtown Napa uncorks more than just excellent wine. Art has firmly established itself along the walkways and parkways in the area, punctuated by an annual ArtWalk (year-round) and a temporary Lighted Art Festival.

    View
  2. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

    View
  3. True Star Power

    Here's a truly enlightening way to spend an evening: head to Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for a "star party." At dusk, the observatory opens, giving the public access to celestial viewing via three powerful telescopes.

    View
  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

    View
  3. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

    View
  4. White Tank Campground for Stargazing

    Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.

    View