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Crab Flats Campground in California
Moderate to BookNational Forest

Crab Flats Campground

San Bernardino National Forest, California

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As of October 2026, Crab Flats Campground is a campground in San Bernardino National Forest, California with 23 campsites. Crab Flats Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Crab Flats Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Crab Flats Campground is located at 34.2635ยฐ N, 117.0866ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
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Crab Flats Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Next Available Dates

Oct 1 (22 sites)Oct 2 (18 sites)Oct 3 (18 sites)

22 sites open on Oct 1 at Crab Flats Campground. Book one now, or pick your dates above and get an alert when a site opens.

As of 1 October 2026, 02:25 UTC.

Stay and booking rules

  • Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive days
  • Maximum stay: 14 days

Published by Recreation.gov for Crab Flats Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Crab Flats Campground

  • Standard 23

Amenities

  • restrooms

At a glance: Setting: Mountain ยท Access: Dirt road.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife, offroad.

All sites at Crab Flats Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the CRAB loop.

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About Crab Flats Campground

Overview

Crab Flats Campground is an off-roaders paradise, with plenty of off-road vehicle trails nearby for both beginner and experienced riders. Its location not only provides plentiful recreation, but also a secluded escape in Southern California's pine-covered mountains. Campground is difficult to reach without a high clearance vehicle, RV's are not recommended.

Recreation

A variety of hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle trails surround the campground, including the Crab Creek Trail, which provides access to nearby Fisherman's Campground. The scenery along the trail is exceptional.

Other off-road vehicle trails in the area include the 9.7-mile Redonda Ridge Trail, and Holcomb Valley Road, which runs about 26 miles and begins west of the campground. The Crab Flat Loop is also west of the campground.

Green Valley Lake is approximately 6 miles away and offers boating, fishing and swimming opportunities. The 9-acre lake is regularly stocked with a variety of fish.

Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are available in the winter.

Facilities

This primitive campground offers single-family sites for tents and RVs no longer than 26 feet. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill and bear box. Vault toilets. Overflow parking is not available.

Natural Features

The campground is located 8 miles from Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest, near the town of Arrowhead. It is accessed by a dirt road that crosses Deep Creek. The campground is situated among tall pine, oak and cedar trees. A variety of birds and wildlife make their home in the area.

Nearby Attractions

The closest communities are Arrowhead and Running Springs.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (909) 866-8550.

Charges & Cancellations

Rules & Reservation Policies

As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations.

Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites.

Booking Window

For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility.

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.

Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies.

Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location.

Late Cancellations

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.

Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.

Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.

If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.

Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund.

Refunds

Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.

Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.

Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.

Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.

Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."

Changes to Policies and Procedures

Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July

Rules and notices at Crab Flats Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Crab Flats Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Do not follow Google Maps. Do not go all the way to Green Valley. Take Crab Flats road.

No water available

Bears frequent the area; use appropriate containers for food and garbage

This is a dirt road to the campground. The road is rough in some areas. This campground is an OHV destination. Rv's are not recommended due to the road conditions. High clearance vehicles recommended.

In accordance with standard industry practices, Mountain Top Recreation will be assessing a $8 additional vehicle fee per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicles in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles. The fee will be collected at the campground if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.

Click here for more information on the San Bernardino National Forest

Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.

Crab Flats Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Crab Flats Campground?

Crab Flats Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 23 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at Crab Flats Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Crab Flats Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Crab Flats Campground have?

Crab Flats Campground has 23 campsites.

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