San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino
National Forest 909-382-2600 |
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Front Country Ranger District -
Barton Flats Visitor Center
The Barton Flats Visitor Center is the center of activities for the
campgrounds in the area. Informal programs are presented with display
animals from the San Bernardino County Museum. The Barton Flats area is
home to over 20 organizational camps that attract up to 30,000 campers
every year. San Gorgonio Wilderness Association (SGWA) members develop
and present interpretive programs for over a thousand children each
year. Nature walks and interpretive programs are also presented to
campers from the four area family campgrounds on summer weekends. One of
the most popular programs for the last three years has been an informal
astronomy presentation, giving campers a chance to peek at the heavens
without the city pollution.
In the late 1970's, the Forest Service closed the Barton Flats Visitor
Center. In 1986, the Defenders reopened the Visitor Center, and a year
later the SGWA took over the responsibility of caring for the Center and
its visitors -- which continues to this day. The Center is totally
staffed by volunteers and serves up to 10,000 visitors each summer.
Be sure to come by and visit the annual Forest Festival held in
mid-August. Smokey Bear provides a warm welcome to up to 1000 visitors.
This is a day for the public to get a taste of the Forest. Volunteers
provide camping and fishing tips, puppet shows, and crafts. One of the
most popular activities involves helping youngsters use a crosscut saw
to create a 'tree cookie' that is then branded with both a Forest
Service and Smokey logo.
The Barton Flats Visitor Center is staffed and operated by the
San Gorgonio Wilderness Association.
We are located on State Highway 38, 7 miles east of Angelus
Oaks, nestled above the Santa Ana River and below the San Gorgonio
Wilderness.
Closed for Winter Season, Plan on visiting the Visitor Center next spring.
Mailing Address:
Barton Flats Visitor Center c/o
San Gorgonio Ranger Station
34701 Mill Creek Road
Mentone, CA 92359
(909) 794-4861 (voice) (closed)
(800) 877-8339 (TTY)
The Barton Flats Visitor Center provides the following services to the public:
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All other Permits are available at the San Gorgonio Ranger Station only.
More Information on the San Gorgonio Wilderness Volunteer Association
Contact the Barton Flats Visitor Center via Electronic Comment Card
US Forest Service
- San Bernardino National Forest
Last Modified:
Monday, 05 January 2009 at 19:34:32 EST