WELCOME TO

HEAPS PEAK
ARBORETUM

Click on the walker for local weather conditions

VISITOR ALERT

We’re looking forward to your visit. 

Highway 18 is undergoing repairs. On parts of the drive there are only single lanes in each direction, and no barrier between northbound and southbound lanes. Please drive carefully.

Saturday, June 10, is National Get Outdoors Day. The National Forest Service does not require an Adventure Pass. The Arboretum is a perfect spot to get outdoors! The booth will be open for guests to putchase books, maps, and souvenirs. We hope to see you.

Hours & Events

Because of the wildlife in and around the Arboretum, it's potentially unsafe to visit the site and especially to hike the Sequoia Trail after dark. During daylight hours, that's not an issue.

The booth is open from 11 AM - 3 PM Saturdays and Sundays. We accept cash and Visa or Mastercard, but please note that the minimum credit or debit purchase is $10.

Birdwatching Saturdays, led by Ken Wells, began Saturday May 6. His walks start at 8 am. They will be held the first Saturday of every month until September, weather permitting.

Second Saturdays at the Arb have been canceled until further notice. We are so sorry; we know they were quite popular

The Spring newsletter is out now.  Heaps Peak Spring Newsletter 2023

Adventure Passes

An Adventure Pass or other valid pass (such as America the Beautiful) is required to park in the Arboretum’s lot–whether or not the Information Booth is open. As always, entrance to the Arboretum itself is free.

Paying for an Adventure Pass helps our National Forests. The majority of the fees are used for operating, maintaining and improving recreational opportunities for our visitors.

If our information booth isn’t open, you may purchase an Adventure Pass at:

  • The 7-11 in Lake Arrowhead, CA 
  • The Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce in Lake Arrowhead Village, Lake Arrowhead, CA
  • Lake Drive Hardware in Crestline, CA
  • The 7-11 in Crestline, CA
  • Jensen’s Market, Running Springs, CA
 

Getting Here

We're in San Bernardino National Forest between Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs. The main routes leading to Heaps Peak Arboretum are Highways 18 and 330. (Caltrans highway info: 800.427.7623.)

29358 Rim of the World Hwy. 18
Skyforest, CA 92385
Directions & Parking

Semi-Annual Native Plant Sale

Our next  Native Plant Sale will be held in the fall, either at the end of September or the beginning of October. We sell out of all of our plants within a few hours, so we hope you will come and take advantage of an excellent native-plant selection and support the Arboretum. Plants are generally priced from $5 to $30, and the proceeds benefit the Arboretum. The date is dependent on weather conditions that day.

Explore the Forest

This family- and dog-friendly trail is nearly one mile long. Descending and then rising gently, it’s an easy hike with numbered signposts along the way. An information-rich trail guide, keyed to those numeric posts, makes your hike even more interesting and educational.

Photo: Anneke Fischle

The Arboretum’s gardens display a wide variety of flowers, shrubs and other plants. Largely native to the San Bernardino Mountains, many of them are identified by easy-to-read signs. The nearby Information Booth offers print and visual aids to help you learn even more!

Find excellent information about our native plants and animals at…
naturemappingfoundation.org
inaturalist.org
calscape.org

On the blog...

CONSERVATION

Through habitat restoration, trail maintenance and other efforts, we’re working to protect and conserve our area’s expanse of the National Forest.

NATIVE PLANTS

Heaps Peak Arboretum has a diverse collection of mostly native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and other plants. Some of them might do well in your garden. Learn more at the Arboretum!

about us

Rim of the World Interpretive Association

Rim of the World Interpretive Association (ROWIA) is a California nonprofit, public-benefit corporation founded in 1982. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, we maintain and staff Heaps Peak Arboretum. 

We’re committed to protecting and conserving our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.