It was the site of a Spanish mission 1810 named for St Bernardino of Siena. The mission was closed in 1834 and the land was later sold to Mormons.

The mountains of this area have been a retreat for many years, first used by the indigenous Native Americans as a respite from the valley heat and a reliable source of food. In later years, the areas forests were harvested and were used to build much of Los Angeles, and a dam was built to supply water and power to the Valley orange growers.

Presently, the National Forest and its mountain home offer a natural setting where you can enjoy fresh air and a myriad of outdoor activities.

Popular recreational destinations in the San Bernardino Mountains are Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, while the San Jacinto Mountains offer Idyllwild and the hiking and rock climbing challenges in nearby Tahquitz.

The Barstow Fossil Beds have long been renowned for their rich and diverse fossil record. Fossils from this site, including invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant remains, as well as fossil footprints, fill the collections of the County Museum and numerous other institutions.

The Etiwanda Fan is located in the southwest corner of San Bernardino County California in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and north of the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Although much of the fan has been altered by flood control practices, sand mining, and urban development, large areas of the Etiwanda Fan are minimally disturbed by human activities.

Not permitted on the National Forest are all wood and charcoal fires which are restricted to designated fire rings at US Forest Service Campgrounds and Picnic Areas Effective July 10, 2007. Campfires not permitted at Yellow Post sites and target shooting is restricted to locations under special use permit. Smoking is only permitted in your car, areas cleared 3 feet in diameter of vegetation or in developed sites.

Incidents of gang violence have increased since the 1960s, while at the same time growing more brutal. There are now an estimated 68,600 gang members in 287 gangs in the Inland Empire. They are often fuelled by drugs. Check before going.

It has a temperate climate, with mild, mostly dry winters, and hot summers with low humidity. The Santa Ana winds blow out of the Cajon Pass during the autumn.