High Desert Hotspots Close to Home

You don't have to leave the High Desert for a good day out. For lakes, try Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, Mojave Narrows Regional Park in Victorville, and Hesperia Lake Park, which reopened in 2026 after storm repairs. For history and museums, head to Calico Ghost Town near Yermo, the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley, and the Route 66 museums in Victorville and Barstow; for a hike, Deep Creek Hot Springs is the local classic, but check a Forest Service closure order first.

Quick reference: High Desert places to go

Where can you go boating and swimming near Hesperia?

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area is the big water in the High Desert. The entrance is at 13990 Sawpit Canyon Road, off Highway 138 and Cleghorn Road, 11 miles east of I-15.

As of November 2026, State Parks lists these terms:

• Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October 1 to March 31, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 1 to September 30.
• Day use: $10 per vehicle ($9 for drivers 62 and older), or $20 on summer weekends and holidays.
• Boat launch: $10 per vessel when boating is open, with boats out of the water by sunset.

When State Parks last checked its page on October 18, 2026, the lake was closed to boating. A windstorm wrecked the marina docks, and the ramps cannot be reached safely. Day use and camping are still open. Invasive golden mussels were found in the lake in September 2025, so once boating resumes, every boat is inspected on the way out. The Department of Water Resources caps the lake at 125 boats, and it often fills on warm weekends and holidays.

Before you swim, look up the current algae advisory; in fall 2026 the lake was at the caution level. State Parks also warns that bears have been more active in the campgrounds.

What lakes in Victorville and Hesperia have fishing?

Mojave Narrows Regional Park

Mojave Narrows Regional Park, run by San Bernardino County, sits at 18000 Yates Road in Victorville. You can fish Pelican and Horseshoe Lakes all year, walk the trails, and use the playground and picnic shelters.

As of November 2026:

• Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed Christmas Day.
• Entry: $10 per vehicle on weekdays, $15 on weekends and $20 on holidays. Walk-ins pay $3.
• Fishing: $15 adult daily permit plus a California fishing license.

Trout are stocked November through April. Stocking happens on Thursdays, and the stocked lake is closed to fishing that day. The splash pad is closed for a rebuild until about May 2027. The park has RV and tent camping; the county advises campers to bring a generator in case of power shutoffs.

Hesperia Lake Park

Hesperia Lake Park is at 7500 Arrowhead Lake Road. The district posted that it was closed "until further notice" on February 3, 2026, after Christmas 2025 storm damage. A soft opening followed in April, and the San Bernardino County Sentinel reported a full reopening in June 2026.

As of November 2026, park entry is free. Fishing is $25 per adult session with a five-fish limit. No state license is needed, but you must show ID. Store and fishing hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October through March.

Catfish are stocked on Fridays, and the district says the season usually switches to trout in November. Campsites start at $30 a night and are booked by phone at the Lake Store.

Can you hike to Deep Creek Hot Springs?

Yes, but plan carefully. Deep Creek Hot Springs is a set of natural pools in the San Bernardino National Forest, reached on foot from the Hesperia side.

• Main route: From I-15, take Main Street east about 10 miles, then Rock Springs Road about 8 miles. The road turns to graded dirt. Bowen Ranch Road crosses private land, and the owner charges a fee. From there the trail drops about 2.5 miles.
• Longer route: The Pacific Crest Trail runs along Deep Creek for about 16 miles, so you can also reach the springs on the PCT. Plan a much longer day if you do.
• Rules: Come for the day only. Camping and campfires are banned, and a Forest Service trail guide adds glass bottles to that list. There is no drinking water, and you must pack out your trash.

The Forest Service flags a few dangers. Summer heat can pass 100°F, and the trail drops about 950 feet, which you climb back out. The pools can harbor a rare amoeba that can be deadly, so keep your head above water and do not drink it.

Closure check: A Deep Creek area closure order runs from July 2, 2025 through June 7, 2027. The order text covers a corridor upstream near Hooks Creek and Devil's Hole, but the alert lists the hot springs as an affected site. Call the Mountaintop Ranger District at (909) 382-2790 before you go.

Where can you see Old West and mining history?

Calico Ghost Town Regional Park dates to an 1881 silver boom. When silver prices fell in the mid-1890s, the town emptied. Walter Knott bought it in the 1950s and restored it, and the state lists it as Historical Landmark 782.

You will find it at 36600 Ghost Town Road in Yermo, off I-15 east of Barstow. As of November 2026, the county page shows 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but a county notice lists 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 2027, so confirm before you drive. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 4 to 11 and free for ages 3 and under. A concessionaire runs the train ride and mine tour, which cost extra. You can camp, rent a cabin or book a bunkhouse, and overnight guests enter the town free.

Tip: the county says Calico's own phone line was down, so call the county main line at 909-387-2757.

Which museums cover High Desert history?

• Victor Valley Museum: A San Bernardino County Museum branch at 11873 Apple Valley Road. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits cover military history in the Mojave, a mastodon, mining and minerals. Adults pay $10.
• Mojave River Valley Museum: 270 E. Virginia Way in Barstow. It is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day but Christmas, and entry is free. Researchers can dig into local newspapers going back to 1911 and a photo collection of more than 20,000 images.

Where are the Route 66 museums near Victorville?

The California Route 66 Museum is at 16825 D Street in Victorville, and you can visit free. Inside are Route 66 artifacts from around the Victor Valley, plus a room on the town's own past. Current hours were not posted on the pages we could reach, so call (760) 951-0436 first.

The Route 66 Mother Road Museum is inside Barstow's restored Harvey House railroad depot. It closed in summer 2024 and reopened on March 22, 2025, per Route 66 News. Admission is free. Call (760) 255-1890 to confirm hours.

Pair Barstow with Calico for a full day. For more drives, see our Route 66 day trips and mountain day trips.

How Pleasant Hill can help

If you are moving to the High Desert, our Hesperia community guide and Helendale and Silver Lakes guide cover the practical side. You can search homes across the region, request a free home valuation, or contact us. Nancy Navarro and Dustin Bynum work out of our Hesperia office at 17135 Main Street.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules, fees and rates change; confirm with the agency linked above or ask us. Pleasant Hill Real Estate Group · CA DRE Corp. #01997374 · AZ Entity Lic. #LC694532000 · Equal Housing Opportunity.