Location: Phelan
Top Things to do in Phelan
Top 10 Things to do in Phelan, United States
Phelan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, in the Victor Valley of the Mojave Desert, north of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population was 14,304 in the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Phelan
1. Mt Baldy Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By ARLVAGUY - Arlington, VA
It's a beautiful drive up to Mt. Baldy (the town) from Claremont, CA. Plenty of side turnouts / lookouts that let you see river beds and snow-capped mountains (in the winter season). The town itself is rather rustic (like it's 1963 and nothing has changed), but that's part of its charm. Everyone in the town is friendly. Plenty of hiking trails, etc.
2. Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Paul S - Costa Mesa, California
My wife has been wanting to visit this attraction for awhile now and we finally made the time and drove up during the week between Christmas and New years. This is a privately run operation that takes in rescues and other unwanted animals from owners or wildlife officers who cannot otherwise place the animal. Our tour was provided by Joel, the founder and owner. You can read all about them on their website so rather than reiterate what is there, here's some items from our experience that might come in handy.
Geting There:
The last couple of miles is over an unimproved dirt road. We visited a couple of days after a heavy storm had dumped snow and rain into the area and the road had some water ruts and small washed out areas. I have a four-wheel drive vehicle and didn't have difficulty. Standard mini-vans and passenger cars can handle this road, just drive carefully.
There aren't a whole lot in the way of services in the general area. Plan ahead on fuel and food. While it's not "in the middle of nowhere", options are limited until you get back into Palmdale or Lancaster (or Wrightwood).
Book a tour directly through their website and skip the middleman (a.k.a Groupon). The price is equal to or slightly less than the middle-men sites. Additionally, the tour will give you the best option on hearing about the facility and the backstories on a lot of these animals. Our tour, while scheduled for an hour actually ran almost two hours as Joel has a lot to share.
Bring a camera. Definitely.
Oh, and if you visit during winter, bring a jacket. I don't think the temperature got above 45F while we were visiting and there were still patches of snow in shady areas. It was lightly windy as well which made it that much colder.
For what it's worth, you might also consider purchasing the additional "feed the animal options". Expensive but fun and, what the hey, you're supporting a private operation.
This is one family's passion - to rescue unwanted animals - so yes, it might be a bit expensive but you're supporting a worth while cause. They run entirely off donations and volunteer help. Total time with the tour and wandering around afterwards was about 2.5 hours.
3. Big Pines Zipline Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 105 reviews
Zipping 306 ft in the air at 55 mph from tree top to tree top. If that's not enough, how about walking across a 200 ft Sky-Bridge 180 ft off the ground? Still not enough? Then how about jumping 60 ft from a tree top, or rappelling 60 ft out of a giant Ponderosa Pine. This will be an experience you'll never get enough of and never forget. Give a call or visit our website to book your tour today!
Reviewed By 293bradleyc - Wrightwood, California
This was an amazing experience... the staff is talented, promote safety, informative about the mountain area and surroundings, and to say the least everyone should take the opportunity to experience nature, excitement, and the wonders of being in such a beautiful setting
4. Mormon Rocks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By half-Brit - Oregon Coast
These are some really big rocks!
We wanted to drive into the fire station / parking area and take the footpath to view the rocks up close, but the gate was closed when we were there. So we just saw them from Highway 138. My pictures don't show the holes very well, but some of the rocks have hundreds of holes in them. The rocks are sandstone and the holes are from erosion over the eons.
The Mormon Rocks were named after the Mormons who traveled a wagon road between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles in the 1840's. They would camp near these huge rocks as there are several springs in the immediate area.
If you walk or climb around the rocks, be alert for rattlesnakes.
5. Ziplines at Pacific Crest
Overall Ratings
5 based on 29 reviews
Craving excitement? Look no further. Ziplines at Pacific Crest is located just 75 miles from Los Angeles, right above Rancho Cucamonga in the San Gabriel Mountains next to Mountain High Resort. Both of our zipline courses are literally built in the trees—enabling you to truly be in the environment, zipping from one platform to the next. Our Canopy Tour is one of the most thrilling zipline courses in the nation, offering heights of up to 300 feet off the forest floor, lengths of over 1,500 feet. Our Mountain View Tour provides another unique zipline experience and a bonus, unique experience—imagine leaping off a tree platform in controlled free-fall! (Now imagine doing it twice!) Contact our office for special group rates and programs.
Reviewed By MandC0218 - Riverside, California
Great place for zip lining but bummer about their refund policy. Once you pay and make a reservation, you cannot cancel and get your money back. We had done the Puerta Vallarta Ziplines in Mexico , and we thought this one would be piece of cake, but nope, they had adventurous stuff such as walking on wobbly narrow suspense bridges and rappelling, as well as zip lining . Adventure seekers don't have to fly to Costa Rica or Mexico to experience a great adrenaline rush, since it's right here in Wrightwood .
6. Mountain High Resort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By TrDCpr - Long Beach, California
We've visited Mountain High in late January/early Feb in previous years, and bless them, they've tried to keep things going, but it's been sparsely covered with snow, with rocky patches and slush. This year though we're super pleased with the amount of snow, and in most places the condition of the surface. Thank goodness the record-breaking drought has taken a break, because there's still snow everywhere. Unfortunately there are some icy sections where the surface has hardened and not been groomed, and this is inconvenient in the steeper and less utilized areas, but the good news is that at least mid week(the only time we've gone) the crowds are so thin (shouldn't even use the word "crowds"), that there's absolutely no wait on the lifts and no risk of collision on the slopes. Absolutely priceless (but on that topic the prices aren't astronomical, and I like the fact that you can purchase a 4 hour pass beginning at any time, not an AM or PM pass on "their" schedule, so someone like me with limited endurance for skiing can get a bit of a break on the price by buying a 4 hour pass.
The staff seems friendly and capable enough--fortunately haven't tested them with an emergency! The food/beer is overpriced as usual, but I love getting a burger and beer at the outdoor patio area, as we've always gone there on sunny warm-ish days.
7. Santa Fe & Salt Lake Trail Monument
Overall Ratings
2 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, Arizona
On this site is a historic marker erected in 1917 to honor the passage of pioneers who traveled through these mountains to California on the Santa Fe and Salt Lake Trail in 1849. My husband and I stopped briefly to see what we could learn about the history of the trail and Cajon Pass, but sadly the marker has been vandalized and the site has not been respected or well kept.
8. Mountain High
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 73 reviews
Mountain High North is Southern California's closest tubing facility! With up to 10 lanes available you can race the whole family!
Reviewed By Angie L - Whittier, California
We went there last weekend. The process to reserve a spot for a group of 50 was a disaster. A torture!!! We emailed since the beginning of January. Emailed so many times,very poor response . Called them and left a message on group sales several times , and when you finally get someone , they keep on saying they were going to send you what you need but they do t unless you call them 5-6 times a day. We never got out confirmation even though they said they will send it. We had to leave at 4:30 to get there before 7 o'clock, just to ensure we had our spot. Waste of time. And when you finally get to the tubing park, you only get to go three or four times in 2 hours does there is at least 150 to 200 people trying to go to the same slide, so it is like $5/slide. Not recommended!!! Never again!!!
9. Grassy Hollow Visitor's Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By marktS5189DV - Los Angeles, California
Just up the road from Wrightwood and couple miles down the road from Wateman on Angelus Crest highway at an elevation of 7300 feet , the Grassy Hollow Visitor's Center is a great place to stop to have a picnic, bird watch off the back deck or learn about the flora and fauna of the area. Volunteers from the visitors center offer talks and hikes in the area. Hours are 10AM to 4PM.
10. AdMo Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
The wind in your face and bugs in your teeth begin here. AdMo's services are just what you need to ride into an extraordinary world of adventure. We give you the freedom to cruise in over 40 countries. AdMo is your jump off place for motorcycle holidays, dirt-bike rentals, trainings, and guided motorcycle tours. We offer you the culture and excitement of the world on two wheels and a tail-pipe.
Reviewed By clementlamkw - Hong Kong, China
Booking a BMW GS in Prague back in Mar for my June bike trip, I had a few questions to clarify before actually confirmed the booking. The staff kept pushing me to pay my deposit to secure the bike first because, he said, it would be peak season ahead. So I paid the deposit and kept chasing for the answers.
Unfortunately, my teammate got a serious decease in April. I had to cancel the booking and asked for a refund of deposit. Right after that email was sent, the staff sent me his answers to my previous numerous emails. Then I repeated my request to cancel the booking. He replied finally telling me that a charge would be imposed on the cancellation, never told me how much though. I wrote to explain my situation and hoping he would waive the charges cause It was a 50 days notice prior to June. He said he would ask his boss in the weekend and get back to me.
I waited for another 3 weeks until I totally lost my patience because he had never got back to me. An official complaint was then sent to the company, and a 20% charge (of the total rental price) was made finally.
The guy has successfully pulled me into a trap and left me unattended. "Great" job.
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