Heaps Peak Arboretum Lot
The easiest trailhead parking in the range. A paved Forest Service lot directly off Highway 18 in Skyforest that rarely fills, serving the ~1-mile Sequoia Trail loop. You still need an Adventure Pass ($5/day) on the dash — it's honor-system signage with ranger enforcement. Vault restrooms on site; open dawn to dusk.
The facts
- Trail served
- Sequoia Trail loop (~1 mi, easy) through the arboretum
- Cost / pass
- Adventure Pass ($5/day, $30/yr) or Interagency pass; trail itself free
- Lot size
- Paved FS lot; rarely full
- When it fills
- Rarely — a genuine anomaly up here
- Overflow option
- Almost never needed
- Tow / citation risk
- Low; it's a proper lot
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Road to the lot
- Directly off paved Hwy 18 at 29358 Rim of the World Hwy
- Busy season
- Year-round; dawn to dusk
Getting there
29358 Rim of the World Hwy (Hwy 18), Skyforest, CA 92385
Get directions →Why this one's easy
Heaps Peak Arboretum sits on the Highway 18 corridor halfway between Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, and its paved lot is sized for the attraction — an easy ~1-mile interpretive loop through the largest giant sequoia grove in the San Bernardinos. Even on summer weekends it usually has space, which makes it the reliable backup plan when Heart Rock's lot has already burned you.
The one rule people miss: walking the trail is free, but parking in the Forest Service lot requires an Adventure Pass (or America the Beautiful pass) on the dash. There's no booth — just signage and rangers who do write tickets.
Worth knowing
Vault restrooms at the lot, dawn-to-dusk access every day, and a volunteer information booth on weekends 11am–3pm. The trail is stroller-tolerant and grandparent-approved — full walk details in the Heaps Peak guide on our sister site.
Frequently asked questions
Does Heaps Peak Arboretum parking cost anything?
The trail is free, but the lot is a Forest Service fee site: Adventure Pass ($5/day, $30/year) or an interagency pass on the dash. No booth — honor system with ranger enforcement.
Does the Heaps Peak lot fill up?
Rarely — it's the most reliable trailhead parking on the Hwy 18 corridor. Even summer weekends usually have space.
Facts on this page last verified July 18, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.