Running Springs
Running Springs is a mountain community in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is an inholding in the San Bernardino National Forest. Situated at the junction of SR-18 and SR-330, it is a major gateway to the mountain communities of Lake Arrowhead, Arrowbear, Green Valley Lake, and Big Bear, and is the closest community to Snow Valley Mountain Resort. It lies some 16 miles northeast of the city of Highland, California, up State Route 330, at an elevation of 6,030 feet. While there is no primary industry in Running Springs, there are service industries geared to the tourist market, as the San Bernardino National Forest is a highly popular year-round tourist destination. Also, taking advantage of the forested setting, the area is home to multiple summer camps, such as Pali Adventures, which also houses an outdoor education program known as Pali Institute.
Additionally, Running Springs, together with surrounding communities, form a bedroom community for commuters employed in San Bernardino and points beyond who are willing to tolerate the notorious Southern California commute to live above the city’s considerable smog and pollution.
Running Springs is a member community of the Rim of the World, an inhabited stretch of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Rim (as it is locally known) extends from Crestline to Big Bear, a distance of some 30 miles. Running Springs is served by Charles Hoffman Elementary in Running Springs, Rim of the Word High School, and Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School, both situated in Lake Arrowhead.