Barton Flats in San Bernardino National Forest in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Whispering Pines Trail

A Journey of Exploration and Discovery

— The History of Whispering Pines —

Whispering Pines Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

1. Whispering Pines Trail Marker

Inscription.
For almost 30 years, people have visited the Whispering Pines Nature Trail. The trail was originally developed for a special episode of the television program “Lassie.” Filmed in 1969, the episode depicts the journey of a 13-year-old blind girl who gained both confidence and independence with the help of Lassie and a ranger. By following a nylon rope along the trail and reading braille signs, she learned how to smell, hear, and touch the forest. Today the trail still provides an opportunity for children to learn about the forest, using all of their senses.

Welcome to Whispering Pines Trail. A .6-mile trail winds along the hillside through a pine and oak forest. The trail is marked by 10 posts. Each corresponds to a number in the booklet A Journey Through the Whispering Pines, a guide for adults and children to walk the trail as naturalists, making observations and discovering the magic of the forest. The booklet is sold at the Barton Flats Visitor Center, at the Mill Creek Ranger Stations, and at this site during the summer months.

Erected 1998 by San Gorgonio Volunteer Association, San Bernardino National Forest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.

Location.

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34° 9.825′ N, 116° 54.68′ W. Marker is in San Bernardino National Forest, California, in San Bernardino County. It is in Barton Flats. It is at the intersection of State Highway 38 and Jenks Lake Road West, on the right when traveling east on State Highway 38. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 40949 CA-38, Angelus Oaks CA 92305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ranching in the Mountain Meadows (approx. 1.4 miles away); Jenks Lake (approx. 1½ miles away); Champion Lodgepole Pine (approx. 5.2 miles away); Grizzly Come Home Campaign (approx. 5.7 miles away); Old Bear Valley Dam (approx. 6.6 miles away); Big Bear Solar Observatory (approx. 6.7 miles away); Big Bear Valley (approx. 6.9 miles away); Woodland Club Caddy Shack (approx. 8 miles away).

Regarding Whispering Pines Trail. The Lassie episode filmed here was called More Than Meets the Eye. In one scene, the ranger asks the blind girl to listen to the wind blowing through the pine trees, and hear the whispering pines.

This interpretive sign was installed over 25 years ago.

The San Bernardino National Forest website has the following:
Whispering Pines Trail 1E33.
This lovely trail travels through an oak and pine forest teeming with wildflowers

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 8, 2024

2. Whispering Pines Trail Marker

The 25-year-old sign is difficult to read.

in the late spring and early summer. A detailed nature guide, available for a small donation … is useful in describing the significant species that are marked by ten separate signposts along the trail.
Fees: Adventure Pass or Interagency Pass is required only during snow play/recreation during winter.

Additional commentary.
1. My 1969 Visit
When I was 9 years old I attended summer camp at nearby Round Meadow. Our group walked up the hill to see the new trail designed for blind visitors. We were told it was recently built for an episode of Lassie (my favorite TV show in 1969) and the braille-trail was going to be permanent. I remember the trail was covered with fresh wood-chips, a nylon rope along one side of the trail to guide blind visitors from sign to sign, and interpretive signs with print and braille (all are gone).
More than 50 years later, I discovered the trail is still there.

— Submitted April 2, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

Photographed by Craig Baker

3. Whispering Pines Trail Marker

Whispering Pines Nature Trail Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

4. Whispering Pines Nature Trail Sign

Photographed by Craig Baker

5. Whispering Pines Trail Marker

Whispering Pines Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 8, 2024

6. Whispering Pines Trail

YMCA Camp Round Meadow image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 4, 2022

7. YMCA Camp Round Meadow

Located just ¼-mile east of the trail.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 732 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on September 8, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on September 8, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.