North of LA family guide
Things to Do in Apple Valley with Kids
Curated by Punita Patel
Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Things to do in Apple Valley
Civic Center Park
This 22-acre park on Dale Evans Parkway is the heart of Apple Valley, with over a mile of walking paths, an amphitheater, big shady picnic areas and the Aquatic Center for summer swims. Come early on hot High Desert mornings before the pavement bakes, and pack shade — the desert sun is no joke out here.
Free (park); Aquatic Center admission variesHorsemen's Center Park
An 80-acre park tucked among dramatic desert rock formations off Highway 18, with a playground, horse trails and a rebuilt BMX track that older kids love. Bring bikes and helmets for the track, and let little ones scramble the rocks while you picnic — it feels wonderfully wide-open and uncrowded.
Free day useJames A. Woody Community Center & Park
On Navajo Road, this is Apple Valley's do-everything spot: playground, sports fields, a skate park and an indoor community center with programs. A reliable rainy-or-windy-day fallback since the gym gives kids somewhere to burn energy when the desert wind kicks up.
Free (park grounds)Lenny Brewster Sports Center
A 39-acre sports park on Otoe Road with eleven full-size soccer fields, plus a playground sized right for younger kids and clean restrooms. Parking is genuinely easy here, so it's a stress-free choice for a weekend soccer game or just letting the kids run.
Free day use
Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library
Right by Civic Center Park on Dale Evans Parkway, this San Bernardino County branch runs free story times and kids' programs and is a cool, quiet escape on triple-digit afternoons. Pair a library visit with the adjacent park for an easy free morning-to-afternoon combo.
FreeMojave Narrows Regional Park
Between Apple Valley and Victorville, this lush regional park has two lakes (Pelican and Horseshoe) stocked with trout in winter and catfish in summer, plus shady picnic spots and a rare bit of green in the High Desert. It's closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and bring a state fishing license if anyone over 16 plans to cast a line.
$8–$10/vehicle; fishing permits extraSeasonal & outdoors near Apple Valley
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Apple Valley.
Apple Valley is part of the North of LA family guide — see the region's best things to do, local eats and events.
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