Cleveland National Forest

The Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres/720 mi2 of inland montane regions—approx. 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean—within the counties of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange, California. The landscape varies somewhat, with mostly chaparral canyons, arroyos and high desert, but dotted with meadows and oak and conifer forests. Near water sources, riparian environments and perennial aquatic plants attract native and migratory wildlife, such as at San Diego’s man-made Lake Cuyamaca. A generally warm and dry, inland-Mediterranean climate prevails over the forest, with the cooler months producing morning frost and snowfall (in the higher elevations). It is the southernmost U.S. National Forest of California. The area is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, a government agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, and is locally overseen by the Descanso, Palomar and Trabuco Ranger Districts.

History
The Kumeyaay, Payómkawichum, Cahuilla, and Cupeño long inhabited various areas of the forest. They lived on various forms of food, including acorns and local wildlife. Many of the Cleveland National Forest's trails are built following the routes developed by these Indigenous peoples.

Cleveland National Forest was created on July 1, 1908 with the consolidation of Trabuco Canyon National Reserve and San Jacinto National Reserve by President Theodore Roosevelt and named after former President Grover Cleveland.

In 1964, a bid to reclaim 25 acres of the forest was made by Clarence H. Lobo. After California Mission Indians were offered $29.1 Million Dollars by the US Federal Government in 1964 "to settle tribal land claims" regarding 70 million acres of land, Lobo rejected this offer, since it valued an acre of native land at 47 cents and did not account for unratified treaties. Lobo responded by sending $12.50 to President Lyndon B. Johnson for 25 acres of the Cleveland National Forest (at 50 cents per acre), and set up a camp at the site (the Upper San Juan Campground).

The Cleveland National Forest was the site of the 2003 Cedar Fire, which was the largest wildland fire in California history. It started in the forest when a hunter became lost and lit a fire to signal for help. The fire quickly spread to 62,000 acres.

The Santiago Fire of 2007 burned 6,701 acres of the forest, while subsequent fires that year burned thousands of more acres.

Districts

 * Trabuco Ranger District – the northernmost area
 * Consists of most of the Santa Ana Mountains and is bisected by the Ortega Highway, which runs from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. Its northern border is Corona.
 * Palomar Ranger District – near Escondido and Ramona
 * Includes the "Highway to the Stars" from State Route 76 to the top of Palomar Mountain.
 * Descanso Ranger District – east of Alpine
 * Includes Sunrise Highway, a National Scenic Byway.

Use restrictions
A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking in designated areas of the Cleveland National Forest, as well as other National Forests in Southern California, and may be obtained from local merchants, visitor centers, or online.

Also updated on the Cleveland National Forest’s Official Site (under ‘Current Conditions’) are road, campground, picnic area, and trail closures.

"Law Enforcement Activities" is a common reason given for closures in the southern portion of the forest. These closures are implemented to limit back road access, with the goal of circumnavigating US Border Patrol checkpoints. Bear Valley Road, coming up from Buckman Springs, Kitchen Creek Road and Thing Valley Road, are among routes that are routinely restricted.

Elevated fire restrictions were announced in August 2020.

Activities
Popular activities include picnic areas, bird- and wildlife-watching, botanical tours, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, trail-running, mountain biking, camping or driving on the many mountain roads. The Forest also includes Corral Canyon (not to be confused with the area of the same name in Malibu) and Wildomar Off-Highway Vehicle Areas.

In addition to campers, hikers and wildlife advocates, the Forest Rangers are also available to assist and accommodate the needs of local telecommunications and utilities companies, horseback riders, seasonal hunters, off-road vehicle enthusiasts, local farmers/ranchers, residents, neighbors and visitors alike.

Camping

 * Campgrounds – The Cleveland National Forest has campgrounds available at the Descanso, Palomar, and Trabuco Ranger District. Sites normally serve 6-8 persons and 2 vehicles.
 * Group camping – Group campgrounds are available.
 * Remote camping – Visitor's permits are required.

Hiking trails

 * Sunset Trail - Sunset Trail is a 4.6 mile loop trail accessible from Meadows Trailhead off Sunrise Highway, mile marker 19.1. The trail, which offers several connection options, winds through pine forest leading one to open meadows, ponds and small lakes, and a popular lookout to the Pacific Ocean. The surrounding habitat supports numerous flora and fauna including native black oaks, Engelmann oaks, giant Jeffrey pines, Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), hawks and turkey vultures. Dogs are not allowed off leash.
 * Big Laguna Trail - Starting nearby the Laguna Campground in the Descanso District is a 10 mile loop that connects to the Sunset Trail and the Nobel Canyon trail. The perennial Little Laguna Lake is featured on this trail.
 * Garnet Peak Trail - This trail features viewpoints of the Anza Borrego Desert at 6000 feet in elevation. It starts at the Garnet Peak Trailhead, but can also be accessed via the Penny Pines Trailhead which connects with the Pacific Crest Trail before joining the Garnet Peak trail.

Observatories

 * Mount Laguna Observatory

Fire lookout towers
There are currently two operational fire lookout towers in the Cleveland National Forest.
 * High Point Lookout, Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Mountain
 * Los Pinos Lookout, Cleveland National Forest, near Lake Morena
 * Boucher Hill Lookout: While this fire lookout tower is also on Palomar Mountain, it actually sits inside the Palomar Mountain State Park and not the Cleveland National Forest. It is an operational tower and works in conjunction with the USFS but is owned by the State of California and is an historic building.

Wilderness areas
There are 4 official wilderness areas in Cleveland National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. One of them extends into land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
 * Agua Tibia Wilderness (partly BLM)
 * Hauser Wilderness
 * Pine Creek Wilderness
 * San Mateo Canyon Wilderness

Flora and fauna
Cleveland National Forest is home to many wildlife species such as mountain lion, bobcat, mule deer, coyote, gray fox, ringtail cat, long-tailed weasel, opossum, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, California ground squirrel, and many other small species. A wildlife corridor is being created between the Cleveland National Forest and Orange County’s wild coastal terrains to ensure that animals can retreat fire safely if needed.