Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest | |
---|---|
Location | San Diego / Riverside / Orange counties, California, United States |
Nearest city | Corona, California |
Coordinates | 33°18′N 116°48′W / 33.3°N 116.8°W[1] |
Area | 720 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
Named for | Grover Cleveland |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Website | Cleveland National Forest |
The Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000
History
The
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.[2]
In 1964, a bid to reclaim 25 acres of the forest was made by
The Cleveland National Forest was the site of the 2003
The Santiago Fire of 2007 burned 6,701 acres of the forest, while subsequent fires that year burned thousands of more acres.[6]
Districts
- Trabuco Ranger District – the northernmost area
- Consists of most of the San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. Its northern border is Corona.
- Consists of most of the
- Palomar Ranger District – near Ramona
- Includes the "Highway to the Stars" from State Route 76 to the top of Palomar Mountain.
- Includes the "Highway to the Stars" from
- Descanso Ranger District – east of Alpine[7]
- Includes Sunrise Highway, a National Scenic Byway.
- Includes
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.[8]
Elevated fire restrictions were announced in August 2020.[1]
Activities
Popular activities include picnic areas, bird- and wildlife-watching, botanical tours, hiking,
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.[9]
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.[10]
Hiking trails
- Sunset Trail - Sunset Trail is a 4.6 mile loop trail accessible from Meadows Trailhead off Sunrise Highway, mile marker 19.1.[12] 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.[13] Dogs are not allowed off leash.[14]
- 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.[15]
Observatories
Fire lookout towers
There are currently two operational fire lookout towers in the Cleveland National Forest.
- High Point Lookout, Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Mountain[16]
- Los Pinos Lookout, Cleveland National Forest, near Lake Morena[17]
- 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
- 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
See also
References
- ^ "Cleveland National Forest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
- ^ a b "The Cleveland National Forest is Created!". USDA Forest Service.
- ^ a b "Wanting Land". The Los Angeles Times. 22 May 1964. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Clarence Lobo Elementary School - Lobo History". lobo.capousd.org. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- ^ "2003 - Cedar Fire | Fire-Rescue Department | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- ^ "Santiago Fire Burn Area". USDA Forest Service. 2007.
- ^ "Adventure Pass - Cleveland National Forest". Cleveland National Forest. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "Cleveland National Forest - Current Conditions". Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ Lee, M. (2008, June 29). Forest Marks 100 Years. San Diego Union-Tribune , pp. 1-4.
- ^ a b "Cleveland National Forest Official Site". fs.fed.us. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ Recreation.com Archived 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sunset trail". sandiegoreader.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ http://map.sdsu.edu/group2007spring/group2/Woodpeckers.htm[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Cleveland National Forest - Sunset Trail". Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
- ^ "Garnet Peak Trail". Cleveland National Forest. Archived from the original on 2020-05-04.
- ^ "High Point Lookout – Forest Fire Lookout Association". ffla-sandiego.org. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "Los Pinos – Forest Fire Lookout Association". ffla-sandiego.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
External links
- Cleveland National Forest Official Site
- In-depth article by the San Diego Historical Society
- Southern California Trails at Local Hikes
- The Nature Conservancy: Santa Ana Mountains
- Santa Ana Mountains Wild Heritage Project
- Center For Biological Diversity
- Santa Ana Mountains Natural History Association