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The 'Cleveland National Forest' encompasses 460,000 acres (1900 km²) (720 sq. mi.), mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within the United States Department of Agriculture. It is divided into Descanso, Palomar and Trabuco regional districts and is located in the counties of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange.
The Cleveland National Forest was the cite of the beginning of the Cedar Fire, the largest wildfire in California hisotry.

Contents

Districts

Use restrictions

Activities

Observatories

External links

Districts

★ 'Trabuco Ranger District' (generally the northern area)

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★ Consists of most of the Santa Ana Mountains and is bisected by the Ortega Highway, which runs from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore.

★ 'Palomar Ranger District' (near the city of Escondido)

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★ Includes the "Highway to the Stars" from State Route 76 to the top of Palomar Mountain.

★ 'Descanso Ranger District' (east of the city of El Cajon)

Use restrictions

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

Activities

Popular activities include off-highway vehicle trails, hiking through the mountains on foot, exploring the forest on horseback, camping overnight or driving on the Sunrise Scenic Highway. The CNF also includes the Corral Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

Observatories

★ Palomar Observatory

★ Mount Laguna Observatory

External links

★ Cleveland National Forest Official Site

★ In-depth article by the San Diego Historical Society

★ Wildernet listing by the California Tourism Commission

★ Off-Road Trails in the Cleveland National Forest

★ Southern California Trails at Local Hikes