Cleveland National Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest from Laguna Mountain
Cleveland National Forest Location in the United States
Location	San Diego / Riverside / Orange counties, California, United States
Nearest city	Corona, California
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 is a huge natural area in Southern California. It covers about 460,000 acres, which is like 720 square miles! Most of the forest is covered in a type of shrubland called chaparral, but it also has some areas with rivers and streams. The weather here is usually warm and dry, like a Mediterranean climate.

This forest is the southernmost U.S. National Forest in California. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which is a government agency. The forest is split into three main parts called Ranger Districts. You can find it across San Diego, Riverside, and Orange counties.

Cleveland National Forest was created a long time ago, on July 1, 1908. President Theodore Roosevelt combined two other reserves to form it. It was named after a former president, Grover Cleveland. The main office for the forest is in San Diego. This forest has also experienced some of the biggest wildfires in California's history. These fires changed parts of the forest and affected many animal species.

Exploring Cleveland National Forest

The Cleveland National Forest is divided into different sections, each managed by a "Ranger District." Think of these as different neighborhoods of the forest, each with its own unique features.

Ranger Districts

• Trabuco Ranger District – This is the northernmost part of the forest.
  • It covers most of the Santa Ana Mountains. A road called the Ortega Highway goes right through it, connecting San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. Its northern edge is near Corona.
• Palomar Ranger District – This area is close to Escondido and Ramona.
  • It includes a special road known as the "Highway to the Stars." This road goes from State Route 76 all the way up to the top of Palomar Mountain.
• Descanso Ranger District – You'll find this district east of Alpine.
  • It features the Sunrise Highway, which is a beautiful road known for its scenic views.

Rules for Visiting

When you visit Cleveland National Forest, there are a few things to know to make sure everyone has a safe and fun time.

• Adventure Pass: Sometimes, you need a special pass called a National Forest Adventure Pass to park in certain areas. You can get these passes from local stores, visitor centers, or online. It's like a ticket for your car.
• Checking for Closures: Before you go, it's a good idea to check the official Cleveland National Forest website. They list any roads, campgrounds, picnic spots, or trails that might be closed. This helps keep visitors safe.
• Fire Safety: During dry times, there are often special rules about fires to prevent wildfires. Always check for current fire restrictions before you visit.

Fun Things to Do

Cleveland National Forest is a great place for outdoor adventures! There are many popular activities for everyone to enjoy.

• Picnics: You can find many lovely spots to have a picnic with your family and friends.
• Hiking: Explore the mountains on foot using the many trails.
• Horseback Riding: If you love horses, you can explore some trails on horseback.
• Mountain Biking: Ride your mountain bike on special trails designed for biking.
• Camping: Spend a night or more under the stars at one of the campgrounds.
• Scenic Drives: Take a drive along the beautiful Sunrise Scenic Highway.
• Off-Highway Vehicle Areas: For those who like off-road adventures, there are special areas like Corral Canyon and Wildomar.

Besides visitors, the forest is also used by many other groups. This includes people who study wildlife, telecommunications companies, hunters, and neighbors who live nearby.

Camping

• Campgrounds: Cleveland National Forest has campgrounds in all three Ranger Districts. Most sites can hold about 6-8 people and 2 vehicles.
• Group Camping: If you're coming with a big group, there are special campgrounds just for groups.
• Remote Camping: For a more rugged adventure, you can go remote camping. You'll need a special permit for this.

Hiking Trails

• Sunset Trail: This is a popular 4.6-mile loop trail. You can start from the Meadows Trailhead off Sunrise Highway. The trail goes through pine forests, open meadows, and past small ponds. It also offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean! Along the way, you might see different trees like black oaks and Jeffrey pines, and birds like Acorn Woodpeckers, hawks, and turkey vultures. Remember, dogs must be on a leash on this trail.

Observatories

• Mount Laguna Observatory: This is a place where scientists and astronomers study the stars and space. It's a cool spot to learn about the universe.

Fire Lookout Towers

Fire lookout towers are important buildings where people watch for wildfires. There are two towers that are still used in Cleveland National Forest:

• High Point Lookout, on Palomar Mountain.
• Los Pinos Lookout, near Lake Morena.

There's also Boucher Hill Lookout on Palomar Mountain. Even though it's on Palomar Mountain, it's actually inside Palomar Mountain State Park, not the National Forest. It still helps the U.S. Forest Service by looking for fires.

Wilderness Areas

Within Cleveland National Forest, there are four special "wilderness areas." These are places where nature is protected and kept as wild as possible. They are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. One of these areas even extends into land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

• Agua Tibia Wilderness
• Hauser Wilderness
• Pine Creek Wilderness
• San Mateo Canyon Wilderness

Animals and Plants

Cleveland National Forest is home to many amazing animals. You might see mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer, coyotes, gray foxes, and ringtail cats. There are also smaller animals like long-tailed weasels, opossums, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, and California ground squirrels.

To help animals move safely, especially during wildfires, a special "wildlife corridor" is being created. This corridor connects the Cleveland National Forest to wild areas near the coast in Orange County. It helps animals find safe places to go if there's a fire.

See also

In Spanish: Bosque nacional Cleveland para niños