California boasts 18 national forests, and its southernmost one, Cleveland National Forest, covers three mountain ranges in between San Diego and Joshua Tree National Park. Since this federally managed land is covered with trails, it is a great spot to go hiking, biking, horseback riding, and off-roading.
This vast area was originally the land of the Kumeyaay, Luiseño, Cahuilla, and Cupeño peoples. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore the West Coast, arrived in 1542. But centuries went by before missions were established, gold was found, and logging became widespread. The 1891 Forest Reserve Act was designed to protect natural resources, and forest reserves were soon created in this area. Then, in 1908, two of them were combined to become Cleveland National Forest. The huge national forest now covers 460,000 acres across three distinct districts.
From San Diego, it is less than 40 miles to the Descanso Ranger District, the national forest’s southern section. For the northern section, the Trabuco Ranger District, John Wayne Airport (SNA) is a better option. The Orange County airport, which is consistently ranked as one of the best in America, is just 30 miles away.
Hiking trails in Cleveland National Forest
Since it is so sprawling, it’s virtually impossible to count the number of trails in Cleveland National Forest. The Palomar Ranger District, the national forest’s center section, has 95 miles of hiking trails alone. But you can try to find your favorite. In the Descanso Ranger District, Laguna Mountain is a good place to start. Its Sunset Trail is a 3.2-mile loop that runs through large meadows and a Jeffrey pine forest, past lazy cattle, and around multiple lakes. It connects with the Big Laguna Trail to become a 9.2-mile hike with stunning views that extend all the way over to San Diego and the Pacific Ocean…