Cleveland National Forest

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

On this page you can find answers to some of the questions that are asked at our offices. If you do not see your question listed below or want further information call the Cleveland National Forest at 858-673-6180.

1. How can I purchase maps or books?
2. Can I camp in areas outside developed campgrounds?
3. Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?
4. How can I report trail conditions?
5. What's a "prescribed" fire?
6. What's a Wilderness?
7. Do I need a Wilderness permit?
8. Can I have dogs in the National Forest?

Answers

1. Recreation, Wilderness, and other maps are available and may be purchased at Cleveland National Forest Offices, Laguna Mt. Visitor Center on Sunrise Highway, and El Cariso Visitor Center on Highway 74 (Ortega Highway). Some sporting goods stores, outfitters, and map stores also sell these maps.

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2. Undeveloped camping means you will be camping outside of an established campground which is maintained and identified by the Forest Service. A detailed set of rules and regulations exist for undeveloped camping because of fire danger and the impact of vehicles or horses in the forest. Check with the local Cleveland National Forest Office for directions to an undeveloped camping area and to obtain your overnight Visitor's Permit. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for most areas. The Trabuco Ranger District has only one area in which undeveloped camping is allowed; the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. Before you go check on current fire danger levels and restrictions.

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3. OHV recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. OHV travel is restricted to designated routes and areas. It is your responsibility to know and abide by regulations relating to motor vehicle travel. State law requires registration of all motor vehicles before being operated on public lands. You must have either a current Green Sticker or Highway license, both issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. If highway licensed, the vehicle must meet all standards for operating on a public highway. Many areas are also open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on OHV's. Federal law (36 CFR 261.16(a)) prohibits operation of any mechanical or motorized equipment within the boundaries of a Wilderness. The Cleveland National Forest has two areas in which OHV travel is allowed: Trabuco Ranger District - Wildomar Area and Descanso Ranger District - Corral Canyon Area.

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4. Report trail conditions to Ranger District Offices, the Forest Supervisor's Office, or to Forest Service people you meet in the field. Leave a note on your way home or drop it in the mail. Include the trail name and number (if available,) the trail condition, it's approximate location, and the date observed. Use any piece of paper, report in-person, call on the phone, or use our Comment Form. Photos are good, too. While hiking trails for pleasure you can remove any limbs, rocks, etc. from the trail and scatter them on the lower side. You can remove rocks over six inches in diameter, but be sure not to endanger anyone below. Where Cairns are used to mark the trail, you can help keep them intact.

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5. A prescribed fire is any fire intentionally ignited to meet specific land management objectives (i.e. to reduce flammable fuels, such as the accumulation of brush, logs, etc. on forest floors; or to help restore ecosystem health). Prescribed fires are preplanned ignitions, with predetermined boundaries. They are conducted only under certain weather conditions (i.e., during periods of low wind) when flame length and heat can be controlled. Land managers must obtain approval of prescribed fire plans from applicable federal or state agencies before conducting planned burns. In addition, all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be met on federal lands. Before federal land management activities (i.e., trail building, timber harvesting, use of fire, etc.) are conducted, NEPA requires that the environmental impacts of these activities be analyzed to assess their impacts on cultural resources, wetlands, soil, water quality, air quality, visibility, and other resources. For a list of scheduled proposed projects follow this link to our Quarterly Report.

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6. According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are "where earth and its community of life remains untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain". Wilderness Protection will never be gained simply by issuing a set of rules and regulations. It must come with love and understanding of the land. Wilderness Protection is a personal ethic. Some mark is left in Wilderness each time we visit, but each of us can make sure this mark is a small one. Minimum impact or no trace camping should be considered common sense behavior in the back country, but many people are not aware of what they leave behind.

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7. A Wilderness Visitor's Permit is required for overnight visits to the Wilderness Areas. Only one permit is required for trips which are continuous and pass through more than one Wilderness. One permit is required per trip per group. Group size is limited to 15 people.

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8. Your canine companions are welcome in National Forests. The few rules that apply to dogs are meant to assure that you and other National Forest visitors have an enjoyable outdoor recreation experience. Please practice the following - these rules will be enforced in developed reaction areas:

• Leave vicious or unusually noisy dogs at home.
• Please keep your dog on a leash no more than 6 feet long, or otherwise restrict its freedom to roam at will.
• At night keep your dogs and other pets inside an enclosed vehicle or in a tent.
• Developed campgrounds are for people, not animals. Please do not bring more than two dogs or other pet to any one campsite. Guide dogs are an exception.

If you are traveling in a National Forest Wilderness, dogs are permitted. However, if you leave a National Forest Wilderness and enter into a National Park, dogs are not permitted.

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