Here is some general information that you will find useful when travelling
in the Santa Ana Mountains. Click here or hit your back button to return to the main Santa Ana Mountains page.

The Santa Ana Mountains are mostly covered by the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest. Consisting of 460,000 acres, the forest offers a wide variety of terrains and recreational opportunities.

Until the arrival in San Diego of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the lands now within the Cleveland National Forest were known only to the desert and coastal Indian tribes who used them. The Kumeyaay, Luiseños, Cahuilla and Cupeño found a good living on the abundant acorns and game. Many of our trails today follow those routes first used by these early dwellers.

In 1769, the Portolá expedition, led by Gaspar de Portolá and joined by Juan Crespí, Francisco Gómez, and Pedro Fages, left San Diego traveling to Monterey. They named many of the places along the way and those names remain with us today.

Roads Suitable for Passenger Cars - Standards routes are suitable for passenger cars, but may not be as smooth or as well maintained as County roads. Vehicles that are not licensed for use on the street and highways may not be operated on Standard or Service roads except when specifically authorized.

Roads Not Suitable For Passenger Cars – Service roads receive only minimal maintenance. These roads either are not shown on the Forest Service map or are shown by dashed parallel lines. These roads are rarely suited for passenger car travel. If you choose to travel minimally maintained roads, you may find rocks, downed trees, road washouts, and bush encroaching on the roadway. Drive slowly and carry equipment such as an axe, shovel, gloves, and fuel.

Many of these roads are closed during wet weather. Even where they are not closed, please DO NOT drive on these roads in wet weather because you will leave wheel ruts. Some route markers may be missing, watch for changes in road conditions. Check with the local Forest Service Office for specific travel information.

Closed Roads – Forest roads are sometimes closed during winter, to prevent the rutting of soft roadbeds during and following wet weather, to reduce disturbances to wildlife during nesting season and other critical periods, to ensure public safety, or because of high fire danger. Sometimes road use is restricted because of maintenance and other reasons.

Rules of the Road – Safe driving in the National Forest requires alertness. The forest road system is different from streets and highways. Road conditions vary dramatically and roads are used by a variety of travelers. Licensed high clearance vehicles, recreation vehicles, horseback riders, mountain bikes and hikers are common sights on back roads of the Forest. National Forest route signs use white numbers on a brown background, and are posted at road intersections. Most national Forest roads are one-lane dirt roads with turnouts for passing oncoming traffic and are not maintained for passenger cars. Use these descriptions to plan an enjoyable trip best suited for your vehicle and driving experience.

Winter Vehicle Travel – Snow conditions result in closure of some Forest Service roads and state highways over mountain passes. Tire chains may be required. Winter travelers should carry tire chains at all times and be prepared to spend long periods of time in the car. Carry blankets or sleeping bags, warm clothes, water, food and other necessities, a snow shovel, and travel with a full tank of gas.

The Trabuco Ranger District does not allow fuel wood cutting on National Forest System Lands.

The Cleveland National Forest has implemented a new Fire Danger Awareness System for residents and visitors. Effective Thursday, August 19, 2004, residents and visitors can call 619-593-2183 (recorded message) to find out what the fire danger level is on the Cleveland National Forest and what activities are allowed.

Undeveloped camping means you will be camping outside 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 is required for most areas. The Trabuco Ranger District has only one area in which undeveloped camping is allowed; the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness.

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. Your permit doubles as a campfire permit while in the Wilderness.

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. Do not bring dogs onto developed swimming beaches, even if they are restrained. 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.

More info on the Cleveland National forest is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland