A Comprehensive Guide to California’s 20 Remarkable National Forests

collage of four images of California national forest scenery

The National Forest Foundation has declared July 8 to 14, 2024, as National Forest Week. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the 20 national forests in California, which protect a whopping 20.8 million acres of federal land. The Golden State comes second only to Alaska in national forest acreage. 

California’s national forests cover diverse landscapes ranging from desert scrub to dense woodlands, from rugged coastlines to the tallest mountain peaks. They include superlative landmarks like Mount Whitney, Mount Shasta and Devils Postpile National Monument. Visitors can stand in awe of world record-breaking trees like giant sequoias, coast redwoods and ancient bristlecone pines. Experience the rare thrill of sharing a habitat with wild animals, whether it’s boisterous birds around your picnic table or bigger beasts you’d rather not see.

Camping, hiking, fishing, boating, biking, riding horses and OTVs, are just some of the recreational options available in our national forests. Public access is a promise, and all are welcome to enjoy uncrowded, unspoiled wilderness within easy reach of urban areas – or perhaps to venture far off the beaten path and into the remotest corners of California. Plan a day trip to your nearest national forest, or consider a longer adventure that aligns with your personal version of outdoorsy-ness. 

Tip: Before heading to any national forest, check its official website for up-to-date conditions and closures. For permits and camping/lodging reservations, go to www.recreation.gov.

National Forests of Southern California

The four national forests in Southern California, which also stretch into the central region of the state, cover exceptionally diverse terrain. Dense evergreen woodlands typical of Sierra and northerly forests are present at higher elevations, but represent smaller portions of these public lands. Arid chaparral and high desert environments are most appealing during spring months, while the intense heat of summer sends locals in search of cool mountain air. In winter, these national forests offer the closest snow to SoCal’s massive population centers. 

Angeles National Forest

“LA’s backyard playground,” Angeles National Forest is within easy reach for some 20 million residents of the region. It covers diverse terrain including most of the rugged San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and five wilderness areas. Dominant plant life ranges from chaparral shrub forests and oak woodlands to dense pine and fir forests at higher elevations. The national forest offers 557 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, including 176 miles of the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), along with 10 lakes and reservoirs. Angeles National Forest was the first national forest in California and is a California Historical Landmark. 

Location: North of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel and Sierra Pelona Mountains. Angeles National Forest is mostly in Los Angeles County with smaller areas in San Bernardino and Ventura counties. 

Nearest cities: Arcadia (HQ); Los Angeles

Size: 700,000 acres

Highlights: 

  • Mount San Antonio (aka Mount Baldy), the highest peak in the San Gabriels at 10,064 feet, has varied trail options including tough summit hikes. 
  • The Mount Wilson Observatory, at 5,715 feet on Mount Wilson, is open to the public and offers daily tours.
  • Pyramid Lake, a popular spot next to I-5 for boating and fishing, sits on the border of Angeles and Los Padres national forests. 
  • The Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial is an interesting historic site in the San Francisquito Canyon area. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/angeles

Cleveland National Forest

Cleveland National Forest is the southernmost national forest in California. Its lower elevations include high desert areas and arroyos, chaparral-covered canyons, meadows and lush riparian habitats. Higher up are oak woodlands and conifer forests. There are four wilderness areas within the national forest, and a lengthy initial stretch of the PCT. 

Location: San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties, starting approximately 60 miles from the ocean.

Nearest cities: Corona; San Diego

Size: 460,000 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Sunset Trail off Sunrise Highway is a popular 4.6-mile loop through pine forests and open meadows, with views as far as the Pacific Ocean.
  • The Garnet Peak Trail is at 6,000 feet in elevation and offers panoramic views across the Anza Borrego Desert.
  • San Diego State University’s Mount Laguna Observatory has a summer-only visitors program featuring star parties.
  • The Sunrise Scenic Byway passes through a mountainous area of Cleveland National Forest. Viewpoints reveal desert panoramas in contrast to the densely forested surroundings.
  • The historic El Prado Cabin at the El Prado Campground was built in 1911 and still stands. It was the first ranger cabin built in the forest. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland

San Bernardino National Forest

Southern California’s San Bernardino National Forest covers the mountain ranges that flank the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire regions, creating scenes of dramatic contrast. Their landscapes include high desert areas inhabited by bighorn sheep, and conifer-covered mountain slopes ranging from 2,000 to 11,499 feet above sea level. The Big Bear area is a tourist hub year-round.

Location: The eastern San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains. 

Nearest cities: San Bernardino (HQ); Idyllwild; Big Bear City

Size: 800,000 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The small mountain community of Idyllwild is a popular tourist destination surrounded on all sides by the national forest.
  • Tahquitz Rock is a major rock-climbing destination near Idyllwild.
  • Big Bear’s city, lake and ski resort are all surrounded by national forest land. 
  • Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is in the southern portion of the national forest. Within the monument is Mount San Jacinto State Park, accessible via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
  • Lake Hemet, a manmade lake in the San Jacinto Mountains, offers fishing and boating. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf/

Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres National Forest covers vast stretches of Southern and Central California, spanning the Santa Lucia Mountains, La Panza Range, Sierra Madre Mountains, San Rafael Mountains and Topatopa Mountains. It comprises two non-contiguous sections, with the smaller, northern section along the Big Sur coast. Almost half of the national forest is made up of wilderness areas. 

Location: Most of the mountainous land along the coast and inland from Ventura to Monterey. The northern section covers the Big Sur coast and inland Monterey County; the larger main section spans San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties, with a small extension into Los Angeles County. 

Nearest cities: Goleta (HQ); Ojai, Frazier Park

Size: Almost 2 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Santa Ynez Mountains above the Gaviota Coast represent the last undeveloped section of the SoCal coastline.
  • Old-growth forests around Big Sur include coast redwoods and conifers. 
  • The Ventana Wilderness is a protected sanctuary for the endangered California condor (spot them on these live cams), and important habitat for peregrine falcons. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Lake Tahoe from the road, a scenic view with light snow
Spectacular Lake Tahoe scenery around Tahoe National Forest (Photo by California News Press)

National Forests in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

A string of national forests covers California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, patching the gaps between Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Recreation across these forests and parks is distinctly seasonal, as is easy access by road. Sensible planning for recreation in remote, high-elevation bear country is a must. The forests of the Sierra Nevada protect some of California’s most dramatic, untamed and spectacular landscapes. 

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

The “jewel of the Sierra,” the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit protects the public lands around Lake Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Basin, straddling the California-Nevada border. The unit was carved out of three neighboring national forests: Tahoe, Eldorado and Toiyabe for focused management of its watershed, ecology and recreational opportunities.  

Location: Around Lake Tahoe in El Dorado and Placer counties (with sections reaching into Nevada).

Nearest cities: South Lake Tahoe

Size: 155,000 acres

Visitor highlights: 

  • In summer, stop in at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center on Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe. 
  • Beaches and picnic areas on Lake Tahoe are typically open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October. 
  • The Tallac Historic Site, a 1920s resort beside the lake, is open for tours and nature trail walks. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Freel Peak, at 10,881 feet, is the tallest summit in the Tahoe Basin and a dramatic backdrop to Lake Tahoe.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu

Eldorado National Forest

Eldorado National Forest is the “gateway to the Sierra,” covering the central portion of the mountain range and its scenic foothills. Elevation ranges from around 1,000 feet to over 10,000 feet along the Sierra crest. Higher elevations have cool montane climate and mixed conifer woodlands including old-growth forests. Dramatic scenery includes steep canyons carved by the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American and Rubicon rivers. 

Location: Mostly in El Dorado County, with portions in Amador, Alpine and Placer counties and a small range in Nevada. The national forest is just over an hour from Sacramento. 

Nearest cities: Placerville (HQ); Sacramento

Size: Almost 600,000 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Eldorado National Forest boasts 611 miles of fishable streams and hundreds of lakes and reservoirs for exceptional fishing. This includes 11 large reservoirs that are major water sources for the state.
  • The forest offers 400 miles of hiking trails, and opportunities for both alpine and Nordic skiing.
  • The original California gold discovery site at Coloma is near the national forest, and its streams and rivers still bear gold. 
  • The barren and rocky Desolation Wilderness is within the national forest, as is most of the Mokelumne Wilderness. Both feature long-distance backpacking trails.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the largest national forest outside Alaska, is mostly in Nevada with a small portion – around 11% – in eastern California. The southwesterly Toiyabe National Forest section is on the arid eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, where its habitat is predominantly sage steppes. The section connects Nevada’s Great Basin with the Sierra crest and abuts Yosemite National Park.

Location: California’s portion of the Toiyabe National Forest is mostly in Mono County but stretches into Alpine, Sierra, Nevada, Lassen and El Dorado counties as well. Non-contiguous sections are all over Nevada.

Nearest cities: Bridgeport

Size: 6.3 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • A winter recreation area near Sonora Pass offers extreme backcountry snowmobiling terrain as well as snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing.
  • There are seasonal picnic areas at Sonora Bridge and Virginal Lake. 
  • Visitors can take in vast, open panoramas across the Great Basin from higher elevations.
  • Over a dozen trailheads are in the Bridgeport Ranger District, plus day hikes and overnight trips (permits required) in the Hoover Wilderness and Wovoka Wilderness.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/htnf/

Related: Humboldt: The Man Behind the Name

Tufa in Mono Lake on a sunny day in Inyo National Forest, California
Mono Lake, a top attraction of Inyo National Forest (Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay)

Inyo National Forest

Inyo National Forest is “your gateway to the Eastern Sierra.” It also reaches into the White Mountains of California and western Nevada. The forest encompasses much of the Owens Valley and is one of the least wooded in all of the national forest system. However, it does protect stands of old-growth lodgepole and Jeffrey pines, along with the oldest living trees in the world in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Nine wilderness areas are within the forest including the John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas. 

Location: From the east side of Yosemite National Park to the south of Sequoia National Park, in Inyo, Mono, Tulare, Fresno and Madera counties. Part of the national forest is in Nevada. 

Nearest cities: Bishop (HQ); Lee Vining; Mammoth Lakes

Size: 1.9 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The eastern slopes of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet, are within the national forest. The forest service issues permits for summit hikes.
  • Devils Postpile National Monument is partially within Inyo National Forest. 
  • The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is home to Methuselah, one of the oldest known trees on Earth at 4,839 years old. A visitor center is open in summer, and visitors can see the trees from boardwalks and self-guided nature trails. 
  • Mammoth Lakes is a major winter sports destination. 
  • The forest’s South Tufa area is one of the best places to see Mono Lake with its unusual tufa towers.
  • The John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails pass through Inyo National Forest.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/inyo/

Plumas National Forest

Plumas National Forest encompasses the northern end of the Sierra Nevada range, known as “the Lost Sierra.” The forest is named for the Feather River (Rio de las Plumas). Its vast acreage includes old-growth and mixed conifer forests, hundreds of trail options for all difficulty levels, waterfalls and scenic drives. The national forest also boasts some of California’s best fall foliage

Location: Mostly in Plumas County with smaller areas in Butte, Sierra, Lassen and Yuba counties.

Nearest cities: Quincy (HQ); Oroville

Size: 1.1 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Butterfly Valley Botanical Area, 3.5 miles north of Quincy, protects rare plant life including the insect-eating California pitcher plant, 12 species of orchids, plus ferns, lilies, poppies and many other wildflowers.
  • Frazier Falls Trail, a paved, 1-mile trail, ends at a viewpoint across a glacier-carved canyon to the falls. 
  • The remote and rough Backcountry Discovery Trail beckons for four-wheel driving. 
  • Two major scenic highways – the Feather River National Scenic Byway and Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway – connect in the Indian Valley area of Plumas National Forest. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/plumas

Tahoe National Forest

Tahoe National Forest, located northwest of Lake Tahoe, is a dramatic landscape of granite rock formations, river canyons and hundreds of lakes and reservoirs. It’s a prime fishing destination. The highest point in the forest is the 8,587-foot peak of Sierra Buttes, where a fire lookout is accessible to hikers for sweeping views of Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta. 

Location: East of Sacramento in the northern Sierra Nevada, from the foothills and across the crest to the California-Nevada state line. The forest is in Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Plumas and El Dorado counties.

Nearest cities: Nevada City (HQ); Truckee

Size: 871,495 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Placer County Big Trees Grove, the northernmost grove of giant sequoias, is within the national forest. 
  • The North Fork of the American River, a free-flowing wild and scenic river, has exceptional kayaking opportunities.
  • Winter sports are available in the forest, which features cross-country skiing and snowmobile trails as well as commercial downhill ski resorts.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe

A giant sequoia tree in Sequoia National Forest, California
A giant sequoia tree along the Trail of 100 Giants in Sequoia National Forest (Photo by California News Press)

Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest is named for the incredible giant sequoias – the largest living organisms on Earth – found in 34 distinct groves across its massive expanse. These public lands protect the breathtaking, glacier-carved southern Sierra Nevada with its granite monoliths, old-growth forests, 222 miles of wild and scenic rivers, six wilderness areas and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. There are 52 developed campgrounds and over 1,147 miles of trails in Sequoia National Forest, making it an outstanding recreation destination. 

Location: In the southern Sierra Nevada range, adjacent to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in Tulare, Kern and Fresno counties.

Nearest cities: Porterville (HQ); Bakersfield

Size: 1.1 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Trail of 100 Giants has a paved loop trail through the Long Meadow Grove, home to around 125 giant sequoias over 10 feet in diameter, plus 700 smaller giants. Road access is available in summer only. 
  • The Needles, a spectacular formation of granite spires, overlooks the Kern River in Sequoia National Forest. 
  • The national forest is a popular destination for white-water rafting. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia/

Sierra National Forest

“The heart of the Sierra,” Sierra National Forest covers the western slopes of the central Sierra Nevada range, adjacent to Yosemite and Kings Canyon national parks as well as Inyo National Forest. (Efforts are underway to connect these public lands into the singular Range of Light National Monument.) It is a place of outstanding natural beauty, with high peaks up to 13,986 feet, densely forested slopes, big trees, deep canyons, and two wild and scenic rivers. Two national scenic byways pass through the forest. 

Location: Between Yosemite and Kings Canyon national parks, in Fresno, Madera and Mariposa counties.

Nearest cities: Clovis (HQ); Oakhurst

Size: Over 1.3 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Fresno Dome, a rocky and barren granite dome, is accessible via trail and offers views as far as the Cascade Range, up to 100 miles away.
  • The Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail follows a historic lumber flume route for 3.7 miles.
  • Nelder Grove has the largest concentration of giant sequoia trees in Sierra National Forest, along with recreated historic logging cabins and an interpretive center. 
  • Bass Lake and Shaver Lake reservoirs are popular for boating and fishing.
  • The China Peak ski resort is within the national forest.
  • There’s a resort and campsite at Mono Hot Springs, an area featuring natural hot mineral baths.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/sierra

Stanislaus National Forest

One of the oldest national forests protecting the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Stanislaus was established in 1897 and named for the Stanislaus River. Its waterways are a major draw, with whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities on the Tuolumne River and Cherry Creek. The national forest features 811 miles of rivers and streams, 78 lakes and 1,100 miles of trails. The Emigrant Wilderness is entirely within the national forest. 

Location: Mostly in eastern Tuolumne County with smaller parts in Alpine, Mariposa and Calaveras counties. The national forest is adjacent to the northwest end of Yosemite National Park.

Nearest cities: Sonora (HQ); Groveland; Pinecrest

Size: 898,000 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River presents some of the best and most challenging white water in the nation.
  • The national forest hosts two ski resorts: Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley.
  • Rim of the World Vista on State Route 120 offers spectacular panoramic views over the Tuolumne River.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus

Mount Shasta covered with snow with a forest foreground
Mount Shasta, the centerpiece of Shasta-Trinity National Forest (Image by Don White from Pixabay)

National Forests in Northern California

The following incredible national forests span Northern California from the Bay Area to the Oregon border, from the rugged Lost Coast with its craggy headlands and redwood giants, to the remotest, least developed northeast corner of the state. Outstanding options for outdoor recreation are abundant all over this wildly beautiful region. 

Klamath National Forest

Klamath National Forest covers an enormous 2,715-square-mile expanse of the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range in Northern California. This includes 168,000 acres of old growth forest within continuous stands of pine, fir and cypress trees. The forest is unique for its joint management with the Butte Valley National Grassland, the only national grassland in California. 

Location: In Siskiyou County with a very tiny extension into Oregon.

Nearest cities: Yreka (HQ)

Size: 1.7 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Kangaroo Lake and Juanita Lake both offer excellent trout fishing.
  • The historic Sawyers Bar Catholic Church, built in 1855 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located within Klamath National Forest. 
  • Butte Valley National Grassland is prime for birdwatching and spotting pronghorn, Roosevelt elk and the occasional bighorn sheep.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/klamath

Lassen National Forest

Lassen National Forest is in northeastern California, where “granite meets volcanic” at the conjunction of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. It borders Lassen Volcanic National Park, which was carved out of the national forest in 1916. Volcanic features make the national forest a fascinating destination, with bubbling hot springs, lava tubes and cinder cones augmenting a landscape of old-growth and mixed conifer forests. The stargazing, spring wildflowers and winter snowmobiling options are exceptional. Lassen National Forest is also home to one of California’s few burgeoning wolf packs. 

Location: Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas and Butte counties, 

Nearest cities: Susanville (HQ); Red Bluff

Size: 1.2 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail follows the scenic Susan River Canyon for 25 miles, taking hikers along a former railway line, 12 river crossings and two tunnels.
  • Guided tours are available (seasonally) of the Subway Cave lava tube north of Old Station. 
  • The Hat Creek Recreational Area features views of Mount Lassen, a visitor center, discovery gardens and interpretive displays around large lava flows. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/lassen

Mendocino National Forest

Mendocino National Forest protects almost 1 million acres of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California. It is the only national forest in California without a major paved road entering it, making this a remote and unspoiled getaway destination. The national forest includes four wilderness areas, 60,000 acres of old-growth forests, and the Ell, Black Butte and Stony Creek rivers. In 2020, it was the site of the August Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in California history. 

Location: From the Sacramento Valley foothills to the North Coast mountains, Mendocino National Forest covers six California counties: Lake, Glenn, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity and Colusa.

Nearest cities: Willows (HQ); Covelo

Size: 913,306 acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument within the forest is one of the most biologically diverse places in California.
  • Lake Pillsbury is the forest’s largest recreational lake and has facilities for boating and camping. Look out for tule elk, a species once facing extinction that was reintroduced to the north shore of the lake in the 1970s. They now make up a herd of around 80 animals.
  • Rattlesnake Canyon features a memorial to 14 volunteer firefighters and one forest service employee who died fighting the Rattlesnake Fire in 1953.
  • There’s a nature trail through the Chico Seed Orchard in Chico, a plant breeding research center since 1904. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino

Modoc National Forest

“Where the west still lives” is the tagline for Modoc National Forest in the far northeastern corner of California. The forest land sits atop enormous ancient lava flows, part of its varied volcanic topography with dramatic elevation changes. The Medicine Highlands in the west are the largest shield volcano in North America. The forest also includes the Warner Mountains which run into Oregon. 

Location: Mostly in Modoc County with smaller sections in Lassen and Siskiyou counties.

Nearest cities: Alturas (HQ); Cedarville; Tulelake

Size: Almost 1.7 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • The Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory covers 500 square miles, making it the largest wild horse territory in the national forest system. 
  • Rocky Mountain elk, wild horses, mule deer and pronghorn antelope inhabit Modoc National Forest.
  • Visitors can get seasonal permits to collect obsidian from the national forest’s obsidian mines. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/modoc

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Oregon and California share the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, with the California portion representing just a small fraction of its vast wilderness. The lands cover the Cascade Range and the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains, and feature six wild and scenic rivers for outstanding fishing. Rare and endemic flowers and butterflies are found in the forest along with the world’s tallest pine tree.

Location: The California portion of the national forest is in Del Norte County in the state’s far northwest. 

Nearest cities: Medford, Oregon (HQ); Crescent City

Size: Almost 1.8 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • An unofficial long-distance hiking trail known as the Bigfoot Trail passes through the Red Buttes Wilderness part of the national forest, connecting it to Redwood National Park.
  • The world’s tallest pine tree, a 268.35-foot ponderosa pine, is in the national forest near Grants Pass, Oregon.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Shasta-Trinity National Forest is the largest national forest in California. It is home to the magnificent, 14,179-foot Mount Shasta and Lake Shasta, the largest man-made lake in the state. The forest boasts five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes, over 6,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 460 miles of trails. It’s a major destination for outdoor recreation across all four seasons. 

Location: In Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Modoc and Humboldt counties. The Trinity National Forest section encompasses the Northern Inner California Coast Ranges and southeastern Klamath Mountains. The Shasta National Forest section is between the Upper Sacramento Valley and Shasta Valley.

Nearest cities: Redding (HQ); Mount Shasta

Size: 2.2 million acres 

Visitor highlights: 

  • Hiking and climbing on Mount Shasta is at its busiest during the brief snow-free months of May and June. You can drive up to 8,000 feet on the mountain for panoramic views and access to the Old Ski Bowl trailhead. 
  • Overnight stays are available in the Little Mount Hoffman fire lookout in the Medicine Lake Volcano lava flow area. 
  • The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway audio tour covers 500 miles between Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake national parks, passing through the national forest. Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway is another scenic drive in the area. 

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

Six Rivers National Forest

Six Rivers National Forest does in fact feature six rivers running through it: the Eel, Van Duzen, Klamath, Trinity, Mad and Smith rivers. Some 366 miles of those rivers are designated as wild and scenic. Other natural assets of this glorious wilderness include 137,000 acres of old-growth forests, over 100 miles of trails, and many developed and backcountry camping options. A fun fact about the national forest is that it’s the filming location for the Patterson-Gimlin film – the famous footage of an alleged Bigfoot sighting was captured there in 1967.

Location: The northwest corner of California between the Oregon border and Mendocino County, contained within Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou counties.

Nearest cities: Eureka (HQ); Crescent City

Size: Almost 1 million acres

Visitor highlights:

  • Klamath National Wild and Scenic River is the second-largest and second-longest river in California, popular for summer rafting and salmon fishing. Visitors can arrange jet boat rides in the town of Klamatch. 
  • The northernmost section of the national forest is the Smith River National Recreation Area, considered one of the best fishing spots in the entire United States.

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/srnf/

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