Southern California can feel like a mash-up of strip malls, subdivisions, concrete and cell towers, with days blurring into an endless sea of crowds, cars and pollution.
But the area is surrounded by three national forests and enough open land to venture out and see few others, or no one at all.
The Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland National forests are a short drive from anywhere in SoCal for those looking to relax and get away from the hustle.
The three forests connect and combine to form more than 1.9 million acres of open space.
Cleveland National Forest, in several chunks of land, stretches from Orange and Riverside counties to within 5 miles of the Mexico border.
And there’s no shortage of activities.
For hiking and biking, fishing or chasing waterfalls, even just sitting and watching the pine trees blow in the wind, there is no better escape.
Side Note: Check local conditions before heading into the forests. Fire danger is extremely high this time of year and many burn areas remain closed or restricted. Some areas also require free permits to limit the impact on trails as hiking and camping have become more popular.
Angeles National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
