The Forest Adventure Pass
The Recreation Fee Program, which includes the Adventure Pass, helps:
- Conserve, protect, and restore natural and cultural resources
- Enhance recreation opportunities by funding trail maintenance, upgrades, safety features, clean facilities and new developments
Wherever you live in Southern California, you're just a short drive away from a spectacular wildland adventure, with recreation opportunities in the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests.
On the Cleveland National Forest, you can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, climbing, off-highway vehicle travel, picnicking, and even fishing. All within a short drive of San Diego, and Orange or Riverside Counties.
For a list of sites on the Cleveland that now require an Adventure Pass, please visit the Cleveland Recreation Fee Site, or for more information on the Los Padres, Angeles, or San Bernardino fee sites, please visit the Adventure Pass website.
The Adventure Pass is offered in annual, secondary and daily passes. These passes can be purchased at many local vendors, the Forest district offices, or the main Cleveland National Forest office at 10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd in San Diego.
- The annual pass is $30 and good for 12 consecutive months. It covers one car with up to 4 individuals.
- The secondary pass is used in conjunction with the Adventure Pass and to cover a second vehicle. This pass is $5 and also good for the duration of the Adventure Pass.
- The daily pass is a self scratcher good for 24 hours and costs $5.
Other Permits & Passes
Forest Campgrounds require additional permits for use, as does dispursed camping, and some trails, such as Cedar Creek Falls. For information on whether or not a recreation area requires a permit or pass, please see our Standard Amenity Fee Site
In general, you can purchase many of these passes and permits at any Forest Service office near you.
Forest Permits
Wilderness/Long Distance/Backpacking
This permit is suited for overnight camping or hiking in areas outside of established campgrounds. Many beginning the PCT on the Cleveland will require one for long distance hiking or backpacking where mileage and entry/exit points are defined. For more information on PCT permits please contact the Descanso District at 619-445-6235 between the hours of 8 and 4. For more information regarding Cleveland PCT trails and facts, please see our designated Pacific Crest Trail page. All districts require a permit and applications for them can now be submitted online. Please allow 2 - 3 days for processing. Ensure the correct district application is being filled out for your chosen location:
- Descanso - requires a Visitor's permit to camp outside of any developed campground on the District. This includes camping within the Hauser and Pine Creek Wilderness areas. Dispersed camping is not allowed within the boundaries of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. For information regarding good areas for dispersed camping, please refer to the Descanso Remote Camping Guide or call the Descanso District Office at (619) 445-6235. For quicker assistance, please complete the Visitor Permit Application. If you are experiencing issues sending this form, please save it and email to DescansoRD@fs.fed.us
- Palomar - Back county camping can be done anywhere on the district. For information regarding best spots or particular points of interest, please contact the ranger district at 760-788-0250. For quicker assistance, please complete the online Palomar Wilderness Application (Users have noted difficulty in sending - please download and save to your computer before filling out and submitting). If the form still does not work, please save it and email it to PalomarRD@fs.fed.us
- Trabuco - Wilderness permits are required for camping and are available only within the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. Only a limited number are issued per day. Please allow 2 days for processing. Complete and submit the Trabuco Wilderness Application. If you are experiencing issues sending this form, please save it and email it to TrabucoRD@fs.fed.us
Campfire Permits
Wood or charcoal fires are never allowed outside of developed campgrounds or picnic sites on the Cleveland. However, portable stoves or lanterns that use gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted unless elevated fire conditions prohibit their use. Please see our Fire Restrictions page for current information.
National Recreation Passes
The Forest Service offers a variety of recreation passes, each serving different functions. Some of the more popular ones include the Interagency Annual Pass (also known as the America the Beautiful Pass), and the Every Kid in the Park pass, but we also issue wilderness, backpacking, long distance, remote camping and campfire permits, working in conjunction with the state of California. National passes are honored nationwide at Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard and expanded amenity fees.
There are several pass options to consider. To make the best choice on which pass to purchase, you should consider your recreation plans for the year:
- Are you planning limited ventures on a single forest? Your best value may be a single-day pass.
- Are you a frequent visitor to one or more sites? a multi-day pass or annual pass that covers a forest or region may be the best option.
- Are you planning trips across various states or federal lands? An Interagency Annual Pass is perfect for traveling adventurers that plan to visit lands managed by other federal agencies.
- Do you qualify for a discounted annual or lifetime pass? Lifetime passes are provided at a discounted rate for seniors and those with permanent disabilities, while free annual passes are provided to active duty military and their dependents.
- Are you, or a member of your family in the 4th grade or 10 years old? The "Every Kid in a Park" pass gives fourth graders free access to 2,000-plus federal recreation sites for an entire year. Detailed information about that pass is available on the Every Kid in a Park site.
The USGS Store provides Frequently Asked Questions about Recreational Passes. For more information about permits and passes, see our national Recreation Fees and Passes website.
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