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U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region
A beautiful landscape awaits
From the tallest mountains to the rolling sea, adventure awaits! The National Forests in California are home to such unique scenic areas as Mt. Shasta, Lake Tahoe, Mt. Whitney, and the Big Sur coast.
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Virtual Services
Visit our Recreation Site Status Map and FAQ's for answers to many common visitor questions. If you need assistance or have any questions, please use our contact us form. Versión en Español: Visite el Mapa de Estado Actual de Sitios de Recreación y Preguntas Frecuentes del visitante. Si necesita atención, por favor use nuestro formulario de contacto (inglés únicamente).
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Featured Programs
Region 5 employees work on a wide variety of innovative programs such as these, below.
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Popular Topics
This is a list featuring topics that visitors ask about the most.
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Confronting the Wildfire Crisis
USDA Forest Service announces additional landscapes to address wildfire risk to infrastructure and communities.
Features
Forest Focus: Audio Podcast
Forest Focus is a program about the National Forests in California, featuring specialists that work for the U.S. Forest Service and others who provide viewpoints on Forest Service issues.
California Forest News Video Series
In California Forest News we explore the National Forests in California. In the first episode, ‘California Fire Intensity,’ we examine the combination of factors that exacerbate wildfire intensity and behavior including fuel, wind, terrain, and drought. Thanks for watching!
Spotlights
Aflutter for Monarchs
Along with partners, the San Bernardino National Forest provides breeding habitat for the conservation and recovery of monarch butterflies.
Partnering Up Brings Critical Supplies to Forest Wilderness
This past fall the California National Guard’s 1-126th Aviation collaborated with the Stanislaus National Forest to deliver critical supplies to remote areas of the forest.
Creative Conservation for Endangered Frogs
Conserving endangered species requires a bit of creativity. And when it comes to the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, zoos, coolers and laundry baskets are part of an innovative toolkit.
Indigenous Stories from Our Forests
As the original stewards of forests, Indigenous peoples’ unique knowledge of these lands can strengthen our own connections to nature.