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From the tallest mountains to the rolling sea, find your next adventure

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Welcome to the Pacific Southwest

The Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service manages 20 million acres of national forest land in California and assists state and private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands. Eighteen national forests in this region range from the North Coast, Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges, from Big Sur to the Mexican border in the south Coast range. 

Learn more about Region 5

Find a Forest

Select your state or territory to find a forest or grassland to explore.

Virtual Services

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Visit our FAQs for answers to common visitor questions. For assistance or any questions, please use our Contact Us form. 

Versión en Español: Visite Preguntas Frecuentes del visitante. Si necesita atención, por favor use nuestro formulario de contacto (inglés únicamente).

Featured Programs

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Explore the innovative programs in the region:

Wildfire Risk Reduction

Wildfire: A Modern-Day Paradox

We work with partners to address wildfire risks to critical infrastructure, protect communities, and make forests more resilient. 

Prevention is key. Most wildfires are human-caused. Reducing wildfire risk is everyone’s responsibility. 

Reduce your risk

Events

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Features

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The Heart Work – Forest Service Casualty Assistance

Employee safety is a top priority for the USDA Forest Service. But if the unexpected occurs, the agency has a program to help.Through the Forest…
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Aflutter for Monarchs

 Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) reign supreme in human enchantment — rooted in this whisp-of-a-creature’s ability to migrate great…
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Partnering Up Brings Critical Supplies to Forest Wilderness

When venturing out in the Sierra Nevada wilderness, the hum of a helicopter is probably the last sound you expect to hear in the pristine, yet rugged…
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Creative Conservation for Endangered Frogs

Conserving endangered species requires a bit of creativity. And when it comes to the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog in California, zoos, coolers…
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Recent Press Releases

Forest Service and CAL FIRE renew statewide wildfire response agreement

Release Date: January 8, 2026

USDA invests just over $24M in California and $1.6M in Hawaii to reduce wildfire risk to communities

Release Date: September 23, 2025

Forest Service invests in projects to restore state and private forests across Pacific Southwest

Release Date: August 20, 2025
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