U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region
A diverse 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.
Recent News
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CAL FIRE and Partners Celebrate California Arbor Week
Release Date: Mar 8, 2024
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
Evolutions of a Name: Tahoe National Forest
Though Lake Tahoe and the forest share a common name, the Tahoe National Forest hasn’t shared boundaries with Lake Tahoe in over 50 years.
Trail cleanup: an ongoing conversation with the weather
Upper Lake OHV Trail cleanup makes progress, but storms continue to impact the trail system.
Battling Invasive Fungi to Save Native Hawaiian Trees
The ‘ōhi‘a lehua, a native tree in Hawai‘i, builds forest ecosystems that provide habitat for hundreds of species, including threatened or endangered birds.
Producing Opportunity: A New Sawmill opens in the Sierra Nevada Range
A newly opened sawmill in Carson City, Nevada, will soon provide the means to support healthy forests, post-fire recovery efforts, and the local economy.