I'm really only familiar with the very northern portion, near Lake Elsinore, but apparently,…read moreCleveland National Forest has separate sections in northeastern and eastern San Diego County as well. When I was a kid, we used to go to Mammoth Lakes every summer. It was there, in the eastern Sierra Nevada, that I got very familiar with National Forest signs and their iconic style. As I grew older, I started to notice National Forest signs in Southern California as well, but whereas Inyo and Sequoia National Forests were or at least contained actual forests, Angeles National Forest seemed to be mostly mountains with trees scattered about. Shouldn't a National Forest be breathtakingly or at least in-your-facingly foresty? Well, Cleveland National Forest is breathtakingly foresty, but maybe not quite in-your-facingly. And that's fine. The northern portion is tantalizingly close to most of suburban Orange County, but it can feel like another part of California, if not a completely different state. I've probably spent the most time in Silverado and Trabuco Canyon, which are on the western side of the ridge, but it's also fun to drive on the 74 all the way from Lake Elsinore to its interchange with the 5 in San Juan Capistrano. It's definitely a mountainous drive with at least one very serious hairpin turn, so plan accordingly, but it also feels fast, like the quickest way to get from the bland Inland Empire to the glitzy end of Orange County. That trip on the 74 was also the first place outside of the Sierra Nevadas in California that I had seen road reflectors embedded below grade into the asphalt so that snowplows wouldn't damage them. Seriously, there are snowplows in Orange County. Who would have thought that existed as a normal thing? It's a National Forest. Feel free to enjoy it, but pay for what you're supposed to pay for, take all your trash with you when you leave, and don't be a jerk driver on the scary windy roads. Hiking can be gorgeous, but remember that this also prime habitat for rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bears, and coyotes. Again, plan accordingly, and maybe leave your pets and very small children at home.

Cleveland National Forest is a stunning escape with beautiful trails, peaceful views, and plenty of…read moreadventure. Perfect for hiking, photography, or just relaxing in nature. The sunsets are unforgettable, can't wait to visit again!

A true hidden gem in Southeast Riverside. Not far from UCR, I'm surprised this trail is as rarely…read morecrowded as it is. I've hiked this trail at least 10 times. It's challenging enough for a quick workout, and it has enough routes to allow for short, medium and very long hikes. I start at the nature center and hike up to the park, then head back. I find the scenery just incredible. You get pretty good immersion in the hiking experience, despite being located right off a roadway (the entrance is, anyway).

By foot or astride a mountain bike, this is the little-big getaway I needed that's not too far from…read morehome but feels like getting away from society at the same time. Sure, housing encroached on the east and west flanks but the steep hills, ravines and canyon itself ensures you are immersed in nature with the façade only occasionally broken by a plane lifting off from the nearby air force base. Top reason to go? No crowds or kids. Seriously, I've seen people turn back after ascending the first hill, which comes almost immediately. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent graffiti schmucks from tagging rocks inside of 100 yards, something that happened between my third and fourth visits. You'll need a lot of water and a good wide brimmed hat because there's virtually no shade. Plus, a decent set of hiking boots is important. It's also possible to get lost so I recommend using the AllTrails app for the satellite views and topographical maps to see where the trails are. While fitness apps such as Strava are useful, you won't see the map as easily so running both makes sense. Sun block too, definitely need to reapply after 45 minutes to an hour. "Do what thou wilt": there are so many trails and possible loops just do what you want and have fun. The rattlesnakes are awake now so keep off the rocks on the hilltops, you'll likely see their trails in the dirt. There are tons of lizards too, all sizes and colors, plus hummingbirds, hawks, and ravens. We saw a raven pluck a small ground squirrel from some rocks by its tail and could hear its squeaks. Sad, but that's nature. You won't go as far as you think for the same output of energy as, say, Mt. Rubidoux. This is more rugged and rustic, hence fewer people and dogs. It's taken me four visits to exceed three miles that felt like six or seven. Nevertheless, it's a challenge and so picturesque. Next time I'm hoping ascend Rattlesnake Peak at 1608 feet, tucked dab smack in the middle of the wilderness. I typically use the Central entrance but there are others available, just use the app to locate them. I don't recommend being out there after noon on days over 80 degrees, either go early or after 5pm. If you go later bring a headlamp just in case you take longer getting back than expected. Not for the faint of heart, which is why it's becoming my top training ground for more difficult and longer hikes in the mountains.

My dad ordered a bike from Menifee Bicycles for my son's 10th birthday, and the experience was…read moreoutstanding from start to finish. The staff was incredibly helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable, making sure everything was perfect for such a special occasion. The bike was exactly what we were looking for, and the customer service went above and beyond our expectations. It's clear they genuinely care about their customers and take pride in what they do. Seeing the excitement on my son's face when he got his new bike made the experience even more memorable. We are so grateful for all their help and highly recommend Menifee Bicycles to anyone looking for quality bikes and exceptional service!

Great pricing did a great job. There is a wait time but not a big deal if you drop it off and come…read moreback and pick it up.

I grew up in San Diego and I've lived in LA for many years and a year after year I keep telling…read moremyself that I have to check this place out. For this most recent long three-day weekend in Lake Arrowhead we decided to finally give this place a try. We are two adults in our 30s with no kids. It is important to note that because honestly, this place is for children 10 and under. It is not for teens or adults. It is honestly pretty underwhelming if you are an adult, but it can be quite charming if you are a child. It is also $55 per person and $15 for parking which is a bit expensive, but I understand the inflated price due to the location and having to staff it. One thing about this place that is nice is they don't have a bunch of add-ons once you get inside, so you really do just pay one price unless you decide to get food as well. The other part of this park is specifically designed for people into mountain biking. They have six different trails ranging in difficulty from easy to difficult and about half of the visitors seemed to be doing that which we would go back specifically for. The activities for adults are pretty limited, so the main ones that we did were the bike in the air that goes around the rim of the property. This is the ride that you see in all the marketing and is the most popular. It was probably the most fun we had but it was honestly a bit scary once you get to the steepest point. It's about 50 feet above the ground so it would be quite a fall down. After that, we tried some archery and ax throwing which was surprisingly fun. After that, there was honestly nothing else that we could really do given our age and size so we headed out after that. This would be a great place to visit during December with children 10 and under because they do have Santa Claus and people in costumes and what not and each of the buildings is alpine themed and is very quaint. They also have a very large area that serves as a wedding location so I'm sure that is also another part of this place. There is a large free parking lot attached in front with EV charging available as well.

We've been here 4-5 times and it was time for a review. Ticket prices are high, but I thought it…read morewas OK for 1x a year trip or once every 2 years. We've been here during the fall and winter and I would recommend coming for the winter decorations. The crowd varies during the year, when we came during the fall weekday, it was empty and there was no wait for any of the activities. We came last week (3 days before Christmas) and we had to wait for each activity. It wasn't bad, but it did make the day longer. If you plan to eat, I would eat earlier because in the afternoon lunch our food took about 1hr. The highlight of the trip for my kid is santa and I'm glad we did that first to get a reservations. We did the mountain bike part earlier in the fall and that was nice if your kid is into it. We rented all the gear and opted for the tour guide to help us get use to it.

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is located in Lake Forest and spans 2,500 acres. There is a very…read moresmall parking where it costs $3 for a day pass (they take both $1 bills and credit card). Beware of parking at the adjacent parking lots because they are pretty strict about not parking there for hikers. There are a variety of trails at differing difficulty levels and there are select trails that are multi-use where cycling is allowed. We went on the Borrego Canyon Trail and the Red Rock Canyon trail that was a total of two miles one way. There was some shade from the tall trees but some parts were in direct sunlight. There was a good amount of flat land and didn't have too much of an incline. When you get to an intersection with multiple directions just keep going straight and follow the signs for Red Rock Canyon. You will know when you're at the end when you see signs and rocks all around you. The red rocks really reminded me of the hikes that I went to in Arizona and it was cool to see that in California. Overall it took about one hour one way to get from the parking lot through Borrego Canyon Trail and to the end of Red Rock Canyon. Overall it was an easy and enjoyable hike.

My friends and I have been into hiking lately, and decided to hike here when it was nice and sunny…read morea few weeks ago. We did the serrano road and line shack loop, which was about 3.4 miles total. We arrived at around 8am, and spent about 1.5 hours on the hike, walking a moderate pace. I really liked that how this trail was easily marked and flat. There was also plenty of shade, on the trail, so even as the sun came up, it was still pretty cool. There's some elevation on the trail, but overall, I'd say it was pretty easy to causally walk and talk. When you get to the peak of the trail, you can oversee the Foothill Ranch area, and it looks gorgeous! We followed the parking instructions on AllTrails, which led us to a church parking lot, which connects right to the trail. I did see that this park has other more difficult hikes, so I'd definitely go back for another one!

They are so very nice and professional. I had Volt House do the breaks on my bike and the did an…read moreabsolutely horrible job. They also refused to stand by their work. Not here, they are wonderful!!!!!

Earlier this year as a tribute to my late mother, I wanted to get an update from my 2007 Cervelo…read moreCarbon Soloist with some money she left me. From the moment I came to the store, the staff (Chelsea and Kristen) knew what I was going through and what I wanted to do. In selecting my new bike they let me know what was available and how it could be modified so that I get the best possible ride. The test rides and accessory selection were fun and exciting. The anticipation was grueling at times, but when it was ready it was all worth it. Since then, I've been well taken care of with tire maintenance and tune-ups. This place is truly a community/family for which I plan to be a part of for many years. I look forward to attending a workshop and going on group rides...once I retire within the next year.

Great local trail. Wish it went further south. Yet undulating trail makes for a good workout. Roll…read moreto it and head north to the end and return south.

Fix the trail!! Hasn't been repaired or maintained in over 5 years. Road bicyclists nightmare!!!read more