Cleveland National Forest Hiking
Cleveland National Forest hiking often takes a backseat to the more popular hikes to the north, but there are plenty of great hikes in CNF. And because the elevation is lower, you can enjoy hiking all year, usually without the crowds. Don’t forget to leave your parks pass on your dashboard when you do these hikes.
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Cleveland National Forest Tips
- In the summer, it can get really hot. The best time to hike Cleveland National Forest is when the temps are cooler.
- Bugs can be intense, especially when it's hot out. When I hike here, I always bring repellant and a head net.
- There are basically three types of trails that you'll find.
- Wide dirt road that are listed as trails. Some of these can be open to 4x4 traffic. A good example is the Indian Truck Trail.
- Single track that's usually rocky, sandy, and on the steeper side. The Chiquito Trail is a good example.
- Smaller trails that are not often used and commonly overgrown, like on the Modjeska Peak hike.
- You need a parking pass at trailheads in the park. I use the National Parks pass which lets me park in any national land including National Parks.