Column by Andrew Reeder

The place I am exploring this week is the Fishermans Camp off Cleveland Forest Road. Last week I took you down the beautiful hike to get to Fisherman’s Camp, but I couldn’t check out the dry riverbed due to lack of daylight. This week I went back to spend some time there and see if it would actually be a good place to camp. The answer is yes. Just look at this picture

This area was huge with lots of shade. You could probably fit 4 10-man tents here comfortably. There are a few more spots that are flat and clear like the one pictured above. The dry river bed is filled with rocks and greenery and sits just to the left of this spot. There are trails that take you down the river bed which is filled with lots of smooth rocks and vegetation.

The way the wind moves through the tree canopy overhead makes you want to lay down and fall asleep. But this trip I was out there by myself and I was afraid if I fell asleep I might get eaten by a mountain lion because there were animal tracks everywhere. This place has to be the popular animal hang out spot. I can understand that. Its a green oasis among semi arid chaparral wilderness with nothing around for miles. And, I am not joking about the mountain lion.

Neighbors in DeLuz talk about a HUGE mountain lion that is larger then a great dane. They say that he is not afraid of humans either. Apparently he sits and watches until you go inside so he can eat your dog. I bet this is his favorite spot. Think about it, it’s a dry river bed. So I bet it fills up in the winter and spring bringing him lots of animals to pounce Advertisement

North County Cosmetic on. It looks like a meadow in some places with big oak trees providing lots of shade and picturesque places to camp. There are at least 5 different trails that lead out of here. The BlueWater trail is a 1.7 mile hike that takes you up and alongside the Fishermans Camp. The trail moves up the hill so you are able to peer down into the river bed as you walk alongside the top of the canopy.

How to get there:

Take Clinton Keith south 10.9 miles from the freeway overpass. Turn right on Tenaja Rd. and take it 4.2 miles, then take a right on Clevelend Forest Road for 3.8 miles. Within a mile you will reach the trailhead for the South Tenaja Trail. (You can hike that 3.5 miles to Fishermans Camp but I havn’t checked out that trail yet, so I’ll bring the details on that in the coming weeks) After you have driven Cleveland Forrest road for 3.8 miles you come to a corner that has a single dirt driveway leading off the road that seems like it doesn’t go anywhere, but the trail is there. You need a forest adventure tax/pass (don’t get me started) to park there.

Rules: Foot traffic only, no mechanized vehicle of any sort. Mountain bikes are allowed north of the Ortega Highway but not here. I saw some mountain bike tracks that wernt there last time. I also noticed the trail looked a bit more torn up with broken branches and stuff. The group size limit is 15 heart beats (human and animal). If your going to stay overnight you need a wilderness overnight permit from the Corona ranger station. They don’t cost anything. I guess its for safety, but you can request one by fax or email and can call (951) 736-1811 for more info.