The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior that is responsible for administering federal lands. The BLM oversees more than 247.3 million acres and manages one-eighth of the landmass of the United States. The Agua Tibia Wilderness was designated a wilderness area in 1975 and now has a total of 17,975 acres.
The mountains of Agua Tibia Wilderness are covered in chaparral scrublands on the lower levels. Elevations range from 1,700 feet in the canyon bottoms to the 5,077-foot summit of Eagle Crag Peak. Agua Tibia Wilderness is located within the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest, which has three ranger districts. The name Agua Tibia means "warm water."
Dripping Springs Trail is an in-and-out trail that crosses Arroyo Seco Creek and climbs Agua Tibia Mountain. The trail travels through several types of biomes during its ascent. In the spring and early summer, you will be treated to views of wildflowers. At the summit, there is a geological survey marker, a logbook, and space for a tent.
Length: 12.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Wild Horse Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Temecula, CA, that has beautiful wildflowers. The hike starts at Dripping Springs Campground. The path consists of rolling hills, lots of rocks, and plenty of sunshine. There are numerous rock formations to lounge on along the way, and the terrain changes from woods to desert areas. Sharp eyes will find interesting and fast lizards.
Length: 12 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Agua Tibia Full Loop Trail is a long loop trail that is located near Temecula, CA. There are many colorful wildflowers in the spring and early summer, but be watchful for rattlesnakes in these warm months. Overall, the trail is fairly well-kept, but portions have fallen trees. There are ticks on the trail, so wear protective clothing.
Length: 20.2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
There are no fishing or boating areas within the Agua Tibia Wilderness section of the Cleveland National Forest. Trabuco Creek in the Santa Anna Mountains portion of the national forest is stocked with rainbow trout from a local hatchery.
The Agua Tibia Wilderness is part of the Cleveland National Forest. This area has many native species of animals, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, mule deer, gray foxes, long-tailed weasels, jackrabbits, desert cottontails, ringtail cats, and raccoons.
While there are no developed picnic areas in the Agua Tibia Wilderness, visitors are free to create their own picnicking spots to enjoy lunch while exploring as long as they clean up after themselves. Keep in mind that many areas offer little or no shade covering, so picnicking in the summer months is not recommended.
Horses are allowed on many of the trails and at the Dripping Springs Campground, making it a great area for horseback riding. Hunting for birds and game is also allowed in season. The normal hunting regulations for the state of California apply, and you may also need a Forest Adventure Pass for designated areas of the Cleveland National Forest. You can hunt for game animals like brush rabbits, cottontail rabbits, jackrabbits, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and wild pigs. Inside the park, you can hunt for game birds, such as band-tailed pigeons, California quail, mountain quail, ducks, geese, mourning doves, and turkeys.
If you are searching for RV camping and BLM camping, Dripping Springs Campground is a developed campground that is located in the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest just outside the perimeter of the Agua Tibia Wilderness. Dripping Springs is one of the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds that offers many nearby trails, including the Wildhorse and Dripping Springs trails. Campfires are allowed except when under elevated fire restrictions. The campground has 34 single campsites, nine equestrian campsites, potable water, vault toilets, and two horse corrals.
Bureau of Land Management free camping is dispersed or "remote" camping that is allowed in the Agua Tibia Wilderness and the surrounding Cleveland National Forest. You can camp up to 14 days out of every 30 days inside the forest. Fires are not allowed outside of the developed campgrounds, but you can use portable stoves and lanterns that use gas, jellied petroleum, propane, or kerosene. At times, there may be additional fire restrictions in place due to weather and environmental conditions. Agua Tibia is in the Palomar Ranger district, and permits are required for all back-country locations.
Whether you are camping at a developed or undeveloped camping area, you should plan on bringing in your own supplies. These items should include food and water, a sleeping bag, a flashlight, small camping utensils, seasonal clothing, a small lantern, and some type of lighter if needed. For dependable navigation, you should have a GPS device and maps of the general area. Before visiting the Agua Tibia Wilderness on your BLM RV camping trip, visit our blog to read more about BLM camping.
Every BLM area has a "leave no trace" policy. The developed campgrounds will have trash receptacles, but other areas will not have any. You are responsible for carrying out any waste and trash. "Leave no trace" also means that you should not change the physical environment within the preserve.
The Agua Tibia Wilderness is located near the city of Temecula. The city is to the west of Palm Springs and south of Los Angeles off of Interstate 15. From Temecula, take California State Route 79 8.7 miles west until you reach Woodchuck Road. Turn right and after 0.7 miles, turn left onto the dirt road that will take you to the Agua Tibia Wilderness in 0.8 miles.
Address: Temecula, CA 92592
Ready to visit Agua Tibia Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
