Cleveland National Forest · California

Sunset

4.1 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 5E07 · trail class 3 · typical grade 5-8% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse, bike

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 32.8610, -116.4621 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Meadows Information Kiosk Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up

Trail Views
Photo: US Forest Service

Meadows Information Kiosk and Picnic Area

Distance

4.6 - 12 miles depending on trail connection

Pets Allowed

Yes

Fees

Adventure Pass Required

Hike/Ride Time

3 hours to full day

Difficulty

Easy to Moderate - dependent on trail connection

Best Seasons

Year round

Location

Off Sunrise Hwy at mile marker 19

Ranger District

Descanso Ranger District - (619) 445-6235

There are a multitude of connecting trails in this vicinity, including the popular Sunset and Big Laguna trails, where mountain biking, hiking and equestrian are widely utilized. Additional trail connections can add as many as 20 miles to the trip. Perfect for picnicking and lunch hikes in a family friendly area, recreation users frequent this area for wildlife viewing in the spring, as birds, turkeys, cattle, and foxes come to graze and nest in an area that often sees rainfall and full lakes.

Parking for Meadows Kiosk and Sunset trail are along both sides of Sunset Hwy and are located in very close proximity. There is no available water, however several portable toilets are on site.

For a list of more trails to explore in your area, please see our Recreation Trail Guide

This trailhead on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Cleveland National Forest

All 125 trails in Cleveland National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.