At the Big Pines Visitor Center on the San Andreas Fault, you can find out everything that you ever wanted to know about seismic activity in the San Andreas Rift Zone. The Chilao Visitor Center, located within the Charlton-Chilao Recreation Area, serves as a trailhead for several nature trails that lead through stands of yucca, chaparral, and incense cedar. The center also displays a variety of indoor exhibits that highlight particular aspects of the forest.

Nearby national forests include Los Padres and San Bernardino. Drive further east, and you'll find yourself at Joshua Tree National Park.