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El Cariso is anunincorporated community inRiverside County,California. It lies along theOrtega Highway, just west of where it crosses the crest of theSanta Ana Mountains a few miles southwest ofLake Elsinore. It lies within the Trabuco District of theCleveland National Forest. El Cariso Campground is north of the town across the highway from the El Cariso Fire Station.
El Cariso is believed to be near the location of the mountain hideout ofJuan Flores, the leader of theFlores Daniel Gang. Located just over the county line inRiverside County, its mountain meadows provided a safe place to keep horses stolen inLos Angeles andSan Bernardino Counties outside the jurisdiction of their Sheriff before they were driven elsewhere to be sold.
It is one of the sites believed to be the location of the 1857 shootout between the gang and a large posse fromLos Angeles, andTemecula that found then killed or captured many of the gang.[1]
In September 2024, the community was heavily impacted by theAirport Fire, destroying dozens of homes in the area.[2]
33°38′11″N117°25′13″W / 33.63639°N 117.42028°W /33.63639; -117.42028
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