Ironically though that's exactly where they aren't required to be leashed. I'm admittedly not 100% on the rules, partly because I don't have a dog and partly because the USFS doesn't go out of their way to make it clear, but my understanding is on trails within wilderness areas leashes are preferred but not required. Presumably on the assumption that you're not going to be running into a lot of people--not so true these days. I believe that when you're not on the "trail" but stopped in places with other people--eg, Ramona Falls viewing area--the leashes are supposed to go back on. But even when leashes are optional, the one rule I am clear on is the dogs are required to be in sight and under voice command. Which does not mean doing whatever the hell they want to whoever the hell they want while you completely ignore them.
When I pass equestrians or people with dogs on leash, I always warn them if I know they're coming up on an unleashed dog. The equestrians usually just get pissed (about the dogs, not at me), but with the dog people you would not believe how many of them thank me then launch into a gruesome story of how their dog was attacked or killed by an off leash dog the owner insisted was friendly. Happens a horrifying percentage of the time. And the number of times I've been attacked, chased, knocked down, etc myself is ridiculous. This isn't a theoretical issue or somebody's overblown fear, ffs.
