Stanislaus recreation guide

Stanislaus National Forest Recreation Guide

A Sierra REC Magazine Supplement

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

The Stanislaus National Forest, where you can fish in over 800 miles of rivers and streams, stay in a campground, or hike into the backcountry seeking pristine solitude. You can swim near a sandy beach or wade into cold clear streams cooling your feet while lost in the beauty of nature, raft the exciting Tuolumne River, or canoe one of the many gorgeous lakes. You can ride a horse, a mountain bike or a snowmobile.

During the gold rush, the area that would become the Stanislaus National Forest was a busy place, occupied by miners and other immigrants, homesteaders and ranchers, dam builders and loggers. Several railroads were constructed to haul logs out of the woods. Evidence of these activities still exist.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide The Stanislaus National Forest (Forest) encompasses 898,099 acres on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada; California’s snow capped mountain range that flanks the Great Central Valley. Located between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, the Forest landscape is a continuum of natural and scenic beauty that defines the Sierra. Amid soaring crests, sparkling mountain lakes, towering forests, and canyons carved by cool rushing rivers, visitors discover connections with nature and the spirit of the Sierra Nevada. A mere two hour drive from the Great Central Valley and three hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, makes the Forest a very popular destination place.

The mountains were shaped by volcanic and glacial action, producing rugged and spectacular topography at high elevations. Each elevation, from 1,500 to over 11,000 feet above sea level, has its own unique vegetation, wildlife, and corresponding temperatures. While the lower elevations are hot and dry, the higher elevation’s lush meadows are cooled by melting snow. Here you will find Sierra mixed conifer, true fir, lodge pole pine and sub alpine vegetation.

Bald eagle, peregrine falcon and wolverine have all been reported on the Forest.

The Forest has four Ranger Districts divided along three highway corridors: route 120 to the south (Groveland District), Route 108 along the middle fork of the Stanislaus River (Mi-Wok and Summit Ranger Districts), and Route 4 to the north (Calaveras Ranger District). Highway 4 is a designated Scenic Byway, Highways 108 and 120 have the potential to become designated.

Each highway corridor represents a unique interpretive and education opportunity from giant sequoias to wild rivers.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Major Areas of Recreation:

HWY 4 Highway 4 crosses Ebbetts Pass at 8,735 feet in elevation. The drive across the pass offers motorists magnificent panoramic views of the high Sierra, from the spectacular Folger Peak ridge on the west side of the summit to the breathtaking drop into the Silver Creek canyon on the east. Those who pause to explore the open high country on either side of the pass are rewarded with two beautiful clusters of lakes – Highland Lakes on the west side and Kinney Lakes on the east. At the top of the pass runs the Pacific Crest Trail, leading away north and south into the wilderness. Along HWY 4 Visitors also explore the Bear Valley and Calaveras Big Tree State Park.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide HWY 120 Highway 120 provides year-round access to Central Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The highway traverses the southern portion of the Stanislaus National Forest, between the elevations of 2,800 and 4,700 feet. The highway continues through Yosemite National Park, eventually reaching an elevation of 9,943 feet at Tioga Pass, which is subject to annual winter closure.

HWY 108 The Scenic Highway 108 Sonora Pass route begins at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, and rises to an elevation of 9,628 feet above sea level. The pass connects the communities of Sonora to the west and Bridgeport to the east.

Like Most high elevation passes across the Sierra Nevada, the highway is closed in the winter, generally between November and May, due to large quantities of snow.

The highway over the pass is extremely steep, narrow and winding between Kennedy Meadows on the west side to Leavitt Meadows on the east. The route is not recommended for vehicles or vehicle combinations that are unusally wide, heavy or long. Adjacent to the summit of the pass is a picnic/parking area to nearby Sonora Peak, Wolf Creek Lake, and other spots north or south along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Recreation

Campground Camping Areas Highway 108 Corridor

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Campgrounds – Highway 108 Corridor– Campgrounds along highway 108 Mi Wok Ranger District Campgrounds Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds, and electric and sewer hookups are not available.

Fraser Flat Hull Creek River Ranch Sand Bar Flat Summit Ranger District Campgrounds

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide The Summit Ranger District, which encompasses the upper Highway 108 corridor on the Stanislaus National Forest. Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds. Electric and sewer hookups are not available. Fee RV dump stations are available at Clark Fork Campground, Dardanelle Resort and near Pinecrest on Highway 108 (closed on Sunday), one-half mile west of Summit Ranger District office. For the most current information please call the Summit Ranger District at (209) 965-3434, or stop by the office on Highway 108 at the turn-off to Pinecrest Recreation Area.

Baker Beardsley Dam Boulder Flat Brightman Flat Cascade Creek Clark Fork Dardanelle Deadman Eureka Valley Fence Creek Herring Creek Herring Reservoir Meadowview Mill Creek Niagara Creek Pigeon Flat Pinecrest Pioneer Trail Sand Flat TeleLi puLaya (Black Oak) Highway 120 Corridor

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Highway 120 provides year-round access to Central Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The highway traverses the southern portion of the Stanislaus National Forest, between the elevations of 2,800 and 4,700 feet. The highway continues through Yosemite National Park, eventually reaching an elevation of 9,943 feet at Tioga Pass, which is subject to annual winter closure.

The Groveland Ranger District encompasses the Highway 120 corridor on the Stanislaus National Forest. For the most current information please call the Groveland Ranger District at (209) 962-7825, or stop by our office on Highway 120.

Campgrounds – Highway 120 Corridor

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Situated in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Groveland Ranger District offers many beautiful sites for camping in a variety of settings. The Groveland Ranger District manages eight campgrounds within the Highway 120 Corridor. All campgrounds offer vault toilets, tables, grills and fire rings.

Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds, and electric and sewer hookups are not available.

Cherry Valley Campground Dimond O Campground Lost Claim Campground Lumsden Bridge Campground Lumsden Campground Pines Campground South Fork Campground Sweetwater Campground Lakes and Rivers – Highway 120 Corridor Lakes and Rivers along the Highway 120 Corridor Tuolumne Wild & Scenic River Highway 4 Corridor Welcome to the Calaveras Ranger District, which encompasses the Highway 4 corridor in the northwest portion of the Stanislaus National Forest. For more information please call the Calaveras Ranger District at 209-795-1381.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Campgrounds – Highway 4 Corridor Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds, and electric and sewer hookups are not available.

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Backpacker’s Camp (Campground) Big Meadow Campground Bloomfield Campground Hermit Valley Campground Lake Alpine Campground Lake Alpine Recreation Area Lodgepole Overflow – Located in a large, open, flat area near Lake Alpine.

Mosquito Lakes Campground Pacific Valley Campground Pine Marten Campground Silver Valley Campground Silvertip Campground Stanislaus River Campground Utica/Union Reservoirs Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo (Wild River) Campground Highland Lakes Spicer Reservoir

Day Hiking Areas Highway 108 Corridor

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Bennet Juniper Trailheads – Highway 108 Corridor Summit Ranger District Trailheads Arnot Creek Bell Meadow Clark Fork Trailhead County Line Coyote Meadows Crabtree Disaster Creek Gianelli Kennedy Meadows Seven Pines Sonora Pass St. Marys Pass Waterhouse Wheats Meadow Trails – Highway 108 Corridor Mi Wok Ranger District Trails Sugar Pine Railway – Fraser to Lyons West Side Railroad Grade Westside Rails to Trails Summit Ranger District Trails Columns of the Giants Donnell Vista Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail Shadow of the Me-Wuk Sugar Pine Railway – Strawberry to Fraser Trail of the Gargoyles Trail of the Survivors Highway 120 Corridor Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Campgrounds – Highway 120 Corridor Cherry Valley Campground Dimond O Campground Lost Claim Campground Lumsden Bridge Campground Lumsden Campground Pines Campground South Fork Campground Day Use Areas – Highway 120 Corridor Carlon Day Use Area Trumbull Peak Special Interest Area Lakes and Rivers – Highway 120 Corridor Tuolumne Wild & Scenic River Trails – Highway 120 Corridor Andresen Mine Trail Carlon Falls Trail Hamby Trail Indian Creek Trail Little Golden Forest Trail Mohican Mine Trail Preston Falls Trail Tuolumne River Canyon Trail Highway 4 Corridor

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide Trails – Highway 4 Corridor Bear Valley – Lake Alpine Bull Run Lake Duck Lake Emigrant-West Heiser Lake Inspiration Point Lakeshore Osborne Ridge

Stanislaus National Forest Receation Guide