STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA
Covering the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in Tuolumne County, California, Stanislaus National Forest features over 898,000 acres of forest, more than 800 miles of rivers and streams, and 78 lakes. It’s a beautiful drive following the Hwy. 108 Sonora Pass up from Sonora, and through the quaint mountain towns of Twain Harte, Sugar Pine, Mi Wok Village, Sierra Village, Long Barn and Strawberry. Stanislaus National Forest is home to three wilderness areas including the Carson-Iceberg, Emigrant, and Mokelumne.
Stanislaus National Forest offers a variety of year-round outdoor activities. In winter there is snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing, and sledding. (Note, that if you visit in winter, the highway beyond the town of Strawberry and Pinecrest Lake usually closes). Spring through fall is a recreational paradise with nature, wildflower and hiking trails, horseback riding, back-packing, mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, rafting on the Tuolumne Wild & Scenic River, sailing, fishing, camping and picnicking. There are also summer ranger programs and activities to experience. The scenic drives provide stunning views.
Prominent highlights of the forest include: Bennett Juniper, the largest living western juniper tree; Columns of the Giants rock piles similar to Devil’s Postpile; Donnell’s Vista, an interpretive trail that leads to on overlook with views of Middle Fork Stanislaus River Canyon and Donnell Reservoir; and Shadow of the Mi-Wok, an outdoor exhibit showing how the Mi-Wok Indians lived; and Trail of the Gargoyles.
For more information visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus.
