There are 154 national forests in the United States. As of 2015, these forests stretched across 188,336,179 beautiful acres of land. With so many miles of wooded area to explore, it can be hard for any one spot to stick out. Today, the spotlight is on California’s Stanislaus National Forest.
Find this hidden gem roughly 92 miles southeast of Sacramento. Stanislaus rests in the middle of a particularly gorgeous region, between Yosemite National Park and Eldorado National Forest. If you want to bypass the crowds at Yosemite, there are 78 lakes and 1,000+ miles of hiking trails to discover at Stanislaus. Here are the region’s top attractions and why it’s such an exciting place to visit.
Where to go
There is a treasure trove of cool places to visit at Stanislaus National Forest. For tranquil views of the water, stop by Mosquito Lake. In the Emigrant Wilderness, you can find lush meadows during summer and icy landscapes in winter. Other scenic areas within the forest include Trumbull Peak Special Interest Area and Rim of the World Vista.
Get even more out of your visit by taking a day trip to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Bring the whole family for a guided hike or an astronomy night event.
What to do
Outdoorsy tourists will find endless adventure in this California forest. Try hiking along Cleo’s Bath Trail, Lake Alpine Trail, or Carlon Falls Trail. Prefer water sports? Swing by the Cherry Lake Boat Launch, or kayak on the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River. For mountain biking, head to Pinecrest Lake, Ferretti Trail, or Ebbetts Pass.
Camping and lodging
Spend the whole weekend at Stanislaus National Forest. The region offers some quality campsites, plus a few resorts. See a full list of available campsites here, and explore dispersed, group, and RV camping options here. For your first visit, consider staying at popular spots like Lumsden Bridge Campground or Pinecrest Campground.
If you prefer sleeping indoors, book a reservation at Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort or Kennedy Meadows Resort & Packstation. Groups can also find some great cabin rentals on Vrbo or Airbnb.