Everything about this walk, hike, views, sounds, was worth every moment of the visit. We had recent…read moreviewed this from someone else's Facebook post and decided it was part of our summer vibes. This was well worth it. FREE access, views, nature sounds, fishing. What more could you ask for. Pack your own snack or lunch even if you wanted too. You won't many benches to sit along the way, but hey, why not utilize one of the many massive tree trunks that were just cut up on the side of the trail. If you have any type of water shoes, bring those alongside your walking shoes. During our visit we did about a good 4 miles of trail visit. The road entering into the location is very narrow, and almost like a one vehicle a time passing.We would DEFINITELY see ourselves visiting here again. No IF, ANDs or BUTS about it.

Beautiful views and a super unique hike. The dam at the end was very cool too. It was very hot so…read morewe could even get very close and get splashed by the dam water, cooling us off. Pro tip, you can drive up to near the dam and do the trail backwards if you want to be able to see the dam without hiking as long. One caveat, you have to walk single file so it's a bit hard to have any big group conversations.

We always love hiking here. It's easy to hike with kids, even though it can get a little rocky and…read morea little muddy. The cave is always beautiful, especially when the water is flowing. Today, there are still descent of people hiking, and we came around 12:30 Easy Hike!Gonna come back again soon. P. S please leave no trace

I went here on a weekday, and when I arrived in the parking lot, I was shocked by how much was…read moregoing on. It definitely did not feel like a safe place to leave a car or to walk alone. There appeared to be drug activity, and there were people living in their cars. It felt more like a place for people to hang out and purchase drugs than a normal parking lot. I observed this as I drove through, which was very concerning. This was a bummer, especially since the trail itself looked beautiful. I'm surprised that law enforcement hasn't been called by the neighborhood, but then again, I understand that people can sometimes become used to these conditions.

We had so much fun here very close to our campsite and drop in payment per car. People jumped from…read morethe top where around the parking site. It's perfect for cooling off in this heat wave.

I went a few times as a kid and then went recently as an adult, and it still was just as fun. Keep…read morein mind a few things though: 1. You need to bring $10 cash in order to pay the parking fee, and 2. the water is FREEZING!! This river is very close to the mountains so the water is still very very cold. There are a few places in the basin to jump in, ranging from 5-20 feet. I also went fishing up the river and caught a couple of rainbow trout. They aren't exactly big enough to make a good meal, but you can catch and release them if you like to fish for fun. Also please for gods sake don't litter or throw bottles in the river. As a kid, i cut my foot open in the river on a beer bottle and needed stitched, which is also why i recommend wearing water shoes.

Small yet popular lake in the Stanislaus National Forest. Very convenient for Bay Area vacationers…read moreas it is only a 2.5 hour drive. I've done a few summer weekend trips here, but as a child. So don't remember many details, just that it was always a blast, camping with a large group and delving into lake activities. As an adult, I've mostly come to this area during the winter/spring months, and that's only because Dodge Ridge Ski Resort is in the same area. But never really knew how close the actual lake is to the ski resort...until recently when I finally did both in a one weekend stint. The actual lake is man-made, it is a reservoir meant to harness water, snow melt is my guess due to the regular snow fall every winter in these mountains. Then PG&E bulit a dam and used this for hydroelectric energy and you can see the raging water on the bottom of the dam if you hike over to that corner. We hiked only half of the lake on a gorgeous clear winter's day. I wanted to hike the entire circumference of the lake, which is only a little over 3 miles, but we had a small child in our group, so we kept it manageable. The trail is well kept and very easy to stay on, not many off shoots to other trails. It climbs in a few spots but nothing too difficult (at least to me). The lake is in view in practically every spot on the trail, so very very scenic and picturesque. Even though a man-made lake, seeing the clouds drift by the snowcapped mountains and all the pine trees all around, that I never felt like it was a man-made lake. Very natural contours and plant and tree habitat. I saw an occasional deer and tons of birds enjoying the sun on an otherwise cool winter's day. Even saw a couple of eagles soaring from the trees to the lake line, may have even been bald eagles as I observed white heads. I didn't have binoculars to confirm, so just a hunch, but it still felt special. Not much activity on the actual lake during my winter visit, maybe just a few people fishing off of rocks near the shore. No one was boating or swimming in these months. But in the summer, it is a much different story, as my memories recollect. Now i want to come back during the summer/fall and do some camping and kayaking. A promise I am making to myself and will surely bring into fruition. Trust.

Pinecrest is a great recreational area all year long. During the summer months it is great for…read moreswimming, hiking, boating and fishing. During the fall its great all of the above but may be too chilly for swimming. They drain part of the lake in the fall and more closer to winter so the water is pretty low in the fall. Pinecrest is also a great place to build a snowman in the winter and is right by the Dodge Ridge ski resort. It is beautiful, alot of people take photos here. They have a trail that goes around the lake, its not the easiest trail but it is not difficult either.

My resupply on the PCT at Kennedy Meadows turned into a mini vacation that I'll look back fondly on…read morefor years. I took advantage of the shuttle they run from Sonora pass to the resort. I called to confirm the pickup time, and it was right on schedule. The guy driving the van was filling in for the usual driver, but he was professional and shared some cool facts about the area. At the resort he pointed me towards the designated hiker hangout area and let me know where the front desk was so I could work out accommodations. I had my heart set on a cabin to nurse my chewed up feet and wait for my replacement shoes to arrive via FedEx, but they were totally booked up. The woman at the front desk was awesome though and told me she'd put me in an empty dorm and try to let me have it to myself as long as possible. Picking up my resupply at the general store was easy, and the hiker area was convenient for repacking my bag. The general store had a great selection of all the typical hiker foods, and tons of great snacks. Laundry was a little chaotic because people (workers and hikers) were leaving their finished loads in the machines for ages, but eventually all my chores were done and I was able to relax in the restaurant. There was only one server working but she was friendly and kicking butt. The burger made with their own beef was great. After retiring to my dorm to kill many hours using the strong WiFi, I came back down to the restaurant seeking dinner. The days they offer prime rib are a bit of a madhouse because people travel specifically for the occasion. I couldn't get the attention of any server so I went back to my room. I came back closer to closing and was able to awkwardly shuffle in. The prime rib dinner was massive and pretty good. Even with my hiker hunger I wasn't able to finish it. The generator is LOUD, but you generally get used to it. When it slams off at night the silence is welcomed but jarring. The WiFi still works though. The next morning the restaurant was bustling for breakfast. It always seems like there's never quite enough servers, but that's not surprising considering it's a remote resort. I signed up for one of the short trail rides for a very reasonable $35. I turned out to be the only guest taking that particular ride, which was fun if not a little awkward. The guide was extremely professional and did a good job giving me directions and keeping an eye on how my saddle was positioned and how my horse was behaving. It was a beautiful short ride with a little bit of surprising rocky terrain and creek crossings. The rest of my second day at KM was spent in the saloon waiting for my shoes to arrive. Even though they recommend UPS, FedEx managed to arrive on schedule and my feet were saved. The bar had a great vibe with its strictly western jukebox and friendly barkeep. Dinner on a weekday was much less chaotic, and the ribeye was delicious. The next morning the shuttle driver struck a deal to take someone to a nearby town, so the shuttle was off schedule. Luckily the backpackers spread the word amongst ourselves and after sending a package home with the front desk, I wound up back at Sonora pass in the morning as planned, probably a few pounds heavier. I highly recommend Kennedy Meadows as a resupply and zero spot. They're extremely honest and upfront about how much everything they offer costs, and I didn't feel looked down on for being a smelly hiker. It's a beautiful area, and I plan on coming back for a vacation someday and getting my hands on one of those cabins!

Our family's been going here since 1972!!! We absolutely LOVEI IT!! Camping cabins horseback riding…read morecamp fires great food at their restaurant. Gorgeous Views everywhere!!!

Giant trees, wild mushroom, snow cover paths, and wild stuff animals - it was an adventure…read more -been wanted to check out the "GIANTS" and they didn't disappoint. I guess January is the most awesome time to visit. Whether was nice and warm, with snow play still available in the parking lot and on the trails. Perfect day to be outdoor. -Park is very well kept and accessible for all. The North Cove Trail was a walk in the pak with stunning display of different trees. Look carefully, wild mushroom has been inoculated and is ready for their debuted. -Visitor center and ranger were very informative. -Pro tip: if your family is the outdoorsy type, buy a California State Park Pass - include entrance to this place and you can skip the line when visiting on a busy weekend....

Beautiful state park with giant sequoias, easy trail which is beginner friendly. Points of interest…read moreinclude a large tree stump which is large enough to be a little stage, fallen ancient giants, humongous exposed roots, hollowed out tree stumps which kids can walk through etc. Apparently the people who took care of the park previously cut out a hollow in one of the trees as a point of attraction for cars and people to walk through to compete with other such parks. The tree finally gave away and fell during a heavy rain a few years ago. We took the north grove trail, with kids and toddlers it took us about an hour with several photo stops. There is no elevation so it was an easy stroll. There is no signal in the park. But since it's a single loop, there is no possibility of getting lost.

White Pines exploring this weekend was insane. My daughter and I had a blast riding some of the…read morefire roads with unreal views. There's miles of roads and trails everywhere that lead down to the river. Super chill people out and about enjoying the weather. Will definitely be back next time in Arnold.

Came up here for 4th of July weekend, and what a cool little gem it is! Lots of nice beach area,…read morehiking, frisbee golf, fishing, and just general fun on the lake with swimming, inflatables, etc. I totally recommend! :)

Railtown State Historic Park is extremely cool and fun for all ages! We got to stand on the caboose…read morebuilt for Back To The Future III, viewed the train smoke stack from Little House on the Prairie train, coal powered steam engines, and we saw the Well from the olddddddd show Peticoat Junction: We also were able to see some old trains including ones with wooden grates in the front, and lots of train parts!! He enjoyed explaining things to me.. For a very small fee you can take a ride on a train. Walk around the grounds and see old engines, workshops with all sorts of parts, machines of all sorts. A map is providing for easy understanding of the grounds. It is a trek to get across the grounds and would be difficult for someone with mobility issues. Both of my children grew up coming to not only this park, but to Columbia also. Our family has made many trips here over the years. We love combining, education, history and adventure. They host Christmas events here like the Polar Express train ride to North Pole. This was such a spectacular event I brought my daughter to when she was little. We watched the movie the night before. When we arrived in our pajamas for our VIP seat, we stood in line where we were lovingly harassed by actors. We boarding the train after getting a golden ticket! We sat in the back car. Actors were dancing and singing and chasing hobos off the train while we enjoyed a ride and spilled hot cocoa out of polar express keepsake mugs. Arriving at North Pile and seeing the elves and Santa pushed it over the edge for my young daughter. She was beyonnnnnd excited!! Will I return: We always do. There's something incredibly nostalgic about this place!

This review is for the polar express train ride. Let's cut right to the sleigh bells: At a cool $85…read morea pop, this ride definitely costs more than a lump of coal. For my family of three, we signed up for the holiday hype, and while it wasn't exactly perfect, it was certainly an event to remember! Singing Christmas carols was an absolute delight! My personal highlight? The hot chocolate scene. The performers were fantastic, and the cocoa itself was surprisingly delicious & paired with a yummy snickerdoodle cookie. The trip to the North Pole, while blessedly short, felt truly magical. Watching all the kids scramble to one side of the train to catch a glimpse of Santa's HQ was a sight. Now, for the "improvements" section. The train apparently needs a gallon of WD-40. Parts of the ride were punctuated by a noise I can only describe as "ears-piercing squeaky"--a sound that could shatter a candy cane. Also, when the classic Polar Express story was being read, those of us in the back were left playing a fun game called "Can You Hear Me Now?" (Spoiler: We could not). Finally, the outside scenery was less "winter wonderland" and more "passing landscape." It would have been brilliant if they had just added a few festive Christmas decorations along the route. Just a few! We aren't asking for a full-scale holiday village, just something besides barren trees. While our ride came with a few minor mechanical and auditory "features," we still had a magical time. It wasn't perfect, but what ever is?

There were several horseback riding options much closer to us than Dreamor Ranch. This ranch is…read moreabout an hour and a half from us but we knew it was 100% worth traveling a bit further to reach. Their reputation for being incredibly friendly, responsive and laid back was the main draw. They're so great at tailoring the experience to who is going to be riding. I brought along my 10-year-old daughter and they had the perfect size horse prepared for her (Lucky!) and the child sized stirrups, saddle, and helmet. Billy was so helpful, friendly and fun. The trail itself is so gorgeous and beginner friendly. It was a long ride and we actually got a little sore toward the end, toward the 2 hour mark, but absolutely worth getting so much time to ride and enjoy! We will 100% be back!

I'm late posting this review, but I wanted to say thank you to Mindy and Billy…read more My wife did not arrive in the best mood and both Mindy and Billy were incredibly understanding, kind, welcoming - I cannot say enough about how you turned what was a difficult day into a wonderful experience. My wife is a highly skilled rider and she was thrilled with how well-trained the horses were and the wonderful experience we had a Dreamor. I am not a skilled rider and Billy gave me riding tips and instruction on our ride to improve my skills. It was a long ride and a wonderful time. Thank you very much and we hope to visit you again in the future.

Whoa. I've been into…read morethe Sierra Nevada mountain range all my life, so I'm well aware of how rugged and gorgeous it all is. But it seems that the Emigrant Wilderness takes this up a notch. I didn't think this was possible. I bought a backpack last year to take to Channel Islands. Why not use it this year for a semi-major backpacking trip. Of the places I was considering, I narrowed it down to the Emigrant Wilderness. Got my route planned out, and off I went to Kennedy Meadows. I ended up using two trailheads. When I got my wilderness permit, the ranger warned me that snow was blocking a lot of my itinerary. It certainly was. My four days out of Kennedy Meadows turned into only 26 hours. In that 26 hours was jaw-dropping scenery ranging from vast canyons and mountain ranges to pretty seasonal creeks and wildflowers. I camped near Summit Creek, going to sleep with a raging waterfall close by. By now, you're probably thinking of the first few minutes of "The Sound Of Music", and saying "Aw, I wish I was there!" I wish you were too. Be warned that it is pretty strenuous, and you start at 6500 feet. Okay, my second trip: the Crabtree trailhead. I did much less hiking this time, only five miles to Grouse Lake. I didn't need to go any further. The area around Grouse Lake has a lot to see and do: a smallish lake divided by a peninsula, lots of fishing and swimming spots, birds flying and singing, glaciated granite to climb and run on. (And plenty of mosquitoes; bring lots of repellant.) There are other destinations from this trailhead, too; hikers I saw said that they were going to Camp Lake, Bear Lake. It's a remote trailhead, but it filled up on a Saturday afternoon, so beware! A big part of the attraction of the Emigrant Wilderness is that the only "improvements" we've made are trails and the occasional reservoir. Everything else is just as it was when California became a state. It's wild. It does take a bit of effort to get back here. And when you do, you're not disappointed. It's an immersion into the mountains, a place with just you and the Lord, and He rejuvenates your spirit among His handiwork. Dick Proenneke, who lived in solitude near Alaska's Lake Clark, told John Kauffmann for National Geographic, "Mountains are a man's best friends if he only knew it. You hike and climb every day and you don't grow old." (He was 63.) The same can be said for the Emigrant Wilderness. If you get the food situation figured out, you could live here for an entire summer and still not see it all, and still wish you had more time.

Beautiful! We did the Kennedy Lake trail (15 mi) and camped overnight. It was so peaceful!…read moreBeautiful mountains, streams, trees, and wildlife (deer and rabbits). We tried to get to the lake but it was super swampy. It was very cold (30 F in late June so be sure to pack warm stuff! Happy Hiking!