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Shingle Mill Flat Picnic Area

4.0 (1 review)

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10 years ago

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Travertine Hot Spring - Hotspring at the top

Travertine Hot Spring

4.3(142 reviews)
19.1 mi

Amazing natural Hot springs. We stopped by here on our way from Tahoe to Mammoth and really enjoyed…read morethe beautiful scenery and the natural Hot springs which were really awesome. One tip if you get to the main springs try not to go to the one on the right which is the bigger pool because it's more stagnant water and so there were a lot of these red looking worms or maggots swimming in there. The smaller pool on the left is much cleaner as there are two mini waterfalls that are keeping the water circulating and fresh. Anything less than five stars is an injustice so a glowing five stars and two thumbs up for Travertine Hot Springs!

Travertine Hot Spring is one of those rare places that stays with you long after you leave…read more I've been lucky enough to experience this spot in multiple seasons and it truly delivers every single time. Whether it's a crisp winter soak with snow on the ground, a calm spring sunrise, warm summer nights, or the quiet stillness of fall, this place always feels right. What makes it special isn't just the hot springs themselves, but the feeling of escape. At night, the sky opens up, endless stars, the Milky Way glowing above you, and if you're patient (or lucky), shooting stars cutting across the darkness. It's peaceful in a way that's hard to find anymore. This is my favorite place to unplug, reset and breathe. No noise, no rush, just nature doing what it does best. Respect the land, pack out what you bring in and soak it all in. If you're looking for a true Eastern Sierra experience raw, beautiful and unforgettable this is it.

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Travertine Hot Spring
Travertine Hot Spring
Travertine Hot Spring

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Mexican Ditch Trail

Mexican Ditch Trail

4.0(5 reviews)
48.2 mi

Got kids? This is the perfect hike for you!…read more A smooth, flat, wide, dare I say stroller appropriate, 3ish mile trail tracks along the Mexican Ditch and eventually the Carson River, offering opportunities to view nearby livestock, fish, frogs, birds, and reptiles, as well as access to fishing and wading, all as you make your way out to the dam and back. The first stretch starts at what remains of an old ranch where the barn and many buildings are still standing and open to exploration. From there follow the signs to the trail and meander your way down the ditch to a fork where you have the choice to stay high on the loop in the sunshine, make your way along the working ag fields, or head down toward the ribbon of green trees that mark the banks of the Carson River. We took to the trees to escape the sun and loved the cool breeze, birdwatching, and sounds of the rushing water as we made our way. The trail is marked by fencing on both sides, but there are several gaps that allow easy access to the river where you can fish or wade, depending on the movement of the water. At the backside of the loop you can extend your hike by following the river trail all the way up to the Mexican dam, which will make the out and back hit the 3 mile mark. We had little legs that ran out of steam so we turned back about a half mile from there and returned along the backside of the loop to our truck parked at the ranch. All in all a great find for family fun!

This is probably our favorite trail within Carson. It is about 3 1/2 miles round trip to the dam…read more It is very kid and family friendly as the trail is hard packed with only a very slight rise to the dam. It also has great scenery with the Carson river on one side and pastures on the other side when you start out that eventually are replaced by the Mexican ditch. Can catch the trail head from the Silver Saddle ranch or from the Carson River park. Both are about the same distance from the dam. We prefer the Carson River trail head as it has a nice parking lot with a few picnic tables, and walks along the river when you start. Please know my pics are during the record setting winter we have had in 16/17, and so the river is really flowing strong! The river has overflowed its banks a few times this year so the trail does have parts that are a little washed out or muddy right now but nothing too bad. Usually there is not this much water flowing this fast over the dam which is great to see!

Photos
Mexican Ditch Trail - The dam on 2/27/21

The dam on 2/27/21

Mexican Ditch Trail - Trailhead from the Carson River Park

Trailhead from the Carson River Park

Mexican Ditch Trail

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Dorrington-Stanislaus National Forest

Dorrington-Stanislaus National Forest

4.7(3 reviews)
45.3 mi

Great little place to go and try to reel in some trout when the water flow allows....picnic…read moretables,bathroom are also available...when the river flow lightens up you'll see people playing in the water here... a very popular jeep 4x4 trail entrance is also here.

This is a roadside snow play area off Highway 4 about a couple miles pass the town of Dorrington…read more If you are heading east on Hwy 4 it will be on your left. There is a wide area for parking and it is where the Dorrington-National Forest sign is located. We tried to get a snow park permit for $5 at SNAC in Arnold but they were closed Christmas Day--duh! You can always get one in advance online. Our family was on our way to Spicer Sno-Park on Christmas Day when it began to snow heavily as we passed the town of Dorrington. My parents were getting a little nervous about being stranded in the snow-- saying we should probably turn around, but we didn't want to let the kids down so we kept pushing forward. A couple miles after passing Camp Connell, we see a line of parked cars on the left side of the highway with a bunch of sledders going downhill. There were about 12 cars parked and many more cars pulled up after we did. I was surprised to see a few families traveling from the bay area. Thinking that my snow paranoid parents would not want to go half an hour more in elevation, we decided to stop and just let the kiddies play in this area. I am very glad we did as it was an awesome area for snow play. It is a wide area and the hill is pretty high enough to get some fun sledding action. Adults and children alike were screaming with glee. This is about one and half hour drive from the Central Valley so it is quite closer than Tahoe. Although it isn't as picturesque or gorgeous as Tahoe, it is a convenient location for snow play. There was NO TRAFFIC on the highway and the road and conditions were not as treacherous. AND it is not as busy and congested as Tahoe. Perfect for kiddies..

Photos
Dorrington-Stanislaus National Forest - Board's crossing

Board's crossing

Dorrington-Stanislaus National Forest
Dorrington-Stanislaus National Forest

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Calaveras Big Trees State Park - "All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The squirrel found a nut, and the nut was good."--Julia Donaldson

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

4.6(388 reviews)
47.4 mi

Beautiful park! We hiked around the North Grove and it was wonderful. The park is one of the most…read morewell maintained parks I have experienced. There is also a cute food truck near the visitor center that had the best garlic fries I have ever had. North Grove was really great for families with smaller kids. The hike wasn't too strenuous. We did the Overlook trail and it was around 2 miles. The kids had a few stops for snacks along the way but overall it was great for them.

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....

Photos
Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - "All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The squirrel found a nut and the nut was good."--Julia Donaldson

"All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The squirrel found a nut and the nut was good."--Julia Donaldson

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Berrys from a female yew tree which grow in the grove.

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Berrys from a female yew tree which grow in the grove.

Shingle Mill Flat Picnic Area - parks - Updated June 2026

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