My first time visiting this National Forest…read more An absolutely beautiful and clean park. There's a lot to see and a lot to do. One day isn't enough when visiting the park. I visited Pinecrest lake and Rainbow Pool. The lake wasn't for me. However, there is plenty of parking. BBQ and picnic areas. Several restrooms. I saw kids swimming in the lake, and boaters enjoying the lake and scenery. Free entrance and parking. Day visit. The Rainbow Pool was it for me. I heard, the water is cold, but on this date with the temperature being 101, the water was perfect. I saw kids jumping from a high distance into a pool below. The river moves fast. I found it best to wear water shoes as the rocks in the river are slippery. Entrance and parking equals to $10 (cash). There's only 20 parking spaces in the lot. Driving up toward the exit, there are a few spaces on the side of the road. They're marked. I had to park on top of the hill where there was plenty of space. Definitely recommend Rainbow Pool. I wanted to visit Diana Pool, also but no time.

Great place to explore/hike/fish/hunt. Be prepared and safe…read more Research on the fact.usda.gov sometimes needs a little more clarification. If you're going to overnight, confirm with the ranger stations on if you need a wilderness permit (free) which can not be ordered online and only available at all 4 ranger stations. What really sucks is that the ranger districts don't know much about the areas in all regions,only the area they oversee, and they will not answer your question relating to an area they are not assigned, they'll defer you to the correct station to answer your questions: Summit (all areas need a wilderness permit for overnight, but not when you're exploring during the day) I felt the lady who answered my questions from this station was kind of curt with me. She may need to get some training on customer service or choose a new line of work if she doesn't want to answer phone calls. Calaveras (some areas) call to confirm if the area you're going to overnight at may need it. Groveland (some areas) call to confirm if the area you're going to overnight at may need it. If you last minute decide to overnight, the permits can be collected at a self service area for when the stations are closed.

Whenever I'm driving down CA-120, I always try to make it a point to stop at this vista point. The…read moreviews of Don Pedro Lake from this vista are just simply incredible! There's a large parking lot that seems to never be full when I come here, and plenty of places to take in the gorgeous views. You can also see the Jacksonville Bridge in the distance. There's a small hiking trail that will take you to the top of the hill. I've never had enough time to actually hike it all the way to the top, but the Jacksonville Bridge is clearly viewable from the trail. There's lots of dry brush depending on the time of season that you go and this trail doesn't seem to be maintained on a regular basis. Just be prepared to have a few pieces of the dry brush stick to your socks and clothes. At any given time, you'll see people kayaking and sailing their boats on the lake. This vista point doesn't grant actual access to the lake, but you can pay $10 (per standard vehicle) for full access at the nearby Moccasin Point Marina Recreation. This vista point is an excellent spot to catch a beautiful sunrise and sunset. I've usually come here on the way to and from Yosemite, so I've had the pleasure of seeing both. It's definitely worth a stop if you're passing through the area.

Love this place. Spent a few hours here on the way to Yosemite. There are a lot more house boats…read morethan I remember, but it's been years since I've been here. I only wish there were more shade trees Great place to spend some time to unwind

A great park to lounge and enjoy a picnic before or after embarking on the Dragoon Gulch trail…read more Woods Creek Rotary Park is a fantastic park for all ages. It has a playground, BBQ pits, picnic tables, and a baseball field. It's lined by elms - as well as a year-round creek. I came here a couple of weeks back to meet up with some friends and I was thoroughly impressed with it's accessibility. I was particularly appreciative of their public bathrooms. The grounds are well maintained, it's fairly easy to park nearby, and there's a nice combination of shady and sunny areas. I look forward to manifesting more adventures here. Trust.

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!

This particular park is a gem. It's a fantastic spot to enjoy a casual walk, an afternoon picnic,…read moreand a mid-day hula-hooping session. It's a lovely peaceful spot to bring your dog, to bring your kids, to play horse-shoe, and you can even view a magical railway from 1899. West Side Memorial Park hosts a variety of activities throughout the year from local fairs, flea markets, a farmer's market, music concerts, exercise activities - and much more. It's located right by the Veterans Memorial Hall - which is also a fantastic and historical resource for the community. Parking is easy (though I'm sure it can get challenging for busier events) - and it's in walking distance to many wonderful local Sonora stores - which is an additional plus - if you're looking to bask in the fresh autumn air on a mellow day. Trust.

This is a great place to stop on your way to and/or from Yosemite. There is some information on the…read moreRim Fire of August 2013 here. It was a little eerie standing here in the middle of where the Rim Fire had swept through. Still, a good place to stop, stretch your legs and enjoy some views of the hill-sides.

I think Sarah is missing the point that there is no service at this place. It is a scenic…read moreoverlook. Neil not too sure how a scenic overlook can discriminate over someone's non-disability related choices. Great view. Stop by anytime for a family photo on the way to of leaving Yosemite on 120.

Moccasin Point Marina has the best staff, they're always so kind and helpful! Ray's helped us get…read moreour boat started on more than a few occasions and saved the day. They've also just added a black stone to hold cookouts on the dock! Thank you Ray, and the rest of the staff you guys are awesome!!

This is our first season having a slip for our boat and I can not say enough about the service!…read more These guys and gal are always there with a smile and a helping hand. We have been grateful for their help a few times already. I would like to give a big shout out to Matthew! He is such a great guy and goes above and beyond. He came out to help when our boat wouldn't start, he troubleshooted and replaced the battery for us in minutes! Saved my Birthday lake day!!

If you're looking for a mellow place to relax after an afternoon strolling around downtown Sonora -…read morecheck out Coffill Park. It's a lovely little area - that is well lit at night- with convenient benches and well maintained bathrooms. I met up with some folks here yesterday and I had a great time. My husband was able to easily drop me off downtown and I loved how close this charming park is to the rest of the Sonora strip of stores. We weren't here too late or too long - but I felt safe throughout my time here and wouldn't hesitate to organize another fun gathering here in the future. Trust.