Tag Archives: sierra

Snow Towns in California

snow towns

People visit higher elevation towns & parks just to hang out in the snow. Ski resorts are plentiful, but not every snowy town has a ski lift. They may just have a great sledding hill or a big meadow to cross country ski.

Elevations range from 4000′-9000′ above sea level.

Most California snow locations have a wide variety of outdoor recreation, lodging, restaurants, shops. Cute cabins to rent for that upcoming weekend get-away. Or that week-long fishing trip. But with millions people in the state you better make overnight reservations in advance.
snow
California WINTERS:
When does winter actually ‘set in’ for California?

eastern sierra: OCT- APR
western sierra: NOV- APR
high sierra: OCT- MAY
northern coast: OCT- MAY
northeast: OCT- APR

snow

Winter Recreation in California

winter road conditions
California Road Conditions

CALIFORNIA SNO-PARKS: Locations listed below with California State Snow Parks nearby, are listed in bold.

sledding

SoCal Snow

While Southern California doesn’t receive nearly the amount of snow that the rest of the state gets, it does on occasion get some winter storm precipitation. Perhaps just a winter dusting, or maybe a few inches, but sledding families usually enjoy it. For real snow skiing opportunities, head to the Sierras!

Angeles National Forest
Angelus Oaks
Big Bear City
Big Bear Lake
Cleveland National Forest
Fawnskin
Frazier Park
Idyllwild
Julian
Laguna Mountain
Lake Arrowhead
Los Padres National Forest
Palomar Mountain
Pine Cove
Pine Mountain
Ramona
Running Springs
San Bernardino National Forest
Sky Forest
Twin Peaks
Wrightwood

huntington lake

Sierra Nevada Snow

Arnold
Aspendell
Avery
Bear Valley
Blairsden
Blue Lakes
Bridgeport
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Camp Nelson
Convict Lake
Dorrington
Downieville
El Dorado National Forest
Fish Camp
Hume Lake
Huntington Lake
Inyo National Forest
Kirkwood
June Lake
Lakeshore
Lake Tahoe
Mammoth Lakes
Markleeville
Norden
Pinecrest
Plumas National Forest
Ponderosa
Rock Creek Canyon
Sequoia National Park
Shaver Lake
Sierra City
Sierra National Forest
Sierra Nevada Mountains
Stanislaus National Forest
Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe City
Tahoe Vista
Tahoma
Toiyabe National Forest
Tom’s Place
Truckee
Twain Harte
Twin Lakes
Yosemite
Yosemite National Park

sierrasnowbelt
Sierra Snowbelt

snowmo

NorCal Snow

Blairsden
Bucks Lake
Burney
Butte Meadows
Cedarville
Chester
Childs Meadow
Etna
Fall River Mills
Fort Jones
Gold Lake
Graeagle
Greenville
Happy Camp
Inskip
Klamath National Forest
Lake Almanor
Lassen National Forest
Lassen Volcanic National Park
McCloud
Mill Creek
Mineral
Mount Shasta
Portola
Quincy
Shasta Trinity National Forest
Shingletown
Six Rivers National Forest
Soda Springs
South Lake Tahoe
Trinity Center
Trinity Lake
Westwood

snow towns california

Yuba River California

unionflatyuba
North fork Yuba River @ Union Flat Campground

Yuba River

Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains
Tahoe National Forest
North Gold Country @ Historic Highway 49
Marysville, California

Historic ‘gold rush’ mining camps and towns line this popular recreation river in the Northern Sierra. Numerous State Parks, museums, and campgrounds can be found along this route, in which Tahoe National Forest land encompasses the whole region.

North fork of the Yuba River lines Historic Highway 49, on the way to Downieville and Sierra City, CA. Plenty of camping in these parts.  Lakes Basin Recreation Area  is located up behind the impressive granite spires called Sierra Buttes and this area is the headwaters for this portion of the river.

New Bullards Bar Reservoir is also located in these parts, and offers camping and boating w/ very limited shoreline access.

Middle fork of the Yuba River cuts through the residential mountain community on Moonshine Road, and ends up in Lake Bullards Bar; The rest of the middle fork flows through remote forest lands and is only crossed by one dirt road #191 in Tahoe NF.

South fork of the Yuba River flows from the far heights of Donner Pass and I-80; near Lake Spaulding. Passing Washington Ridge; northeast of Nevada City; and North Bloomfield @ Malakoff Diggins continuing down to Bridgeport @ South YUBA – where the longest wooden, covered bridge is located. Numerous old, one-lane bridges cross this southern fork of the river, and the region can take years to explore. Lots of residential and private properties.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a campground way back here, the CHEAPEST CAMP around; Look for signs, along the dusty North Bloomfield Rd (graded dirt road) about a mile UP hill from rickety Edwards Crossing (pictured below).

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Edwards Crossing Bridge, built 1898

soyubaBLMsign

South Yuba State Park, located along the Golden Chain Hwy 49, is a short drive up Hwy 4 from Nevada City and a very popular spot for sightseeing, day hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and riverside picnics. The parking lot at the large curved bridge fills up fast, daily. Pedestrians and hikers are always seen here, so slow down driving along this portion of the highway.

The big river forks all join west of Grass Valley, heading down the mountains, paralleling Hwy 20 to Marysville, CA

northyuba
North Yuba near Downieville, CA

Yuba River Recreation

Backpackinghiker
Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Kayaking
Reservoirs

Mining History
Mountain Biking

Off-Roading
Picnics

Rafting
Tubing
Sightseeing

Forests, Lakes & Parks along this River:

Tahoe National Forest
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
BLM South Yuba Recreation
Bridgeport Covered Bridge
Kentucky Mine Museum
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
New Bullards Bar Reservoir
Englebright Lake
South Yuba River State Parkyubariver

Yuba River Camping

Campgrounds along Yuba River:camp

Fiddle Creek Campground
Indian Valley Campground
Rocky Rest Campground
Ramshorn Campground
Union Flat Campground
Loganville Campground
Wild Plum Campground
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Chute Hill (Shooter Hill Campground)
South Yuba BLM Campground

Lakes Basin Campgrounds: Gold Lake, Sardine, Salmon, Snag, Goose, Packer, Long, Big Bear, Jamison, Smith

MainStreet
Main Street in Sierra City, CA

The historic river town of Sierra City is defined by the North Yuba River that cuts through the granite, forested canyon. Granite towers above and snow is around more than half the year.

The river is free-running up here; Sierra City is only about 10 miles below the headwaters of the Yuba, at Lakes Basin Gold Lake California. In spring, runoff is pure Class 5 whitewater. Wild Plum Campground is walking distance to town.

camptruckFree primitive camping on dirt roads, can be found way up near the Bassetts intersection. Opposite from Gold Lake Hwy – turn RIGHT (south) on to logging roads: Forest Rd #54 (long ridge route, all dirt) and club into the forest. Drive a several miles up to any large dirt pulls out. Passenger car accessible road; No low riders. Carry a good forest map. Many primitive camp spots have wide openings with views of the Sierra Buttes and crystal clear night skies. Wind can get bad on this mountain ridge, so pick your camp spot with that in mind.

Epic view camp – or expensive river camp? (you choose). Campfire permit are required for camping outside of developed campgrounds. Bring your own water and shovel!

sierra buttes
Looking North to Sierra Buttes

Towns nearby & along Yuba River:

Allegheny, CA
Bridgeport, CA
Brown’s Valley
Downieville, CA
Goodyears Bar
Gold Lake California

Marysville, CA
Nevada City, CA
North Bloomfield
North San Juan
Sierra City, CA
Yuba City, CA

downierivers
Downieville, CA
southyubariver
south yuba river map USDA

Maps near this River:

Tahoe National Forest Map
South Yuba River Map
Lakes Basin Recreation Map
NatGeo Sierra Buttes Map
Tahoe Forest 4×4 Guide

bridgeportint
Bridgeport Covered Bridge, South Yuba River SP
bridgeportplaq
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
southyubariver
South Yuba River, California

Mountain Home Sequoia

Mountain Home State Forest
Mountain Home Sequoias

2022 – THIS FOREST may be CLOSED,
due to the Castle Fire 2020

mtnhome

North of the Giant Sequoia , above the Western Divide Highway (CA 190) sits a little known Sequoia Park called Mountain Home. This lush forested area separates the Sequoia National Park (to the north) from the Giant Sequoia National Monument  (to the south).

Mountain Home is just up the mountain from the West Sierra river town of Springville, CA

horseback

Western Sierra Nevada

In part of the vast Sequoia National Forest, lies a hidden gem of State Forest land worth visiting. Waterfalls, the Tule River, fishing ponds, campgrounds and easy access to Golden Trout Wilderness trails.

MHDSF

The official name of this forest: Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest is quite a mouth full, so most just call it “Mountain Home”. In short MHDSF is managed by Cal-Fire and the California State Park system.

the Largest old growth Sequoias in the state!

Numerous awesome Campgrounds can be found near the Sequoia groves, the Tule River, hiking trailheads, fishing, waterfalls. Balch Park is the County Park, listed below.

    • Sequoia Backpacking
    • Sequoia Backroads
    • Sequoia Campgrounds
    • Sequoia Groves
    • Fishing Pond
    • Hiking Trails
    • Horseback Trails
    • Mountain Biking
    • Tule River
    • Waterfalls
    • Wilderness
    • Wildflowers

Balch Park Sequoia
located within the Mountain Home State Forest is a popular destination for the locals and families. Balch Park Campground is paved and RV accessible. 71 campsites, on first come basis.

fishin
Small pond fishing near Balch Park

Meadows, mountain peaks, streams, waterfalls, huge granite rocks & cliffs are all over. Plus some secluded groves of Giant Sequoia trees. Mosquitos can be annoying in these parts, so bring the chemical warfare and the screen room tent.snow

Roads Open: May – October
Forest mountain roads close annually, due to winter snow

meadows

SEQUOIA_map
SEQUOIA NF MAP

Area activities include:

Backpacking
Back Road Exploration
Campground Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Meadows
Mountain Biking
Picnic
Sequoia Groves
Swimming Holes
Tule River (North Fork)
Golden Trout Wilderness

USDA Forest Service Map is highly advised for this area. There are many dirt roads & numerous trails. Minimal cell phone signal inside these dense forests and large granite river canyons. GPS even has trouble getting connected, due to the immense canopy of trees.

Mountain Home Backpacking

hikerShake Camp – Best hiking trail access to Golden Trout Wilderness

In the backcountry, tent camping is allowed any place on soil 100 feet from trail or water. No camping on meadows. Ground fires are very allowed with fire permit. Use existing camp site when available. Check with the correct ranger district for all back country camping rules. Wilderness permits are needed for backpackers and horse packers staying overnight in the wilderness area.

Local Ranger Stations:

TH_GoldenTroutSQ
Golden Trout Trail Maps

Sequoia USFS Headquarters
Porterville, CA
559-784-1500

Tule River Ranger District
Springville, CA
559-539-2607

Mountain Home Backroads

Dirt back roads are so narrow they cannot accommodate the large motorhome or RV traveler.  Trucks pulling horse trailers are common, with very few options for a pull-out to pass.

This forested area is filled with old logging roads that lead to lush Sequoia groves & meadows.  The whole network of forest roads back here either –  loop back to each other, or deal end, often at a trailhead parking area. No roads connect through to any other portion of the Sierra range. Golden Trout Wilderness is a road-less area of the Southern Sierra Nevada.

Signs Not Reflective

The old skool, painted, wooden road signs do not READ well at night, so avoid arriving in the dark.

When it’s dark outside, it is best to STOP: Shut off the vehicle, get out and take a stretch break,  find the north star; Get your bearing straight, look at the real map with a flashlight – before driving miles to an unknown destination, just to turn around.

Be very aware of the Forest Service signage, use your trip meter for clocking mileage. Have a good map on hand. See MAP ABOVE.  It is very easy to get lost in this forest and you may end up driving for hours, maybe in circles. I swear this intersection looks familiar.

Road Signs

Mountain Home Campgrounds 

camp

Balch and Frazier are the two larger, developed campgrounds; all others are smaller camps w/ primitive facilities.

NOTE: all the Campgrounds in this forest now charge an overnight fee for camping. (Decades ago they were free, but not anymore.)

Balch Park Campground
Frazier Mill Campground
Hedrick Pond Camp

Hidden Falls Campground
Moses Gulch Campground
Shake Camp

campground elev. spots toilet water nearby comments
Moses Gulch 5500′ 10 pit river Tule River no trailers
Hidden Falls 6150′ 8 pit river Tule River no trailers
Shake Camp 6490′ 11 pit piped Golden Trout
Wilderness
backpack & horse trailhead
Hedrick Pond 6200′ 14 vault piped fishing pond RV ok; no hookups
Frazier Mill 6150′ 46 pit piped Sequoia Grove RV ok; no hookups
Balch Park 6000′ 71 flush piped fishing pond Tulare County Park

Frasier Mill Campground is spelled w/ a Z (like Frazier)on many printed maps and inside some camping books, but the proper spelling (on a sign at the campground) is actually Frasier w/ an S. This camp is located at the site of an old lumber mill. Meadows, trailheads, picnic areas, parking.

Decent signage leads to smaller, secluded campgrounds and hiking trail heads. Dirt road driving will be required. See BACKROADS (above heading) for tips on back road driving and night time arrivals.

Plenty of trails for horses back in these parts, most of them lead to Golden Trout Wilderness. Watch out for oncoming vehicles with horse trailers!

No primitive camping outside of developed campgrounds. Due to fire dangers around these majestic Sequoia trees. You must camp within the designated campground, or HOOF IT into the the wilderness for backpacking.

Mountain Home Hiking

hikerNumerous trails around each campground area will lead to the waters edge @ Tule River; into the Golden Trout Wilderness (for longer day hikes), along creeks w/ wildflowers, near lush meadows or through Giant Sequoia Groves.

Deer Ridge & Bogus Meadow Hike

Mountain Home Biking

Bikes are limited to existing paved and dirt roads; NO SINGLE TRACK trails for mountain bikers – due to the fragile, shallow roots of Sequoia groves, and the direct access to Wilderness.  NO bikes in the Golden Trout Wild!

coldriver
Cold Swimming Hole

mtnhomesign

Nearby towns:

Camp Nelson, CA
Ponderosa, CA
Porterville, CA
Springville, CA



Tule River California

minifallstule

Tule River

Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills
Great Western Divide

2021 – MUCH OF THIS RIVER may be INACCESSIBLE,
due to the Castle Fire 2020

dunk

One of the smallest rivers in the Sierra Nevada, the Tule River has three forks and is located within Tulare County. Tule drains the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Great Western Divide, part of the Sierra Nevada range. California Highway 190 connects the upper elevations of the Giant Sequoia to the farm town of Porterville. Tule River parallels this main Sierra highway as it flows west into the Central Valley.

Inside Mountain Home State Forest – Hidden Falls & Moses Gulch Campgrounds, both have small waterfalls & swimming holes. Dirt roads access these back woods camp spots, but they are both popular among the locals in summer months. Off season is best for minimal crowds. Mosquitoes can be fierce; bring the repellent or a screen room.

h20cooltule

Clear, cold, snowmelt water, flowing west – out of the Golden Trout Wilderness. Deep within the Western Sierra Nevada, lined with granite cliffs and neighboring the oldest Sequoia groves, the north fork of the Tule River descends down the forested canyons to meet the oak-land foothills at Springville, CA.

hidden falls
hidden falls

Tule River Camping

Campgrounds along Tule River:camp

 (South Fork)

  • Coy Flat Campground
  • Onion Meadow @ Western Divide
    Forest Road #21N93 – Giant Sequoia NM
  • Tule River Tribal Lands (private)
  • Tule Recreation Area @ Success Lake

(Middle Fork)

SEQUOIA_map
SEQUOIA NF MAP

(North Fork)

mtnhomesign

Forests, Lakes & Parks along Tule River:

tuleriverintown
Tule River in town: Springville, California

Towns & communities along this River:

Camp Nelson, CA
Pierpoint Springs, CA
Springville, CA
Tule River Tribe (South Fork)
Porterville, CA

springville gazebo
Springville, CA

Maps along the Tule River:

Golden Trout Maps
Sequoia National Forest Map
Sequoia Forest Atlas

TH_GoldenTroutSQ
Golden Trout Trail Map

hiker

Golden Trout Wilderness

backpacking, hiking, horse packing, fishing in the Great Western Divide

Mountaineering routes and hiking in Tule River Canyons

tuleshade