Stanislaus National Forest

Stanislaus National Forest is a recreational paradise. Located near Yosemite National Park, this forest enables you to enjoy nature without crowds.

With over 800 miles of rivers and streams, Stanislaus National Forest is the perfect place for you to relax by fishing, camping, backcountry hiking, swimming, horseback riding, and enjoying the spectacular scenery. It has 1,100 miles (1,770 km) of non-motorized trails and 2,859 miles (4,601 km) of roads. Stanislaus National Forest is one of the oldest national forests in the US in Northern California.

Where is Stanislaus National Forest

Stanislaus National Forest is spread across four counties (eastern Tuolumne County, eastern Calaveras County, northern Mariposa County, and southern Alpine County) in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Check this California National Parks Map to find Stanislaus National Forest on the California Map.

Places to Visit Nearby

• Yosemite Family Adventures
• Sierra Mac River Trips
• Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
• Merced Grove
• Carlon Falls Trail
• Rainbow Pool
• El Portal Market
• Parsons Memorial
• Elizabeth Lake
• Yosemite Valley Railroad

Things to Do

• Mountain Biking
• Camping
  • Campground Camping
  • Dispersed Camping
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Horse Camping
  • OHV Camping
• Fishing
  • Lake and Pond Fishing
  • River and Stream Fishing
• Backpacking
• Day Hiking
• Horse Riding
• Hunting
• OHV Road Riding
• OHV Trail Riding
• Outdoor Learning
  • Summer Interpretive Programs
  • Self-Guided Visitor Activities
  • Natural Resources and Environmental Education
• Picnicking
• Scenic Driving
• Water Activities
  • Boating – Motorized and Non-Motorized
  • Swimming
  • Waterskiing
  • Windsurfing
• Winter Sports
  • Skiing/Snowboarding
  • Sledding/Tubing
  • Snowmobiling
  • XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

Best Hikes

1. Cleo’s Bath Trail via Pinecrest Lake Loop

   It is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) long, heavily trafficked loop trail that is situated near California’s Pinecrest. This difficult trail will take you more than three and a half hours to complete. Enjoy great views of the lake and your hike along a river, wading pool, and waterfall area.

2. Crabtree Trail to Bear Lake

   Crabtree Trail to Bear Lake is a moderately challenging hiking trail that takes you to the beautiful Bear Lake. To complete this 8.3 mi (13.4 km) long trail, it’ll take you around four hours. Located near California’s Mi Wuk Village, enjoy the wonderful forest setting.

3. Arnold Rim Trail

   This moderately challenging trail is 7.9 mi (12.7 km) long and will take you more than four hours to complete. Arnold Rim Trail is a heavily trafficked out and back trail near California’s Arnold that remains accessible throughout the year.

4. Pinecrest Lake Loop

   Pinecrest Lake Loop is a heavily trafficked loop trail of 3.9 mi (6.3 km) located near California’s Strawberry. To complete the trail, it’ll take you around 2 hours. It is best for hiking, fishing, camping, and running.

5. Cougar Rock Loop via Cowell Creek and Arnold Rim Trail

   Cougar Rock Loop via Cowell Creek and Arnold Rim Trail is a moderately challenging loop trail that is situated in California’s Avery. This well-marked trail is best for use from April to November. It will take you around two and half hours to complete the trail.

List of Trails for day hiking, backpacking, and bicycling:

• Highway 108 Corridor: Backpacking and Day Hiking
  • Trailheads – Highway 108 Corridor
    • Summit Ranger District Trailheads
      • Arnot Creek TH
      • Bell Meadow TH
      • Clark Fork TH
      • County Line TH
      • Coyote Meadows TH
      • Crabtree TH
      • Disaster Creek TH
      • Gianelli TH
      • Kennedy Meadows TH
      • Seven Pines TH
      • Sonora Pass TH
      • St. Marys Pass TH
      • Waterhouse TH
      • Wheats Meadow TH

• Highway 108 Corridor: Backpacking

  • Carson-Iceberg Wilderness – Highway 108 Access
  • Emigrant Wilderness

• Highway 108 Corridor: Day Hiking

  • Trails – Highway 108 Corridor
    • Mi Wok Ranger District Trails
      • Sugar Pine Railway – Fraser to Lyons
      • West Side Railroad Grade
      • Westside Rails to Trails
    • Summit Ranger District Trails
      • Columns of the Giants
      • Donnell Vista
      • Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail
      • Shadow of the Mi-Wok
      • Sugar Pine Railway – Strawberry to Fraser
      • Trail of the Gargoyles

• Highway 108 Corridor: Mountain Biking

  • Trails – Highway 108 Corridor
    • Mi Wok Ranger District Trails
      • Sugar Pine Railway – Fraser to Lyons
  • Summit Ranger District Trails
    • Sugar Pine Railway – Strawberry to Fraser

• Highway 120 Corridor: Backpacking

  • Trails – Highway 120 Corridor

• Highway 120 Corridor: Day Hiking
  • Campgrounds – Highway 120 Corridor
    • Cherry Valley Campground
    • Dimond O Campground
    • Lost Claim Campground
    • Lumsden Bridge Campground
    • Lumsden Campground
    • Pines Campground
    • South Fork Campground
  • Day Use Areas – Highway 120 Corridor
    • Carlon Day Use Area
    • Trumbull Peak Special Interest Area
  • Lakes and Rivers – Highway 120 Corridor
    • Cherry Lake Boat Launch
    • Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River
  • Trails – Highway 120 Corridor
    • Andresen Mine Trail
    • Carlon Falls Trail
    • Hamby Trail
    • Indian Creek Trail
    • Little Golden Forest Trail
    • Mohican Mine Trail
    • Preston Falls Trail
    • Tuolumne River Canyon Trail

• Highway 4 Corridor: Backpacking and Day Hiking

  • Carson-Iceberg Wilderness – Highway 4 Access
    • Elephant Rock Lake Trailhead
      • Rock Lake Trail
  • Gardner Meadow Trailhead
    • Asa Lake/ Lower Gardner Meadow Trail
    • Upper Gardner Meadow Trail
  • Highland Creek Trailhead (at Highland Lakes)
    • Highland Creek Trail (Highland Creek Trailhead)
  • Mosquito Lakes Trailhead
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Mosquito Lakes Trailhead)
    • Heiser Lake Trail
    • Mosquito Lakes to Pacific Valley/ MCCT Trail
      • Mosquito Lks to PacificV/MCCT (Mosq Lks Trailhead)
      • Mosquito Lks to PacificV/MCCT (PacificV Trailhead)
  • Pacific Valley Trailhead
    • Bull Run Creek Trail
  • Silver Valley Trailhead-Carson Iceberg Wilderness
  • Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead
    • Bull Run Lake Trail
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead)
  • Summit Lake/ Mud Lake Trailhead
  • Tryon Meadow Trailhead
    • Milk Ranch Meadow Trail
  • Wheats Meadow Trailhead (Spicer Dam Side)(CIW)
  • Hermit Valley
  • Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (MCCT)
  • Mokelumne Wilderness
    • Deer Creek Trail
    • Deer Valley/ Stevenot Camp Trailhead
    • Lake Valley Trailhead
      • Camp Irene Trail
    • Sandy Meadow Trailhead
      • Sandy Meadow Trail
    • Woodchuck Basin Trailhead
      • Wheeler Ridge/ Wheeler Lake Trail
  • Spicer Reservoir
    • Spicer Sand Flat Trailhead (at Spicer Reservoir)
    • Wheats Meadow Trailhead (Spicer Dam side)

• Highway 4 Corridor: Backpacking

  • Hermit Valley
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Emigrant West Trailhead)
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Lakeshore Trailhead)
  • Silver Valley Trailhead
    • Duck Lake Trail
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Silver Valley Trailhead)
    • Highland Creek Trail (Silver Valley Trailhead)
    • Rock Lake Trail (from Silver Valley Trailhead)

• Highway 4 Corridor: Day Hiking

  • Arnold Rim Trail
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Cedar Center Trailhead
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Logging Museum Trailhead-Arnold
    • Arnold Rim Trail – San Domingo Southern Trailhead
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Sheep Ranch Rd & Valley View Dr
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Sheep Ranch Road & 4N41Y
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Valley View Drive Trailhead
  • Highland Lakes
  • Lake Alpine Recreation Area
    • Alpine Bypass Trail
    • Bear Valley to Lake Alpine Trail
    • Bee Gulch Trailhead
      • Bee Gulch Trail
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Emigrant West Trailhead)
    • Lakeshore Trail/ Inspiration Point Trailhead
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Lakeshore Trailhead)
      • Inspiration Point Trail
      • Lakeshore Trail
    • Osborne Ridge Trail
    • Silver Valley Trailhead
      • Duck Lake Trail
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Silver Valley Trailhead)
      • Highland Creek Trail (Silver Valley Trailhead)
      • Rock Lake Trail (from Silver Valley Trailhead)
    • Utica/Union Reservoirs
      • Union East Campground
        • Union East Campground to Elephant Rock Lake Trail
      • Union West Campground

• Highway 4 Corridor: Mountain Biking

  • Arnold Rim Trail
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Cedar Center Trailhead
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Logging Museum Trailhead-Arnold
    • Arnold Rim Trail – San Domingo Southern Trailhead
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Sheep Ranch Rd & Valley View Dr
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Sheep Ranch Road & 4N41Y
    • Arnold Rim Trail – Valley View Drive Trailhead
    • Mosquito Lakes Trailhead
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Mosquito Lakes Trailhead)
      • Mosquito Lakes to Pacific Valley/ MCCT Trail
        • Mosquito Lks to PacificV/MCCT (Mosq Lks Trailhead)
        • Mosquito Lks to PacificV/MCCT (PacificV Trailhead)
    • Pacific Valley Trailhead
    • Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead)
  • Lake Alpine Recreation Area
    • Alpine Bypass Trail
    • Bear Valley to Lake Alpine Trail
    • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Emigrant West Trailhead)
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Lakeshore Trailhead)
      • Lakeshore Trail
      • Emigrant/ MCCT Trail (Silver Valley Trailhead)
  • Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (MCCT)
    • Spicer Sand Flat Trailhead (at Spicer Reservoir)
    • Wheats Meadow Trailhead (Spicer Dam side)
  • Utica/Union Reservoirs
    • Union East Campground
      • Union East Campground to Elephant Rock Lake Trail

Facts

• Stanislaus National Forest is spread across a total area of 898,099 acres (1,403 sq mi or 3,634 sq km).
• It was established on February 22, 1897.
• There are 78 lakes and 811 miles (1,305.2 km) of rivers and streams in this forest.
• Stanislaus National Forest has four Ranger Districts:
  • Groveland District
    • Highway Route 120
  • Mi-Wok District
    • Highway Route 108
  • Summit Ranger District
    • Highway Route 108
  • Calaveras Ranger District
    • Highway Route 4

Best Time To Visit

June to September is the best time to visit Stanislaus National Forest.

Visiting Hours

It remains open round the year.

• Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office

Hours: Mon-Fri (8.30 am to 4 pm)

• Summit Miwok District

Hours: Mon-Fri (9 am to 4 pm)

• Calaveras District

Hours: Mon-Fri (9.30 am to 3:30 pm)

• Groveland District

Hours: Mon-Fri (8.30 am to 4 pm)

Tickets

• Interagency Annual Pass: US$80
• Interagency Senior Pass:
  • Annual Senior Pass: US$20
  • Lifetime Senior Pass: US$80
• Interagency Military Pass: Free
• Interagency Volunteer Pass: Free
• Every Kid Outdoors: 4th Graders: Free

US National Parks Map