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..

A beautiful spot to kayak, SUP and fish. Parking can be challenging, depending on the weather,…read morelocation you choose and time of the year. Because the lakes are tucked back into the woods and off the paved road, it might be difficult for some, depending on your vehicle. Although it is a dirt road for several miles, it is maintained in great condition and should be passable by most cars. I recommend both lakes, but since you're in the area, Spicer lake is also very close, and much larger.

My pictures do not even come close to documenting just how pretty this place is. I'll have to…read moreremember my waterproof case next time so I can take pictures beyond the shore. At any rate, these reservoirs are nothing short of awesome. Totally non-motorized and crystal clear water - this is a paddler's paradise. There are plenty of spots along the shoreline and throughout the many granite islands to camp out and enjoy. The west side of Utica also features a shallower, swimming hole-like section with large slabs of granite to lay out and enjoy the sun. This was the perfect place to relax after SUPing around the lake. Both Utica and Union reservoirs each feature two small first come, first serve campgrounds that fill up fast to capacity and have limited resources. Seriously though, this place could have zero bathrooms and I would still give it five stars. Utica has a large day use/overflow parking lot across from the Sandy Flat campground that is totally free. Keep driving down the road another couple of miles and you'll find the staging area at the start of the Slick Rock Jeep Trail. I'll definitely be back, especially to explore the waterfall area between the two reservoirs.

This is a great reservoir to enjoy some fun on the water and it's absolutely huge!…read more Located in Stanislaus National Forest, it's about eight miles off of Highway 4 and feels even more remote. From the boat launch the view is deceiving - it looks like just a small lake next to a dam. But turn the corner around the first hillside and the lake opens up and appears to go on forever. According to the Forest Service, the reservoir covers 2,000 acres when it's full. There's a max 10 mph wake, so this is more of a lake for kayakers and SUPs, but there is the occasional fishing boat too. A portion of the reservoir to the northeast is also restricted altogether from motorized watercraft. With the rocky terrain around the reservoir you won't find much for a beach, but there are some great coves and island-like rock formations throughout the lake that are excellent for swimming and lounging. Both boat launch and day use parking are free (yes, really) and there is a campground nearby with first come, first serve sites.

If you're looking for an alpine hike with meadows, lakes, wildflowers, snow capped peaks and…read morerushing streams, then a hike to Winnemuca Lake offers all of this within a 5-7 mile hiking excursion. Parking is located off Highway 88 at the Carson Information station (ranger staffed during certain hours) and costs $5. It's a small lot but there's overflow parking a few hundred yards up the road. Hiking to Winnemuca Lake and back is about 5 miles RT and it's a gentle elevation change uphill to most of the lake. Lots of rocks and roots so I bring my hiking poles for stability. During the summer (timing dependent on the snow pack of the previous winter) you're treated with a spectacular wildflower show en route to the lake. Once there, there are plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view. I like to stop there for lunch and then push on up to Round Top Lake which is more strenuous (but short) 1 mile further up the trail. From there you will get to enjoy more sweeping views, rushing streams and a path that skirts part of the lake. Doing these two lakes as an out and back is about 7 miles but since I explored the meadows and lake shore at Round Top my tracker told me I did over 8 miles. It's a gorgeous hike that, while does get crowded, isn't overly packed-you can find some trail solitude. The PCT intersects the trail and there are hike in camp sites for those who want to extend their adventure. No water so be sure to bring enough. This is about 2 1/2 hours from the Bay Area depending on where you located but absolutely worth a day trip out!

Not a difficult hike, but these trails take you some of the most beautiful alpine mountain areas…read morethat you will ever encounter, especially when all of the wildflowers are in bloom. Breathtaking is the best way to describe the scenery that you will encounter hiking along these trails. We started our hike at the Woods Lake trailhead passing Round Top Lake, Winnemucca Lake and ending up along the Carson Pass trail. It was mid-August, but the snow-capped mountains were just melting, so there were mountain streams everywhere and the wildflowers were in full bloom. The temperature was perfect in the mid-seventies. The skies were blue with puffs of wispy white clouds. This was a hiking experience that I will remember for a lifetime.

Frog Lake is a short, easy hike for all ages, leashed furry companions and skill levels - located…read moreat the top of Carson Pass on Highway 88 about 5 miles east of Kirkwood, California in a paved parking lot at the Carson Pass Information Center. Here is to locate them: https://enfia.org/discover/carson-pass/ Starting out alongside the information center a trailhead map shows you that Frog Lake is under 2.5 miles out & back. We found this trailhead to be well trafficked with many other outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the Mokelumne Wilderness Area also - either going to Frog Lake or one of the many other Points of Interest: Winnemucca Lake, Woods Lake, Elephants Back...even came across overnight campers - you will enjoy this wooded, granite/boulder lined trail that leads to mountain views with a lake to sit by for a picnic. Wildflowers, wildlife, tons of birds with stunning views plus being in the wilderness/forest among the beautiful trees this hike you will truly enjoy!! So what are you waiting for...grab your hiking buddy, get out and #moveyourbody and enjoy the great outdoors!!

Saw this hike on a list of easy hikes around Tahoe. Promised wildlife, wildflowers, and a nice…read moreendpoint. Obviously, wildflowers are seasonal. But the wildlife were lacking, and the lake was pretty lame. At least there were some tadpoles. It is easy, but there's only shade for half of the 2 mile roundtrip hike. And there's not much beauty along the way. You're better off with the hikes closer to Tahoe.

Sandy Cove is a must if you love the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, etc!read more

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!

Wow such a little gem off of Hwy 108 as you are climbing over the Sierras…read more It was quite early but I decided to pull over to grab a drink from the cooler and decided this was the spot. It a a small area with parking and has restrooms. The are was pretty clean and its a short loop type setup. However once you park the views are stunning. it also appears to be the gateway for multiple trails. There are not a ton of parking spots so I can imagine it can fill up but if you looking for a spot to pull over and stretch your legs this is excellent