PLEASE HELP PRESERVE MADERA COUNTY'S
RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENT BY RESPECTING MOTHER NATURE. DON'T LITTER,
PLEASE DON'T TRESPASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, CARRY NECESSARY PERMITS AND
HAVE FUN!
Disability Friendly
Recreation Areas
See
Travel Tips Page
Natural
Recreation Areas
•
Yosemite backcountry area - reservations/permits, 209-372-0740
• Mariposa/Minarets Ranger
District - North Fork, 559-877-2218 - Oakhurst, 559-658-7588
• U. S. Forest Service, 559-658-7588,
headquarter: 559-877-2218
Backpacking
•
Wilderness Backpacking Permits - Coulterville Area, Highway 132/120
- 209-962-7825 Fish Camp Area, Highway 41 - 209-683-4665 - Mariposa
Area, Highway 140 209-966-3638 - Yosemite National Park - 209-372-0740
Biking - Mountain and
Road
•
Goat Mountain Lookout - an energizing climb.
• "007" - seven miles of downhill
on a gnarly single-track.
• Shut-Eye Peak - slick rock
routes , along with majestic views of the Angel Adams and Yosemite wilderness
area. Hwy. 41, 800-444-7275
Boating
•
Bass Lake - located southeast of Oakhurst. Bass Lake Boat Rentals and
Water Sports, 559-642-3200, 800-585-9283
• The Pines Resort - located
at Bass Lake. - Pines Marina, 559-642-3565
• Miller's Landing - located
South Shore at Bass Lake, 559-642-3633
• The Forks Resort - located
at 39150 Road 222, Bass Lake, 559-642-3737
• Millerton Lake -State Recreation
Area, located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, off Hwy. 41, 800-444-7275
Cross Country Skiing
•
Ranger-Guided Cross Country Skiing - 209-372-0209
Fishing
•
Dept. of Fish and Game, Fresno, 559-243-4005
• Bass Lake - located southeast
of Oakhurst . Fish for kokanee salmon, and trout. The Bass Lake Fishing
Derby is held in May with more than 800 tagged trout and $40,000 in
cash and prizes.
• Manzanita Lake - located
two miles north of North Fork on Willow Creek , fish for rainbow trout.
Family picnic area.
• Mammoth Pool - located 40
miles east of North Fork on the San Joaquin River, Eastern Madera County's
largest trout lake. Fish for brown trout.
• Hensley Lake - located on
the Fresno River near Madera. Fish for bass, blue gill, red-ear sunfish,
crappie, catfish and rainbow trout. Camping sites, day use area for
picnicking and boat ramps.
• Eastman Lake - located on
the Chowchilla River near Raymond. Similar fishing opportunities as
Hensley Lake. Camping, picnicking and boat launching facilities. Bald
eagles nest near the upper end of the lake, which is closed to access
during nesting season.
• Big Creek, Willow Creek,
Fish Creek, Rock Creek, Chiquito Creek and Granite Creek - located along
the South Fork Merced River. Great fly fishing for wild trout, brook,
brown, rainbow and golden trout. Fly fishing lessons are offered on
Big Creek, Chiquito Creek, Granite Creek, and the Merced River.
• Iron Lakes, Bare Island Lake,
Grizzly Lake and the Star Lakes, are good for still water fishing in
the High Sierras.
• Millerton Lake - State Recreation
Area, located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, off Hwy. 41, 800-444-7275
Gold Panning
Click the Gold
Panning Button for further information.
•
Coarsegold Creek - located on Hwy. 41, Coarsegold.
• Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine
Railroad - 56001 Hwy. 41, Fish Camp
Hang Gliding
•
Motgherlode Sky Riders Instruction and Club - 209-529-9911
Hiking
•
The Way of the Mono Trail - a one-half mile, self guided walking trail
near Bass Lake. You can see authentic Mono Indian grinding holes from
this trail as well as spectacular views of Bass Lake.
• Willow Creek Trail - use
caution when hiking this trail, there are hazardous sections along the
trail. Where Bass Lake passes along Angel Falls, see spectacular cascades
flow into deep pools.
• Goat Mountain Trail - this
is a strenuous hike, climbing four miles to the summit, where you will
find a fire lookout tower which provides some of the most awesome views
of Bass Lake and the Sierra Nevada range. There are two trailheads along
Bass Lake.
• Shadow of the Giants Trail
- an easy one mile hike among beautiful giant sequoia trees. Located
in the Nelder Grove Giant Sequoia Preservation Area.
• Cedars Interpretive Trail
- this trail is especially easy for the physically challenged. A quarter-mile
nature trail where you can learn about the region's natural resources
and how to care for the environment. The trail starts from the North
Fork Minarets ranger station.
• Lewis Creek National Recreational
Trail - a well hiked trail that follows the historical Madera Sugar
Pine Lumber flume route. You will pass the Red Rock Falls and the 80
foot high Corlieu Falls
• Millerton Lake - State Recreation
Area, located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, off Hwy. 41, 800-444-7275
• Wawona Meadow Loop - start
at the Wawona Hotel, Yosemite. An easy 3.5 mile round trip that takes
about 1.5 hours.
• Swinging Bridge Loop - start
at the Wawona Store/Pioneer History Center parking area, Yosemite. A
moderate 4.75 mile round trip taking about 2 hours.
• Taft Point - start at Taft
Point parking area, Yosemite. An easy to moderate 2.2 mile round trip
taking approximately 2 hours.
• Sentinel Dome - start at
Sentinel Dome parking area, Yosemite. A Moderate 2.2 mile round trip
taking 2 hours.
• Soda Springs/Parsons Lodge
- start at Lembert Dome parking area, Yosemite. An easy 1.5 mile round
trip taking 1 hour.
• John Muir Trail through Lyell
Canyon - start at Dog Lake parking area, Yosemite. An easy 8 mile trip
one way, with a 200 foot gain, taking 3 to 4 hours.
• Harden Lake - start at White
Wolf drop off point via the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus, Yosemite.
A moderate 9 mile round trip taking 4 to 6 hours.
• Yosemite Valley via Porcupine
Creek - start at Porcupine Creek via the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus,
Yosemite. A moderate 7 mile one way trip with a 3,500 to 4.000 foot
loss, taking 4 to 6 hours.
• Lembert Dome - start at Tuolumne
Meadows Store via the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus, Yosemite. A moderately
strenuous 4 mile round trip taking 3 to 4 hours.
• Foresta via Big Oak Flat
Rd. - start at Tamarack Flat Campground entrance via the Tuolumne Meadows
Hikers' Bus, Yosemite. A moderately strenuous 10-12 mile one way trip
taking 5 to 7 hours with a 2,000 foot loss.
• Yosemite Valley via Yosemite
Creek - start at Lukens Lake trailhead via the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers'
Bus. A moderately strenuous 10.5 mile one way trip taking 5 to 9 hours
one way with a 3,500 to 4,000 foot loss .
• Yosemite Valley via Cloud's
Rest - start at Tenaya Lake via the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus. A
strenuous 19 mile one way trip taking 10 to 12 hours. If camping overnight,
you'll need a free wilderness permit.
Horseback Riding
Overnight horse camping in Yosemite requires a permit and specific
horse inoculations.
•
Yosemite Horseback Riding Info. 209-372-0200
• Yosemite Trails Pack Station,
559-868-3405
• Wawona and Yosemite Valley
- located in Yosemite National Park. One and two hour rides are available
for beginners and half day and full day rides for more experienced riders.
Guided tours available.
• Yosemite Trails Pack Station
- located in Yosemite National Park, southern entrance. One and two
hour rides and an all day ride to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias.
• Minarets Pack Station - located
in the Sierra backcountry. Day trips and overnight pack trips into the
Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite, 559-868-3405
• Sierra National Forest -
located adjacent to Yosemite. There are primitive and established campgrounds
for both horse and rider.
• Millerton Lake - State Recreation
Area, located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, off Hwy.41, 800-444-7275
Parks and Public Lands
•
Wassama Round House State Historic Park Off Hwy. 49, five miles northwest
of Oakhurst 559-822-2332 A 27 acre park used primarily as a ceremonial
meeting place for California's Native Americans. The Gathering Days
celebration is held annually the second Saturday in July. Enjoy crafts,
dancing and basket weaving.
• Yosemite National Park -
Approximately 1,170 square miles in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There
are 263 miles of roads, 800 miles of hiking trails, around 240 species
of birds, 80 species of mammals, and 1,400 species of flowering plants,
37 of which are trees. Yosemite's elevation ranges from 2,000 feet to
over 13,000 feet, and is 94.5 percent undeveloped. General Park Info.
209-372-0200
• Sierra National Forest 559-877-2218
• Bass Lake Recreation Area
- located in the Sierra National Forest, southeast of Oakhurst. National
Recreation Reservations System 877-444-6777
• Millerton Lake - State Recreation
Area - located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, off Hwy. 41 800-444-7275
Neighborhood: Picnicking,
Playgrounds, Multi-Use Fields, Swimming Pools
•
Oakhurst Community Park - just off Hwy. 41 near the Oakhurst Branch
Library on Civic Circle. Ideal for picnics and playground equipment
for children.
Rock Climbing
•
Yosemite National Park - half and full day classes and private guides
are available from May through October in Yosemite. General Information:
209-372-0200 Yosemite Guides: 209-379-2231
•
El Capitan - located in Yosemite National Park. Visitors interested
in watching professional climbers can park at El Capitan Meadow in Yosemite
Valley and gaze at the largest single mass of granite in the world.
Snowmobiling
There is no snow removal on
national forest roads.
•
Whisky Snowmobile Trail - located above North Fork. A 35 mile marked
route through the forest following existing roads. Whisky Falls Snowmobile
Area (USFS) 559-877-2218
• Beasore Road - located above
Bass Lake, near Pines Village.
Snowshoeing
•
Badger Pass - located in Yosemite National Park. National Park Service
ranger- naturalists conduct easy snowshoe walks. Small fee for snowshoe
rentals.
• Snow Shoe Walks - 209-372-0209
Recreational Businesses
Backpacking Trips
- Guided
•
High Sierra Camp Reservations - 209-253-5674
Bike Rentals
•
Will Riskit Mountain Cyclists - 209-742-52-39 or 966-5139
• Yosemite Bug Hostel - 209-966-6666
• Yosemite Concession Services
- 209-372-1200
Boat Rentals
•
Barrett Cove - 209-378-2441
• Bass Lake Boat Rentals and
Water Sports -Bass Lake: 800-585-WAVE, 559-642-3200
• The Pines Resort - Bass Lake:
800-350-7463, 559-642-3565
• McClure Point - 209-378-2441
• Miller's Landing - Bass Lake:
559-642-3633
• The Forks Resort - Bass Lake:
559-642-3737
• Sierra Power Center - 10432
Hwy. 41, Madera: 559-432-1817
Bowling
•
Sierra Lanes
Carriage Rides
•
Butterfly Carriage and Stage Lines - 209-742-6767
Campgrounds
Group Camps
•
Calvin Crest
•
Camp Pacifica
•
Camp Sugar Pine
•
Episcopal Conference Center
•
Jack Boyd Camp Green Meadows
•
Jackass Rock Camp
•
Oakhurst Christian Conference Center
•
Sierra Pines Youth Camp
•
Skylake Yosemite Camp
•
Summit Adventures
•
Yosemite Bible Camp
•
Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp
Bass Lake - 559-642-3212
Open year-round
•
Lupine-Cedar Bluff
Open May 15 - September 11
•
Forks
•
Spring Cove
•
Wishon
Sierra National Forest - 559-658-7588
•
Big Sandy
•
Bowler - Group and Horses
•
Chilkoot
•
China Bar
•
Clover Meadow
•
Fish Creek
•
Fresno Dome
•
Gaggs Camp
•
Granite Creek - Horse Corral
•
Greys Mountain
•
Kelty Meadow - Horse Camp
•
Little Jackass - Groups OK
•
Lower Chiquito
•
Mammoth Pool
•
Nelder Grove
•
Placer
•
Rock Creek
•
Soda Springs
•
Soquel
•
Summerdale
•
Sweetwater
•
Texas Flat - Group and Horses
•
Upper Chiquito
•
Whiskers
•
Whisky Falls
RV Parks
•
High
Sierra RV - Oakhurst
• Ahwahnee Golf and RV Resort
- Oakhurst
Fishing
•
Yosemite Bass Lake Fishing Adventures
Gold Panning
•
Coarsegold Creek - located on Hwy. 41, Coarsegold.
• Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine
Railroad - 56001 Hwy. 41, Fish Camp
Golf Courses
Click the Golf
Courses Button for further information.
Horse - Carriage Riding
- Boarding
•
Butterfly Carriage and Stage Lines - 209-742-6767
• Rocking J. Ranch - Boarding/Lessons/Arena/Trails
- 209-966-4706
• Yosemite Stage and Turnpike
Company - 209-966-2908
• Yosemite Trails Pack Station
- 209-683-7611 or 665-5286
Horseback Riding and
Horsepacking
•
Cherry Valley Pack Station - Winter - 209-878-3596 - Summer - 962-5671
• Tuolumne Meadows - Summer
- 209-372-8427
• Wawona Horseback Riding -
209-375-6502
• Yosemite Trails Pack Station
- Winter - 209-683-7426 - Summer - 683-7611
• Yosemite Valley - 209-372-8348
Ice Skating
•
Curry Village Ice Skating Rink -Yosemite
Rock Climbing
•
Yosemite Mountaineering School - 209-372-8344
Ski Resorts -
Alpine and Nordic
•
Badger Pass
• Bear Valley
• Dodge
Ridge - Hwy
108 at Pinecrest, CA, 209.965.3474
Snow Shoe Rentals
•
Yosemite Bug Hostel - 209-966-6666
Theaters (Live)
• Golden
Chain Theatre - Melodrama running summer and fall, with a christmas
show, plus many other events. Hwy 41, Info: 559-683-7112 www.goldenchaintheatre.org
• Front Row Theater
Theaters
(Movie)
•
Met Cinemas
Train Rides
•
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
56001 Yosemite Hwy 41, Fish Camp, CA -
559-683-7273
White Water Rafting
The Bureau of Land Management licenses
commercial white water rafting companies operating on the Merced River.
For a current list of licensed operators contact the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) 916-985-4474 or Mariposa County Visitors Bureau - 209-966-2456
FYI
El Capitan - The largest single mass of granite in
the world.
Located in Yosemite National Park.
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