Discover the Southern Sierra: Where Desert Meets Mountain
Explore the breathtaking Southern Sierra, a region of dramatic contrasts where the desert meets the mountains. This diverse landscape spans both sides of the Sierra Nevada, encompassing the rugged peaks south of Lone Pine on the east, and the scenic valleys and foothills south of Bass Lake on the west.
Find your Southern Sierra adventure:
Sierra Rec Magazine is your guide to experiencing the best of the Southern Sierra. Find trail reports, camping tips, local event information, and insider knowledge to plan your unforgettable journey.
There’s something special about the old cabins hidden throughout the Sierra Nevada. The hand-hewn logs. The stories buried in the walls. The reminder that generations before us survived in places many of us now only visit for adventure. This summer, volunteers have a chance to help preserve one of the Sierra’s oldest surviving log structures. … Read more
An Underground Wonder Returns for the 2025 Season | By Charlie Pankey, Sierra Rec Magazine After four long years of silence, the echoing chambers of Crystal Cave are finally ready to welcome adventurers once again. Tucked deep within the granite heart of Sequoia National Park, this marble masterpiece is set to reopen its gates to … Read more
Springtime in Visalia: A Bloom-Filled Southern Sierra Adventure Spring in the Visalia region is nothing short of magical. As winter fades, the orchards of Tulare County explode with color, creating one of California’s most unique and stunning springtime experiences. Whether you’re looking for a scenic drive through pink and white blossoms near Visalia, a gateway … Read more
Sierra Rec Now Podcast Season # – Episode 25 – Our Guest Gary Ananian of the Kern River Conservancy 🎧 Welcome to Sierra Rec Now Podcast! 🌲 In this week’s episode, we are thrilled to have Gary Ananian, the passionate and dedicated director of the Kern River Conservancy. Join us as we dive deep into … Read more
A Summer Rafting Vacation in the Southern Sierra with Kern River Outfitters It has been over 20 years since I stepped into a raft on the Payette River out of Boise and challenged the wild waters of an untamed river. My memory from that trip was falling out of the raft in class 4 rapid … Read more
Kernville California , May 26, 2023 – The Trail of 100 Giants is OPEN with limited parking available. Parking Fee; $12 This trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. It’s accessible by road during the summer months (May 15 – Nov. 15, weather dependent). It provides an … Read more
Bears Are Very Active Currently in the Sierra Meaning Increased Importance to Practice Proper Food Storage While Camping and Visting Memorial Day Weekend LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – With the busy summer season quickly approaching, agencies are asking residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal when living in or visiting bear country.There are an … Read more
Work to Begin to Open Lakes Basin and Reds Meadow Roads The Inyo National Forest, in cooperation with the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Cal Trans, is beginning work to open the Lakes Basin and Reds Meadow roads. These areas are popular recreation destination for visitors and locals alike and provides access to the Devils … Read more
The Inyo National Forest is preparing for winter conditions. The forecast brings the possibility of snow in the upcoming days. As such, the forest may implement winter closures for roads that access the Reds Meadow Valley and Mammoth Lakes Basin areas of the Inyo National Forest. Overnight parking in the Reds Meadow Valley will be … Read more
Mammoth Ca – August 2015 – It is that time of year once again. Final Summer trips with the family, final summer parties with your friends, time for one last campout, one last summer adventure to the lake etc… Mammoth is popular destination in the Sierra, its diverse landscapes, great mountain lakes, challenging trials and … Read more
New Mammoth + Summit Bike Park Pass: One Pass, Two Mountains Mammoth Ca – Mountain Bike Season kicks off May 8 at Snow Summit Mammoth Lakes, Calif​. – California’s first multi-destination bike park season pass has arrived. Providing unlimited, summer-long riding on some of the best lift accessed mountain biking terrain in California, the new … Read more
Endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Restored to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks Recently Completed Cooperative Effort Included California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service A multiagency operation was recently concluded that returned two herds of endangered bighorn sheep to locations in Yosemite and Sequoia … Read more
