Calaveras County A Four Season High Sierra Recreation Destination
Why Calaveras on your next destination trip? Experience the history, the beauty the mystery and the challenge Calaveras. Travel back in time to explore the history of the 49ers that founded the regions unique and wild mountain towns. then the in the spectacle of the wild as you walk among the giants or explore the backs of the wild rivers that carved the mountain valleys. Sit back and slow down life in one of California’s favorite wine counties.
Explore the Scenic high country of Ebbett’s Pass Scenic byway and discover a world of granite richness. Crystal clear blue waters, rugged granite foundations. Bear Valley Ski resort is a regional favorite for high sierra powder skiing. Campers and hikers take over in the summer seasons with so many options to virtually disappear from the rush of the city life.
Welcome to Calaveras. the perfect vacation get away between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park
Calaveras Big Tree State Park ins one of the most visited locations in the county. However there are many great locations to take in the sights.
Ebbett’s Scenic Byway is filled with beautiful locations and makes a great summer drive between Murphy’s California and Markleville California in Alpine County on the East side of the Sierra.
Seeking Solitude or a challenge in the sierra. Hiking in Calaveras will give all hikers access to some great trails.
- The Arnold Rim Trail
- Calaveras Big Tree State Park Trails
- Lake Alpine and Bear Valley region have multiple trails options
Calaveras Winter –
- Skiing
- Snowmobile
- Snowshoe
- Winter Camping
- Cross Country Skiing
- Fattire Biking
Arnold California
The cozy mountain town of Arnold lies right at the snow line—which means there’s plenty of white stuff in winter but not so much that it’s hard to get around. Visitors can snowshoe or cross-country ski (or mountain bike or hike in summer) on the Arnold Rim Trail, a 17-mile path that offers birds-eye views from craggy Cougar Rock and a peek at San Antonio Falls. (The trailhead is located at the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum, an interesting visit for history fans.) Nearby is Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where ancient trees have awed visitors since 1852. Wander among giant sequoias on the 1.5-mile North Grove Loop and admire the gnarled Old Bachelor tree and the Siamese Twins—two sequoias that are joined together. In the more remote South Grove, a longer trail follows Big Trees Creek to gargantuan trees like the 2,000-year-old Louis Agassiz Tree, the park’s largest specimen at 250 feet high and 25 feet across.
Angels Camp California
Best known as the location of the Jumping Frog Contest made famous by Mark Twain in his story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras,” Angels Camp is also home to one of the most picturesque historic downtowns in California’s Gold Country, beautiful, Sierra Foothills scenery, boutique shops, a wonderful museum and a championship golf course. Get to know the historic downtown using this fun and entertaining scavenger hunt by Let’s Roam.
Historic downtown Angels Camp is home to charming, boutique shops, the Calaveras Visitors Center, a bakery, two restaurants and the Utica Hotel, which is currently undergoing restoration. Stroll Main Street using our historic walk tour map in the back of the Calaveras Visitors Guide, and enjoy the Frog Hop of Fame.
Bear Valley, California
Bear Valley is a friendly and relaxing High Sierra escape located in the beautiful Central Sierra Mountains. Nestled off Scenic Highway 4 in the spectacular Stanislaus National Forest, this year-round destination offers activities from relaxation to extreme adventure in every season. Whether you’re looking to get your heart racing or to just slow down and savor the Sierra, Bear Valley is the perfect destination to enjoy the outdoors as Mother Nature intended.
Bear Valley Glamping is a popular summer activity, and a variety of spectacular alpine lakes in the area provide incredible paddling opportunities.
Bear Valley Resort has everything you need to hit the trails this summer. Mountain bike passes and rentals are available.
Calaveras Big Tree State Park
Established in 1931, Calaveras Big Trees State Park preserves two groves of giant sequoias – the world’s largest trees – in the North and South Groves. The park is a mixed-conifer forest (a variety of trees living together). In addition to the giant trees, you will find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, ancient volcanic formations, and natural meadows. Trails throughout the park allow you to discover the natural beauty that has awed visitors to the area since 1852.
Hiking – The North Grove has a level, 1.5 mile self-guided trail. The .13-mile Three Senses Trail allows visitors to experience the feel, smell, and sounds of this magnificent forest. The five-mile South Grove Trail travels along Big Trees Creek and passes the park’s two largest trees — the Agassiz Tree and the Palace Hotel Tree. The fairly strenuous four-mile River Canyon Trail runs between the North Grove and the Stanislaus River. Along the Lava Bluffs Trail, hikers can view the scenic North Fork of the river.
San Andreas California
The town was named after San Andrés, the patron saint of Spain. Mexicans first discovered gold here, and by the early 1850s between 1,000 and 1,500 miners were working in the area. In 1854 extensive placer deposits were discovered in an old riverbed 150 feet below the surface of the earth.
As the County seat, San Andreas is the center of commerce, education and services for Calaveras County. The town also boasts a small, delightful historic district that captures the charm of earlier eras and houses the Calaveras County Archives and Calaveras County Museum Complex.
California Cavern
Originally called Mammoth Cave, California Cavern was California’s first show cave and is its longest cavern system. Depending on the season, the guided cavern walk tour can be 45 minutes to 80 minutes long featuring an enchanting trail with beautiful crystalline cave formations in historical and recently discovered pristine areas.
The cavern walking tour takes you through several passageways into multiple chambers on a trail system. On the way, you’ll see a wide variety of beautiful white, cream and caramel colored crystalline cave formations including stalactites, stalagmites, cave popcorn, flowstones and helictites, while also learning about the cavern’s fascinating discovery and early uses.
