Highland Lakes Campground

If you’re into mountain biking, or if you’re just curious, bring your two-wheeler out to Stanislaus for expert and beginner trails. Lake Alpine is a great spot for some biking, where you can fly past the crystalline lake, and through the forest and along an old pioneer route. There are a bunch of baller trail options to check out, so do some research and then get out there!

Wanna zip around with your small motorboat across clear water surrounded by towering granite peaks? Not only can you do that in Stanislaus, but you can even take your pick of lake: you’ve got Alpine, Beardsley, Cherry, Pinecrest, Spicer (the part in Tuolumne County), and Union. Cherry Lake is the largest in the forest, and worth roaming around. Alpine has a huge parking lot, so if overcrowding is an issue in the summer, head there first. It’s at an elevation of 7,350 feet and will keep cool no matter how sweltering the sun can be out there. Pick a lake that makes ya happy, pack up the boat, and enjoy the cool mountain breeze.

Stanislaus is busting with lakes and ponds, which means it’s fishing galore. Catch some pretty rainbow trout, like this guy. You can also snag some brook trout and a gaggle of other fish. Mosquito Lakes is a pretty awesome place to fish. (Seriously, look at it.) You can chill on the shoreline with some beautiful cabins to your back, as long as you are respectful of the private property.

Hiking through Stanislaus is a unique geological experience, whether you’re big into geology or not. You can see granite glacial basins, basalt towers, the 9 million year old Table Mountain formed by lava rushing into stream beds, volcanic vaults, and cinder cones, among other natural wonders. If geology is your thing, read more about it here. If not, well, basically this all translates to epic mountains, rugged terrain, and shimmering flowing water. And truly magnificent hiking. If all this geology talk got your attention, check out the Columns of the Giants trail which is a short ¼ mile hike to some basalt columns. You can also hike to a 45 foot tall fire lookout tower, one of the only ones still in California, at Trumbull Peak where you can see into Yosemite Valley and the Merced River Canyon. For all your trail options, check here.

400 miles of horseback riding trails and plenty of horse-friendly base camps make Stanislaus the ideal adventure for you and your horse. If your horse is concerned about the high elevation (or if, and you can admit this to us, you are) you can stick to lower Highway 108 and Highway 120. For more horse-related info, check here.

If you have a paddle boat of any kind, you’ll want to bring it out while you’re here. Kayak or canoe through the Utica and Union reservoirs to reach some small islands and see some epic mountain scenery. Tuolumne River is also a popular rowin’ spot. It may be a bit crowded in summer, but it’s worth it for the awesome granite rocks and fresh flowing water. For other options, check here.

That’s right water babies, you can even windsurf here. Cherry Lake is the place to be for windsurfing, so if that’s your thing, be sure to check it out.

If you’ve been itching for some mind-blowing scenery to try out your new four-wheeler, this would be the place to do it. You can travel by road or by trail, depending on your preference. Black Springs is the main OHV area, with more than 100 miles of trails and roads for you to explore. If you want to go completely off-road, be sure to stay within 20 miles of signed trails and 100 miles of established roads. Other than that, Stanislaus is your O(HV)yster.

With all the epic rock formations here, you know there are gonna be some sweet climbing options. Calaveras Ranger District has the most to offer for climbing and bouldering. Calaveras Dome is recommended for serious climbers, Big Meadow for beginner bouldering. And of course, anywhere you see a beckoning granite wall (which will be most places you look), climb it.

In the winter months, Stanislaus becomes a snowy wonderland (well, really, at high elevations, there’s snow for most of the year anyway). Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are the big ones here, mostly focused around the Highway 4 Corridor. You can even snowmobile on certain trails out here, if you’re itching to fly through powdery snow.

Waterfalls, epic swimming holes, and beautiful pristine lakes are scattered throughout Stanislaus. The first thing we would recommend checkin’ out if you’re dying to take a dip, is the Rainbow Pool, possibly the greatest Sierra swimming hole around. Seriously, look at it. Pinecrest Lake and Cherry Lake are awesome swimming locations as well. Really this place is full of flowing water, lakes, and reservoirs, so wherever you end up, you’ll want your swim suit. What could be better than a refreshing dip in freshwater surrounded by the high Sierra landscape? ...Yeah, we can’t think of anything either.

If a relaxing dip or leisurely paddle isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, there are some rapids for you to conquer too. You can check out some serious whitewater rafting in the Stanislaus River, in both the North Fork and the South Fork of the river. Paddle through roaring rapids, between granite rock formations, towering mountains, and redwood trees. Sounds pretty epic, right?

Of course such a beautiful landscape is bound to be the home of equally awesome creatures. Bell Creek is a great place to chill with some critters. You can look for 60 different species of birds, and even a bunch of wildflowers in the spring time.