Smalley Cove Campground

Bikers can breeze on the trails in the Bass Lake ranger district and the High Sierra ranger district. In the High Sierra, you can ride on the Dinkey Creek trail, an 11.3 mile trail that starts at Cow Creek Quarry and ends at the beautiful Deer Creek. You can ride around Mono Hot Springs, located at 6,700 foot elevation among some cliffs; relaxing in some hot springs after a tough ride sounds pretty amazing! You can also check out some of the OHV trails here.

Motorized boating is allowed at Shaver Lake and Redinger Lake, and there are plenty of opportunities for non-motorized boating: sailing (especially at Huntington Lake), whitewater rafting in the rivers, waterskiing, kayaking and canoeing on the lakes are some of your options. Bass Lake is a famous vacation spot with beautiful blue waters and pine trees, perfect for wakeboarding, fishing, jet skiing, and boating of all types. Keep in mind there may be boat launch fees.

Lakes and reservoirs are generally open year round; freshwater stream fishing is open from late April to mid November. The best spots to fish are Bass Lake, Huntington Lake, Kings River, and Mammoth Pool. Rainbow trout, bass, kokanee salmon, trout, and german browns are often found here. Read on about catching limits, boating fees, and availability here. You must already have a fishing license as the national forest office does not sell any.

There’s no shortage of incredible hikes here: Nelder Grove is home to some of the finest sequoias, and best of all, there are no crowds swarming them. The Shadows of the Giants Interpretive Trail and Bull Buck are short one mile loops that offer plenty to see, the Clothespin Trail is a highly recommended 2 mile hike each way, and the Graveyard of the Giants is definitely an unforgettable hike. There are hundreds of trails within the forest for your exploration!

Equestrians have so much to explore in the Sierra National Forest! With five wilderness areas, trails, horse camps, and horse rentals, you’ll never want to leave. Make sure to pack in and pack out your feed. Horse camping is available at Kelty Meadow and Texas Flat, and a group site is open at Bowler, near Clover Meadows. Stop by these pack stations before heading out into backcountry: Shaver Lake Stables, High Sierra Pack Station, Muir Trail Ranch, Huntington Lake, and D & F Pack Station. Trails include Maxson, Mono Creek and Rogers Ridge.

Paddlers are welcome to explore the lakes in this forest-- many of the rivers are whitewater, so if you are feeling confident about your paddling abilities, you should definitely try those out. Bass Lake is a popular hotspot; Mammoth Pool, Courtright and Wishon Reservoirs, Edison, Florence and Shaver Lakes have free public boat launching facilities. You can check out the list of places for non-motorized boating here.

Those looking for some scenic driving have come to the right place. We highly recommend the incredible 100 mile Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, as well as many other scenic drives in the area. There is a list of OHV trails, difficulty levels, and directions here.

Pretty rad rock climbing here-- Tollhouse Rock and Courtright Reservoir both have over a hundred climbs. Check out the list on The Crag. There are climbing programs in the forest and wilderness areas with Outward Bound.

You can sled/tube in Goat Meadow, cross country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile over 234 miles of trails. China Peak Ski Area offers downhill skiing and snowboarding for those of all levels.

Bass, Huntington and Shaver Lakes are perfect for swimming, with designated swim areas. You can also swim in these creeks and coves. With beautiful blue waters surrounded by forest, what’s stopping you from jumping in?

Whitewater adventurers often come to the Sierra National Forest for the Kings River and Merced Wild and Scenic River. The Kings River has fast rapids, whirlpools, as well as calm smooth water; both rivers are class III and IV for the more experienced boaters. Those looking to try it out can go with a commercial rafting company; popular ones include Kings River Expeditions, Spirit Whitewater (call (559) 332-2227), and Zephyr Expeditions. The best times to go are in the spring and summer!

Wildlife includes mule deer, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, marmots, porcupines, and quail. You can also find trout, bass, and bluegills in the lakes and rivers. There’s no shortage of wildlife in this magnificent forest!