Village Profile Home Page | About our Company | Sales Opportunities | Community eStore | vpmobile.us

Outdoor Recreation

The Central Sierra Gold Country is well-known for its spectacular beauty and outdoor recreation. Enjoyable experiences await you year-round, regardless of the season!

Summer offers a plethora of activities in the foothills and sierras. Boating, fishing, hiking, camping, gold panning and white water rafting are some of the most popular diversions. These can range from a serene day of casting your fly rod to the extreme adventure of riding the rapids on the wild and scenic Tuolumne River.

Lake activities anyone? We have several to choose from. Enjoy boating, fishing, house boating and water skiing on Lake Don Pedro, New Melones or Lake Tulloch, all located in our rolling foothills. For those who prefer the High Sierras, you can choose from the somewhat secluded Cherry Lake or the scenic and popular Pinecrest Lake. For those who prefer rivers and streams, our Stanislaus National Forest alone offers 811 miles of teeming and twisting waters.

Here in the Mother Lode, gold panning is an outdoor adventure you can do on your own or with the help of an outfitter who will put together a one-day outing or a multi-day trip. Go back in time to the days of the goldrush. However, a word of warning, “Gold Fever” can strike at any time, and this rush for riches is how California began, attracting thousands to this land of opportunity!

Last but not least, summer is the season for a horseback trip into the Emigrant Wilderness region of Tuolumne County. Enjoy a one-day ride or an unforgettable three- to five-day pack trip. Local outfitters at Kennedy meadows and Aspen Meadow can provide everything from a horse to all the provisions and a camp cook.

Spring and fall offer cooler days and crisp nights, which are perfect for golfing, hiking, and biking. There are seven scenic golf courses in and around Tuolumne County. Most include excellent dining and banquet facilities, golf pros and pro shops. Our courses vary from leisurely to challenging.

Hiking trails await you near sparkling lakes and countless miles of streams and rivers. Many of these trails are well-marked and offer spectacular views with wild flowers in the spring and autumn foliage in the fall.

From Yosemite National Park to areas near Strawberry and Lyons Dam, you can discover miles of back roads, old railroad right of ways, and logging trails. For biking enthusiasts there are many choices and diverse trails, most on public lands. You can find your own trails or call a bicycle tour, complete with guide and support vehicle.

When the snow begins to fall and our beautiful Sierras become a winter wonderland, it’s time for downhill and cross-country skiers, snowboarders and snowshoe enthusiasts. The new Boulder Creek Canyon Ski area has expanded Dodge Ridge with its capacity to serve 15,700 skiers per hour with 12 lifts on 60 Green, Blue and Black Diamond trails.

For Nordic skiers, the quiet and pristine white forest trails provide the best in outdoor adventure and a chance to renew the mind, body and spirit.

Winter sports in Tuolumne County cater to every age, and for the youngsters (as well as the young at heart) Leland High Sierra Snow Play Park offers five acres for tubes, saucers and clean mountain air.

Without a doubt, Tuolumne County, offers THE very best in outdoor experiences. You’ll be back, time and again!