2022 TUOLUMNE COUNTY INSPIRATION TRAVEL GUIDE VISITTUOLUMNE.COM Tuolumne County, YOUR BACKYARD JUST GOT A LOT BIGGER!TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS CENTERS* Our friendly staff is here to help plan your visit and provide area information, maps, directions, brochures and souvenirs. Main Visitors Center: Sonora, CA 193 S Washington St 209-533-4420 ◆ 1-800-446-1333 Call or go online for hours. Groveland, CA 18990 Highway 120 Hours vary. Call or go online for hours. VisitTuolumne.com *Call ahead for hours of operation as these change often depending on California State guidelines. Wander Freely in Tuolumne County, California where you can... Experience uncrowded Yosemite Discover authentic Gold Country Explore scenic High Sierra Embrace every moment in wide-open spaces and fresh air with endless outdoor recreation opportunities for every type of nature enthusiast. Explore historic towns with unique shopping, dining, wine, cider, and brewery tasting options. See the arts come alive in quaint galleries and live entertainment venues. It’s all just 2½ hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area. All-season roads allow for year- round access to fun adventure and selfie-taking, memory- making moments! Rest your head in a variety of lodging options, from campgrounds to modern lodges and resorts or anything in between. Lodging for any budget is available throughout the County near Yosemite National Park, next to scenic High Sierra lakes, and in the heart of historic Gold Rush towns. Find and reserve lodging at VisitTuolumne.com. Thank you for adventuring safely and responsibly in Tuolumne County. ✓ ✓ ✓ Find more inspiration for your next trip on our social media: Facebook.com/TuolumneCounty Instagram.com/TravelTuolumneCounty Twitter.com/VisitTuolumneCo Pinterest.com/tuolumnecounty tiktok.com/@visittuolumnecounty Tag us on social media or use #VisitTuolumneCounty and #MyTuolumneCounty for a chance to be featured! = Advertisers Tuolumne County! WELCOME TO 2 ◆ 2022 Tuolumne County Inspiration Travel GuideCONTENTS 04 Explore Local Towns 06 Parks & Public Lands 10 Top Hikes 12 Road Trip Itineraries 14 Get Adventurous 17 Tours 18 Shopping & Farmers' Markets 20 Wineries, Breweries, & Distilleries 22 Events 23 Arts & Entertainment 24 Museums & Libraries 25 Relocation 28 Seasonal Top Activities 29 Weather 30 Places to Eat & Drink 32 Lodging & Camping 46 Services & Resources 48 Special Event Venues 49 Film Commission 49 Transportation 50 Family Activities On the cover: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park Credit: Menka Belgal The 2022 Tuolumne County Vacation Planner is copyright ©2022 by Visit Tuolumne County, which has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Note: Due to State of California guidelines, business operations may change over time. Call ahead. Design & Production: Heather Jing Design, heatherjing.com Tuolumne County Healthy Pledge Look for the Tuolumne County Healthy Pledge icon as you travel through Tuolumne County. These businesses have taken a voluntary pledge to ensure guests and customers that they are meeting or exceeding the COVID-19 safety guidelines set by the State of California and Tuolumne County. New Melones Lake Credit: @flasheighty on Instagram 3 VisitTuolumne.com Explore Local Towns Stand in a Place Where Time Stands Still. Tuolumne County is rich with colorful and authentic Gold Rush and nostalgic Main Street towns where friendly folks are full of information and tips. Your treasure, new or old, is waiting to be discovered in unique specialty shops or fine art galleries that line historic sidewalks. Enjoy a meal in a quaint historic inn and take in a top-notch live theatre performance in a venue where shows have entertained guests for over a century. Dance or laugh the night away to the sounds of favorite local bands. Find locally- produced food and goods at farmers’ markets throughout the summer months. SONORA Sonora has a charming historic downtown with an energetic vibe. Rich in Gold Rush history, it has been touted “Queen of the Southern Mines.” Today, visitors enjoy one-of-a-kind boutiques and eateries, locally produced products, live theatre, seasonal farmers’ markets, along with hiking, golfing, and other fun activities in and around town. Sonora is accessible year-round and is a great, centralized place to stay with many options for lodging. Annual events like the Mother Lode Round-Up Parade and Rodeo, the Sonora Christmas Parade, 2nd Saturday Art Nights, Summer Concerts in Coffill Park, and Friday Flix movie nights bring visitors back time and time again. -Sonora Chamber of Commerce. See page 46 Credit: Menka Belgal JAMESTOWN Downtown Jamestown is home to specialty and antique shops, restaurants, micro-brewery, wine tasting and historic hotels. Woods Creek attracts modern-day gold prospectors while the newly expanded Chicken Ranch Casino offers table games, slot machines and Bingo. Rocca Park features a replica blacksmith shop, historic jail, playground and year-round events with live music, artists and craft vendors. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is just a few blocks from Main Street and is a must-see! Take a stroll along the Walk of Fame, and see how many movies you recognize that were filmed in Tuolumne County! Tuolumne is steeped in logging history. Remnants of logging days gone by can best be seen on the West Side Trail. Perfect for all skill levels of hikers and mountain bikers, this local-favorite trail is well-known for its spring and summer wildflowers and Tuolumne River canyon vistas. Black Oak Casino Resort offers exciting nightlife, restaurants, a family floor with bowling alley and arcade, plus hotel and RV park. Cover’s Apple Ranch is a delightful family stop with a petting zoo, train rides and restaurant (Mile High Apple Pie is a must!). Visitors can now pay tribute and honor veterans at the new 9/11 and War on Terrorism Memorial at the Tuolumne Memorial Hall. Annual events include the Tuolumne Lumber Jubilee and the Me-Wuk Acorn Festival. Credit: Menka Belgal TUOLUMNE COLUMBIA Columbia was founded as a Gold Rush boom town in 1850. Today, the town’s past is preserved at Columbia State Historic Park – an authentic living history town. Columbia traditionally celebrates its history with re-enactments, a statehood parade, holiday events and many more year-round festivities. Historic hotels, restaurants, a 4th generation handmade candy store, blacksmith shop, stagecoach, old-fashioned bowling alley, theatre, modernly-appointed mercantile grocery store and shops supplied with treats and trinkets add to the ambiance of the town where a new historic surprise is around every corner. -Columbia Chamber of Commerce. See page 46 4 ◆ 2022 Tuolumne County Inspiration Travel GuideExplore Local Towns PINECREST A destination all its own, Pinecrest has been offering iconic family vacations for generations. Located just off Highway 108, this picturesque destination offers summer fun on the water and the trails. In winter, Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort provides ski runs, snowboarding and lessons for beginners to experts, while nearby Leland High Sierra Snowplay offers tubing fun for all ages. Vacation cabins, resorts and campgrounds are plentiful and conveniently located near fascinating High Country destinations like Columns of the Giants, the Trail of the Gargoyles, Donnell Vista, the Bennett Juniper, Kennedy Meadows and scenic Sonora Pass. Hike, bike, horseback ride, fish, swim and stargaze. Here, the outdoors is yours to explore. TWAIN HARTE Twain Harte–the “Harte” of the Sierra–is tucked away in the pines and is the closest “Four Season Resort Community” to the Bay Area. Wander through the charming downtown to experience wine tasting, boutiques, and art galleries. The bocce ball court, playground, skate park, mini-golf, and executive golf course offer activities for the entire family and are a short stroll from restaurants and cafes. Indulge in snowy winters at Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, experience bountiful wildflowers and dogwood blooms in spring, fish and swim in numerous lakes and streams in summer, and explore abundant hiking and biking trails during fall. See you soon! -Twain Harte Area Chamber of Commerce. See page 47 Credit: Menka Belgal GROVELAND Groveland, “The North Gateway to Yosemite”, is located on Highway 120, the most direct route to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco and Northern California. In the 1800s, Groveland was a booming gold miners’ town. You can still find the oldest Saloon in California, the Iron Door Saloon and Jailhouse Museum here. Attractions include local friendly ghosts, Yosemite Gateway Museum, and Pine Mountain Lake where visitors can golf, camp, dine, fish, horseback ride, mountain bike, and enjoy water activities including swimming, sailboat/paddle board rentals, and Groveland is just a short drive from Lake Don Pedro and Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort. Annual events include the 49er Festival and Chili Cook-off (49erfestival.org) and the “Where the Hell is Groveland?” Car Show. -Yosemite Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce. See page 47 Credit: Menka Belgal The Service Station, Jamestown Credit: Menka Belgal Indigeny Reserve, Sonora Credit: Jennifer Rapoza Rush Creek Lodge Credit: @irenecultura on Instagram Cover's Apple Ranch, Tuolumne Credit: Megan Nesset Credit: @stormchasers22 on Instagram 5 VisitTuolumne.com STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST FOREST SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE 209-459-9238 19777 Greenley Rd, Sonora SUMMIT RANGER DISTRICT (HWY 108) 209-965-3434 ◆ TDD Device for the Deaf: 209-965-0488 1 Pinecrest Lake Rd, Pinecrest GROVELAND RANGER DISTRICT (HWY 120) 209-962-7825 ◆ TDD Device for the Deaf: 209-962-6406 24545 Hwy 120, Groveland CALAVERAS RANGER DISTRICT (HWY 4) 209-795-1381 ◆ TDD Device for the Deaf: 209-795-2854 5519 Hwy 4, PO Box 500, Hathaway Pines Note: Phone numbers valid during virtual operations. Check website for office openings and updates. Stanislaus National Forest offers magnificent vistas, trails, lakes, rivers and streams that create endless opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, boating and rafting, fishing, horseback riding and winter sports featuring breathtaking scenery and fresh mountain air. fs.usda.gov/stanislaus Ask for informational guides: ◆ Wilderness Permits and Tips ◆ Camping in the National Forest ◆ Accessible Recreation Opportunities ◆ Fuel Wood Cutting ◆ Hiking Trails ◆ Horseback Riding ◆ Whitewater Rafting ◆ OHV Use ◆ Hunting Tips ◆ Fishing Tips Pinecrest Lake Credit: @connorruckman on Instagram The Bennett Juniper Credit: @travelingbarnells on Instagram Credit: Kim Carroll Pinecrest Lake Credit: Jaermee Diocson Parks & Public Lands Please— PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT! Kennedy Meadows Credit: @vanessa7993 on Instagram 6 ◆ 2022 Tuolumne County Inspiration Travel GuideYOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Park Information & Roads: 209-372-0200 Lodging Reservations: 888-413-8869 Camping Reservations: 877-444-6777 TDD Device for the Deaf: 877-833-6777 PO Box 577, Yosemite nps.gov/yose Over half of Yosemite National Park is located in Tuolumne County—it’s the least crowded half too. Walk amongst majestic towering trees in the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias or explore the unmatched scenery of Tuolumne Meadows and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Highway 120 leading into the park is designated by the State of California as the Northern Yosemite Highway and is the shortest and most direct route to Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area and all points north. The route is open year-round into Yosemite Valley. As you head towards Yosemite, be sure to stop in Groveland at the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum, where Visit Tuolumne County staff provides area information May- October. Open year-round, the museum is a great place to learn about the area's cultural and natural history and to pick up some souvenirs. Accommodations are available along Highway 120 in Groveland and beyond. YARTS (YOSEMITE AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM) 877-989-2787 369 W 18th St, Merced yarts.com YOSEMITE GATEWAYS Find out about traveling to Yosemite National Park through Yosemite’s four spectacular gateways. yosemitegateways.com Lower Yosemite Falls Credit: Kim Carroll Photography/Evergreen Lodge Parks & Public Lands 95% of visitors only see 5% of Yosemite. Explore the less visited and uncrowded areas outside the Valley Floor – like Hetch Hetchy and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. Go early in the morning (avoid park entrance traffic between 10am and 12pm). Visit the park October through April when it is much less crowded, and you’ll get the best of fall colors and beautiful winter scenes. In the busy summer months, take alternate transportation like Y.A.R.T.S., local transportation, or tour guide providers (see page 17). From Memorial Day through Labor Day purchase your Park Pass ahead of time. Call the Tuolumne County Visitors Center for location: 209-533-4420 or purchase online at www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74296. Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias Tuolumne Meadows Credit: Beth Holland Photography TOP FIVE TIPS FOR VISITING YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 1 2 3 4 5 7 VisitTuolumne.com Tours & Information: 209-588-9128 Museum: Main & State Streets Columbia parks.ca.gov/columbia Known as the best-preserved Gold Rush town in California, Columbia is a place where visitors are truly immersed in authentic California history. Gold was discovered in Columbia on March 27, 1850. By 1870, the “Gem of the Southern Mines” produced more than $1 billion (in today’s figures). Today the town still bustles with shops, exhibits and the lively activity of the 1850’s. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you hear the clang of a hammer at the blacksmith shop, smell the candles and soap at the candle store, visit authentic brick buildings and taste treats from the candy store, bakery or tea house. Embrace your pioneer spirit! Pan for gold, sip a sarsaparilla, pick up provisions or supplies. Take an adventurous ride on the stagecoach. Enjoy live theatre at the Fallon House. See the house that Grace Kelly called home during the filming of High Noon. Docents staff the park museum, dressed circa 1850-1870. Columbia hosts many events throughout the year that celebrate the Gold Rush era including a Victorian Easter Egg Hunt, Glorious 4th of July, lamplight tours at Christmastime and many more! Admission to the park is free and there are plenty of dining and lodging options both inside and outside the park. Nearby RV parks and the Columbia Airport are within walking distance to Columbia State Historic Park. Note: Some park operations, activities, and events may be contingent on Covid-19 guidelines. Call ahead for specific information. Credit: The Taste Edit COLUMBIA STATE HISTORIC PARK Parks & Public Lands Credit: Marielena Smith Credit: Jennifer Rapoza Credit: Brandy Tillett 8 ◆ 2022 Tuolumne County Inspiration Travel GuideCredit: Preethi Chandrasekhar Credit: Part Time Tourists Credit: Marc Dewey 209-984-3953 5th Ave & Reservoir Rd, Jamestown railtown1897.org ◆ railtowninfo@parks.ca.gov The “Southern Mines” of Tuolumne County hit their second heyday in 1897 with the completion of the Sierra Railway tracks to Jamestown, Sonora and eventually, in 1900, to Tuolumne City. This meant boom times for the lumber, hard rock and cattle industries. Later, the railroad was key to building dams that created Lake Tulloch, Don Pedro and Hetch Hetchy Reservoirs. Railtown 1897 brings this era to life. The 26-acre park is open daily for tours featuring the active roundhouse complex, belt driven machine shop, historic locomotives, passenger cars and movie props like smokestacks, headlights and station signs. Railtown 1897 is known as “The Movie Railroad” and its trains, including the famous Sierra No. 3®, have been featured in over 300 films, television shows and commercials since its first movie in 1919. Steam and vintage diesel train rides are available on weekends April – October, holidays and for special events. The Depot Store is well-appointed with toys, souvenirs, books and more about railroads and the California Gold Rush. The park is operated by California State Parks and supported by the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. Note: Some park operations, activities, and events may be contingent on Covid-19 guidelines. Call ahead for specific information. 209-795-1196 ◆ Visitors Center: 209-795-3840 PO Box 120, Arnold parks.ca.gov/bigtrees ◆ bigtrees.org Visitors get an up close look at giant sequoias at two groves within the park. See the largest living things on Earth and the “Big Stump!” Hike, camp and picnic. CALAVERAS BIG TREES STATE PARK Credit: Calaveras Big Trees State Park Credit: Menka Belgal RAILTOWN 1897 STATE HISTORIC PARK Parks & Public Lands 9 VisitTuolumne.com Next >