Hikes in Calaveras County

Made famous by one-time resident Mark Twain’s short story, The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, this one thousand square mile swath of the sierra foothills has a lot to offer to present day visitors. In addition to the famed jumping frog jubilee and a popular wine-tasting town, Calaveras County has several areas for hiking. Not far from Yosemite National Park on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the sparely populated county is covered with rugged subalpine woodlands largely protected by Stanislaus National Forest. Tree lovers can visit Calaveras Big Tree State Park, which was one of California’s earliest state parks, and protects the first grove of giant sequoias discovered by settlers.

Hiking Calaveras County

North Grove Big Trees Trail in Calaveras Big Trees State ParkNorth Grove – Big Trees Trail in Calaveras Big Trees State Park
This easy 1.5-mile loop explores the first giant sequoias discovered by settlers in California in the North Grove of Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Natural Bridge of Calaveras CountyUpper Natural Bridge Trail
This fun 2-mile round trip hike descends into a canyon to a limestone tunnel in a creek (that you can swim through).
View Sierra Nevada trails and campground in a larger map
hikespeak
Latest reports in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (page 1)
Sierra Nevada

Way of the Mono Trail
in Sierra National Forest

Sierra NF | Trails Trail Rating: ForgettableAverageGoodGreatUnforgettable
Way of the Mono Trail Sierra National Forest Bass Lake View Hike Oakhurst California
Interpretive trails are usually good places to appreciate the finer features of a forest, but they tend to lack grand vistas. This is not the case with Way of the Mono Trail, which rises to a splendid view over Bass Lake, a beauty in the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Yosemite National Park. Way of the Mono Trail is a 0.6-mile loop with 140 feet of elevation change. Panels along this... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike Tagged with · Bass Lake · Free Trails · Lakes · Morteros · Native American Heritage · Nature Trails · Oakhurst
 Distance: 0.6 miles · Elevation change: 140 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 30, 2021
Sierra Nevada

Columbia Rock
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite Trail Rating: ForgettableAverageGoodGreatUnforgettable
Columbia Rock Yosemite National Park Columbia Rock Viewpoint Yosemite Falls Trail Hike Yosemite Valley California
Yosemite Valley looks great from the bottom up, the top down, and even the middle out. For this neither-up-nor-down view over Yosemite Valley, visit Columbia Rock, a viewpoint on Yosemite Falls Trail perched about thousand feet up the north wall of Yosemite Valley. The hike from Camp 4 up to Columbia Rock is 2.2 miles round trip with 985 feet of elevation change. Of course, continuing up... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike Tagged with · National Parks · Yosemite Valley
 Distance: 2.2 miles · Elevation change: 985 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 31, 2018
Sierra Nevada

Washburn Point
in Yosemite National Park

Attractions | Yosemite Rating: ForgettableAverageGoodGreatUnforgettable
Washburn Point Overlook Glacier Point Road Viewpoint Yosemite National Park California
Glacier Point is probably the most incredibly viewpoint in Yosemite National Park (rivaled closely by Tunnel View), but it isn't the only viewpoint along Glacier Point Road. Washburn Point is located 3/4 of a miles from the end of Glacier Point Road, south of Glacier Point. Its vistas are similar to Glacier Point, and since you have to pass Washburn Point to get out to Glacier Point, it's... Read more.
Tagged with · National Parks
By: Published: Last updated: April 26, 2019
Sierra Nevada

Wildcat Falls
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite Trail Rating: ForgettableAverageGoodGreatUnforgettable
Wildcat Falls Trail Yosemite National Park Wildcat Creek Falls Path Waterfall Hike California
Is it possible to have a Yosemite National Park waterfall all to yourself? Yes! The odds of waterfall solitude are pretty low when you go to Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, or Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall along the Mist Trail, but unheralded Wildcat Falls is different. Although this multi-tier waterfall is about 650 feet tall, only the bottom 50-foot tall cascade at the base of Wildcat Falls... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike Tagged with · National Parks · Waterfalls
 Distance: 0.15 miles · Elevation change: 15 feet
By: Published: Last updated: September 10, 2018
Sierra Nevada

Yosemite Falls Trail
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite Trail Rating: ForgettableAverageGoodGreatUnforgettable
Yosemite Falls Trail Yosemite National Park Upper Yosemite Fall Hike Yosemite Valley California
Yosemite Falls is incredibly beautiful and incredibly big. It is the tallest waterfall in North America, the 5th tallest waterfall in the world, and a star along the north wall of Yosemite Valley. Hiking to Yosemite Falls is one of the greatest things visitors can do in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Falls drops a total of 2,425 feet, beginning with the cliff-leaping 1,430-foot Upper... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike Tagged with · National Parks · Waterfalls · Yosemite Valley
 Distance: 7 miles · Elevation change: 2715 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 31, 2018
← Older Entries