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. ... Read more.
Latest reports in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (page 12)
Sierra Nevada

Glacier Point
in Yosemite National Park

Attractions | Yosemite
Rating:
Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park
Glacier Point is in incredible overlook in Yosemite National Park. The road to Glacier Point closes in the winter and spring because of snow, but maybe the road should be closed year round. Hear me out... The views from Glacier Point are too extraordinary to be able to drive right up to them! It shouldn't be that easy. Imagine how someone would feel after hiking all the way to the top of Half Dome, only to find out that a nearby view over Yosemite Valley requires barely any hiking. ...Read more.
Tagged with · National Parks · Yosemite Valley
By: Seth Smigelski Published: May 24, 2011 Last updated: April 13, 2026
Sierra Nevada

Bridalveil Fall
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite
Trail Rating:
Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite National Park
The 620-foot single-drop Bridalveil Fall is not the longest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, but it is one of the most elegant. A half mile round trip hike delivers visitors to a viewing platform at the base the waterfall. The short and easy hike is not to be missed. From the trailhead, Bridalveil Fall is visible through the pine forest, plunging from a hanging valley along the south wall of Yosemite Valley. ...Read more.
Tagged with · National Parks · Waterfalls · Yosemite Valley
Distance: 0.5 miles · Elevation change: 50 feet
By: Seth Smigelski Published: May 23, 2011 Last updated: December 6, 2025
Sierra Nevada

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite
Trail Rating:
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park
Is it a competition? Like Sequoia National Park, Yosemite invites visitors to its own groves of giant sequoias, namely the Mariposa Grove near the park's south entrance. Every giant sequoia grove is specoal, but does Yosemite have a tree that compares to Sequoia's General Sherman Tree, the biggest tree in the world? The Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove is a massive tree to see. ...Read more.
Tagged with · National Parks · Sequoia Groves
Distance: 1.6 miles · Elevation change: 400 feet
By: Seth Smigelski Published: May 22, 2011 Last updated: April 13, 2026
Sierra Nevada

Tunnel View
in Yosemite National Park

Attractions | Yosemite
Rating:
Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
On the drive north to Yosemite Valley on Highway 41, as anticipation builds for the beauty ahead, you will pass through a dark tunnel. Suddenly the tunnel end, and an epic view appears, a breathtaking valley with magical waterfalls spilling off dramatic granite wall. Pull over the car and take in the full magnificence of Tunnel View. The eastward vantage into spectacular Yosemite Valley serves up a timeless view. ...Read more.
Tagged with · National Parks · Yosemite Valley
By: Seth Smigelski Published: May 21, 2011 Last updated: April 13, 2026
Sierra Nevada

Chilnualna Falls Trail
in Yosemite National Park

Trails | Yosemite
Trail Rating:
Chilnualna Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park
This less-traveled single track on the southern end of Yosemite National Park visits thundering cascades and one of the longest falls in the park outside Yosemite Valley. Chilnualna Falls Trail passes through charming forests on the way to Upper Chilnualna Falls where hikers can connect to other trails delving into the Yosemite backcountry. Chilnualna Falls Trail is rated as strenuous for its length more than its pitch. ...Read more.
Tagged with · Backpacking · Creeks · National Parks · Waterfalls · Wawona
Distance: 8 miles · Elevation change: 2200 feet
By: Seth Smigelski Published: May 20, 2011 Last updated: April 18, 2026
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