Things to do / Travel Guide
Explore oak-covered foothills and the beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. With abundant wildlife, varied mountain flora and fauna and numerous recreational opportunities, Sierra National Forest is truly an outdoor lover's paradise.
Known for its awesome mountain scenery and natural resources, the Sierra National Forest encompasses more than 1.3 million acres, ranging between 900 and 13,986 feet in elevation.
Best known for the giant sequoias or redwood trees that grow there, the Sierra National Forest contains hundreds of miles of trails on which to enjoy hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and in some places, mountain biking. The highest peak, Mt. Humphrey (13,986 feet), is on the Sierra crest, and Bass Lake is great for boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and camping. The Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail is great for a day hike or you can opt for rafting and kayaking on the Merced River. If visiting in the winter, the high elevations provide awesome downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. And to top it off, the many developed campgrounds provide the full range of camping experiences so that everyone can have fun.
The Sierra National Forest lies in Central California, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, south of the Merced River and north of the Kings River. The forest is located 50 miles northeast of the city of Fresno and borders the south end of Yosemite National Park.