Outdoor Activities

Winter Activities

Winter Acticities Cross Country Skiing can be enjoyed by the entire family, from small children to grandparents. Glide along on top of the snow while you enjoy the spectacular beauty around you. Several trails meander throughout Goat Meadow, just minutes away from Fish Camp, and Beasore Road, just above Bass Lake, is a great place to cross-country ski. Yosemite has over 350 miles of trails and roads, including over 90 miles of marked trails at Badger Pass ski area.

Machine groomed track and skating lanes traverse 40 kilometers from Badger Pass to Glacier Point and the Clark Range Vista.

Overnight treks to Glacier Point hut and guided expeditions across the park are also available. Yosemite Cross Country Ski School offers instruction and equipment.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Take the entire family downhill skiing and snowboarding at Badger Pass, where five lifts access the 8,000-ft summit. Badger Pass is an ideal area for beginners and families, and the Yosemite Ski School is recognized as one of the best in the state.

Ski and snowboard rentals, a general store, bar, restaurant and sun deck are also available. Badger Pass is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ice Skating
Enjoy the thrill of ice skating on one of the only remaining outdoor rinks in the west at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. Skate rentals are available, and a warming hut and hot drinks keep the chill away.

Snowshoeing
Today's high-tech snowshoes make it easy to take a hike on top of the snow across meadows and through forests. National Park Service ranger-naturalists conduct easy snowshoe walks from Badger Pass. A small fee is charged for snowshoe rentals.

Snowmobiling
Experience a snow-covered world greets you on the Whisky Snowmobile Trail above North Fork, a 35-mile marked route through the forest following existing roads. Beasore Road, near Pines Village at Bass Lake, offers easy access by paved road to the snow line where the fun begins.

Sleigh Rides
When is the last time you took a sleigh ride? Don't wait a moment longer to enjoy this fun family adventure, snuggle in warm woolen blankets on a horse-drawn sleigh. See the snow-laden forests from a different view, and watch the snow fly from under the churning hoofs of the great Percheron horses.Yosemite Trails Pack Station.

General Activities

Touring
How about touring the most beautiful countryside on earth in a Model T Ford from 1915-1926 for your vacation? Day, week, or entire vacation tours are available that can also include a picnic lunch in a wicker basket!

Contact T-Tours, P.O. Box 63, Fish Camp., CA 93623 or call 866-488-6877.

Sightseeing
If you'd like a guided tour of Yosemite for yourself or your group, you'll want to contact Yosemite and Beyond at 559-641-6789 or Crossroads Tours at 559-658-3799 or Discover Yosemite Tours at 559-642-4400! Hiking tours, Yosemite Valley tours, and many other innovative ways to see the Yosemite Sierra area are yours by just contacting them.

Mountain Biking
With a vast number of trails, fire roads and old railroad grades, bikers can ride for hours. Although trail riding in Yosemite is not allowed, the surrounding mountains offer panoramic views and an invigorating ride to suit everyone.

Whether you're a participator or a spectator, you'll enjoy the annual Grizzly Century bike rally, a 100 mile ride which begins in North Fork and ascends over 9,000 feet in elevation via the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway. Several bike shops in the area offer mountain bike rentals, sales and guides who are happy to offer their services and expertise.

Pétanque
Pe-what? Oakhurst is home to the third largest Pétanque club in the U.S. It's an old French game similar to Bocce Ball, played with 1½-pound steel balls (boules) tossed toward a small target ball called a cochonnet. Think Horseshoes and shooting pool. Same skills. The 70+ members of Oakhurst Pétanque Club meet Saturday mornings at 9:00 and Wednesday evenings at 5:30 during daylight savings time.

The courts are currently being outfitted with night lighting. Call 559-683-5466 for more information on how you can join the fun. For directions and more info see www.oakhurstpetanque.org.

Whitewater River Rafting
Just minutes from the southern entrance into Yosemite, the Merced river offers some of the finest rafting in the West. Join O.A.R.S. Whitewater Rafting orZephyr Whitewater for thrilling half day or full day river trips. River coarses available for rafters of all levels. Experience the excitement!

Boating
Rent boats at Bass Lake ranging from jet skis to patio boats. Spend a day fishing, water skiing, or just lazing with a good book. Bass Lake Boat Rentals has a full service shop with a mechanic on duty 7 days a week, boat launch facilities, overnight rental slips, seasonal slips, boat drivers, and lessons. Miller's Landing has overnight rental slips, seasonal slips, boat drivers and lessons.

Rock Climbing
From big walls which can take up to a week to ascend, to spectacular back-country precipices, Yosemite is a world-class rock climbing destination. Visitors interested in seeing climbers in action can park at El Capitan Meadow in Yosemite Valley and gaze up at the largest single mass of granite in the world, El Capitan.

For those who prefer to "do" rather than watch, the southern Yosemite region has it's own rock climbing sites. The AMGA accredited Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides offer half or full day climbing trips for all levels of experience. Classes are offered all year round at various locations. Click above or call 1-800-231-4575 for pricing and schedules.

Backpacking
Getting away from it all is exactly what a backpacking experience in the southern Yosemite region is all about. Sparkling high country lakes and streams, majestic mountains and rugged terrain help travelers by foot leave the hustle and bustle behind.

Multitudes of trails traverse the region. Trailheads for the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas as well as the back country of Yosemite National Park are easily reached. Wilderness, campfire and other required permits are available at the Bass Lake Ranger District Headquarters in North Fork, The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Center in Oakhurst, or in summer at the high country Clover Meadow Station of the U.S. Forest Service. Trail maps, supplies and equipment are available at stores in Oakhurst, Bass Lake and North Fork. Guide services are available as well as trail head shuttles. Bears are active in the region and personal food storage canisters are highly recommended. Please remember: "Pack it in pack it out" and Tread Lightly practices are in effect. Hikers are reminded that weather in the high Sierra changes without notice and to plan accordingly

Guided Hikes & Backpacking Trips
For those who want the advice or help from Experts, the Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides offers adventure day hikes and extended backpacking trips. With over 15 years experience providing active travel and guide services of the highest caliber, you won't be disappointed. Book your family or group for an unforgettable adventure. Explore the wonders of the High Sierra and Yosemite's high-country.

Horseback Riding
Guided tours within Yosemite are offered at stables located in Wawona and Yosemite Valley. One and two hour rides are available for the novices, with half and full-day rides for the more experienced rider. Just outside the southern entrance to Yosemite at Fish Camp, is the Yosemite Trails Pack Station, 559-683-7611, which offers scenic one and two hour rides and an all-day ride to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

The Minarets Pack Station, located deep in the Sierra back country, offers day trips and overnight pack trips into the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Yosemite.

Overnight horse boarding is available at Bohna Arena in Coarsegold, 559-683-2817 and Yosemite Valley Stables 209-372-8348.

Golf
"Birdies" and "eagles" abound throughout the southern Yosemite area on a variety of golf courses. Start in Chowchilla with an 18 hole championship course by visiting The Lakes RV & Golf Resort which has something for every golfer. Continue on to Madera for yet another 18 hole championship course or try Riverbend Golf Course at Coombs Ranch north of Fresno, then travel on to Ahwahnee in the Sierra foothills for River Creek Golf Course & Cafe or Sierra Meadows Country Club. What they share in common is incredible beauty and layouts which test players of all skill levels while winding their way through oak and pine studded countryside. Finish your golfing tour at the beautiful Wawona at Yosemite National Park, the only golf course in the nation within the boundaries of a National Park.

Green fees are quite reasonable: 18 holes run in the mid $20s, delighting many golfers from large metropolitan areas.

Off-Highway Adventures
Hundreds of miles of back roads and trails are available for those who wish to explore the road less traveled. Designated roads and trails for four wheel drives and motorcycles are also in the area. Off Highway driving is NOT permitted in Yosemite National Park.

Miami Motorcycle Trails: located just off Southern Yosemite Highway 41 north of Oakhurst, are designated trails for motorcycles, quads and mini bikes. Camping areas for small to medium groups are also available. Trails are well maintained and marked. For a free map to the area stop by the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Center.

4X4 Roads and Trails: several roads that require high clearance and four-wheel drive for access are located in the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest. Most of these "four-wheel drive" roads are short and of mild to moderate difficulty. Miles of Forest Service and old logging access roads are perfect for the SUV owner who wants to take that special weekend expedition or just a Sunday drive in the back country. Maps and books describing the off road areas of the region are available at the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Center.

Local Hikes
Oakhurst River Parkway: The Oakhurst River Parkway, in 1992, was a dream of a small group of citizens who wanted to preserve and restore the natural environment and resources of our community. These citizens sought support from the Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce and the Madera County Board of Supervisors and have been successful in receiving several grants to develop and construct the Oakhurst River Parkway. These grants, along with countless hours of work by volunteers, have transformed the dream into a beautiful nature trail in the center of one of the most popular mountain communities in the Sierra Nevada Range - Oakhurst, California. Oakhurst is located at the southern end of the Golden Chain Highway and is near the south gate to Yosemite National Park. Its historical roots go back over 150 years to the 1850's when it was called Fresno Flats. Some gold was found in this area during Gold Rush days, but it was the center for food and lumber used by the miners from 1850 on. A lumber mill once stood at the intersection of Hwys. 41 & 49, which supplied shoring timber and firewood to local miners. By 1912, Fresno Flats was known as Oakhurst.

The River Parkway winds past Fresno Flats Historical Park. This park features life as it was 100 years ago. There are several historical buildings that have been moved from the original townsite near Oakhurst Community Park. Townspeople and visitors alike use the Community Park itself regularly. Outdoor concerts, a playground and horseshoe pits make a perfect setting for picnics and barbecues.

The Sierra Nevada Range has several plant and animal zones and has a large and diverse population of plants and animals. There is a wide variety of local flora and fauna that is indigenous to this area, including plants such as ferns, flowers, shrubs, trees, and animals, fish, birds and reptiles, over 553 species types are present in Central California. Approx. 50% of these species, or 261 types, can be found in the Oakhurst area.

Lewis Creek National Recreational Trail one of the most well-hiked trails, follows the historical Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Flume route, passing Red Rock Falls and the 80 foot high Corlieu Falls.

Goat Mountain Trail, with two trail heads along Bass Lake, is a strenuous hike, climbing four miles to the summit, where a fire lookout tower provides splendid views of Bass Lake and the Sierra Nevada range.

The Way of the Mono Trail near Bass Lake is a one-half mile, self guided walking trail. Authentic Mono Indian grinding holes can be seen from the trail, as well as spectacular views of Bass Lake.

Willow Creek Trail at Bass Lake passes along Angel Falls, where magnificent cascades flow into deep pools. Caution should be used on hazardous sections of this trail.

Cedars Interpretive Trail, an easy quarter-mile nature trail, is designed especially for the physically challenged. This trail starts from the North Fork Minarets ranger station, and is popular for learning about the regions natural resources and how to care for the environment.

For more detailed information on hiking trails in our area, contact the Sierra National Forest at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/

Fishing
Whether catching that very first fish or already an avid angler, fisher folks will reel them in at numerous lakes and streams in the southern Yosemite area. Trout are planted frequently during spring and summer months. Explore an alpine lake, follow a meandering stream or rent a boat. There's no limit to the enjoyment of fishing here. Anglers can test their skills during two free fishing days when a valid fishing license is not required. Contact the California Department of Fish & Game (www.dfg.ca.gov) 559-243-4005 for more information.

Fly Fishing is one of the preferred ways to catch fish in the southern Yosemite region. Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides offer outstanding instruction to the area's many streams and lakes. Your day or half day trip is suited for all levels and will include all equipment and an expert guide. Click above for information about Fly-fishing Weekends and the 3-day Fly Fishing School.

Bass Lake is a 3,376-foot elevation reservoir with facilities ranging from U.S. Forest Service campgrounds to cabins to a full service hotel. Fishing for kokanee salmon is good during fall and winter months.

Manzanita Lake, located two miles north of North Fork on Willow Creek, is stocked throughout the summer with catchable size rainbow trout and is a nice family picnic and fishing area.

Mammoth Pool, at 3,330 feet elevation, is located on the San Joaquin River 40 miles east of North Fork and is eastern Madera County's largest trout lake. Two-pound German Brown trout are common, and Browns up to 15 pounds live in the reservoir. Catchable-size rainbow trout and Eastern Brook trout are stocked during the summer.

Hensley Lake on the Fresno River near Madera is an easily accessed 1,600-surface acre foothill reservoir operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bass, blue gill, red-ear sunfish, crappie and catfish are available. The lake is stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout during winter. You'll find camping sites, day-use areas for picnicking and boat launching ramps.

Eastman Lake has fish similar to those of nearby Hensley Lake. This 1,600-acre lake is also operated by the Corps of Engineers and offers camping, picnicking and boat launching facilities. Bald eagles nest near the upper end of the lake, which is closed to access during their nesting season.

Though the lakes and streams of eastern Madera County are relatively unknown to many, they have wild trout and offer excellent fly fishing. There are beautiful streams and high mountain lakes throughout Madera County. These waters support brook, brown, rainbow and the golden trout - California's state fish. The Merced River from the South Fork upstream to the Foresta bridge, Big Creek, Willow Creek. Fish Creek. Rack Creek, Chiquito Creek and Granite Creek are roadside waters that are stocked with rainbow trout during the summer. Iran Lakes, Bare Island Lake, Grizzly Lake and the Star Lakes are good choices for anglers seeking the solitude and pristine beauty of High Sierra still water fishing.

*Fisherman should be aware
of current local fishing regulations.

Campgrounds
Reservations for camping and picnicking areas are recommended during the summer months. Call the National Reservation System at 877-444-6777. Otherwise, campsites and picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campfire permits are required outside designated campgrounds in all areas of the National Forest. Free permits may be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service or the California Department of Forestry.

Pack it in, Pack it out! Many campgrounds do not have garbage pickup, so campers need to pack out all trash. There are no public showers at the campgrounds. For a fee, public showers are available at Miller's Landing at Bass Lake, High Sierra RV in Oakhurst and Jones Store at Beasore Meadows.

Wilderness Permits are required for overnight stays in wilderness areas. Contact the agencies listed below.

RV Parks RV facilities are available at:

Bass Lake Recreational Resort
39744 Road 274,
Bass Lake, CA 93604
559-642-3148

Elks Lodge (member discounts available)
42484 Hwy. 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644
559-683-2717

High Sierra RV
40389 Hwy. 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644
559-683-7662

The Lakes RV & Golf Resort
5001 E. Robertson Blvd.
Chowchilla, CA 93610
866-665-6980

Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging
20450 Old Highway 120
Groveland, CA 95321
209-962-7690

Yosemite South RV Park
34094 Highway 41
Coarsegold, CA 93614
559-683-7855

Public campgrounds, including those in Yosemite National Park, are NOT equipped with RV hookups.

Wilderness Permits & Info
Yosemite back country areas: 209-372-0740

Sierra National Forest permits:
Bass Lake Ranger District
559-877-2218 North Fork
559-658-7588 Oakhurst

Basic Fire-Prevention Precautions

Where campfires are permitted, use existing fire rings if they are placed 100 feet from trails, lakes and streams.
Only gas stoves are permitted when campfire restrictions are in effect.
Never leave campfires unattended - they must be cold to the touch before campers leave.
Clear away any burnable material within 10 feet of campfires.
Do not build a fire under overhanging branches.
Do not light a lantern or stove inside a tent.
Make sure all matches are extinguished and cold before they are discarded.
When using chain saws or motorized equipment, make sure they are equipped with a fire arrester to prevent sparks.

Bass Lake Campsite Information
Call 877-444-6777 for campsite & group picnic reservations.

All have single-family units. Wishon and Lupine-Cedar Bluff offer double-family units.

The Bass Lake Campground Map offers exact locations. Fees subject to change.
Click HERE for Bass Lake Campsite Information.
Click HERE for Sierra National Forest Campsite Information.
Click HERE for Private Group Camps Information.

Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau © 2009
41969 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA 93644 • tel: 559-683-4636 • fax: 559-683-5697
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