Winter, spring, summer and fall are seasonal magnets for vacationers ready to experience the great outdoors in Tuolumne County in year-round activities. Yet this rural area with its beauty unspoiled by time is a playground shared under the monolithic shadows of Yosemite National Park. With higher visitation running May through September (without the snow enthusiasts), the beginning of cooler temperatures brings on the brilliance of autumn. Dogwood leaves glow among the Evergreen, Ponderosa Pines and Incense Cedars, while Black Oaks shimmer in golden hues. Snow flakes cascade down in winter, only in the high country. In the small historic towns below, the snowfall is rare. Often you can snow ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon! The activities listed below are diverse and enjoyable.
GOLD PROSPECTING
There is gold in them, thar hills! Although the Fandango Halls and gun fights are but an eerie presence found in the ghost towns the miners abandoned, the boom of the 1849 Gold Rush left nuggets and frontier adventures behind. In Tuolumne County, several mines are still open that allow visitors to pan for gold as the 49ers once did. We have five gold-panning adventure companies located in Jamestown and Columbia that teach prospecting courses for adventurous miners.
LIVE THEATER
Actors from across the state perform on the stages of Sierra Repertory Theatre (SRT), home of two live theaters in the Mother Lode (East Sonora and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia). The Sierra Repertory Theatre attracts Equity actors to the region, as patrons from across the state come to watch SRT‟s highly acclaimed performances. Stage 3 Theatre Company in downtown Sonora is equally dedicated to quality shows with fine actors. A smaller intimate theatre, Stage 3 specializes in cutting-edge plays from emerging playwrights that could be tomorrow‟s Neil Simon or Arthur Miller, yet embraces renowned productions as well.
CASINOS
It might be your turn to hit the jackpot at Black Oak Casino Resort and Family Fun Center. The gaming floor features over 1,000 slot machines, 24 table games, a 24-hour buffet/café, a fine dining and a specialty restaurant. On the lower level, you‟ll find a state-of-the-art family-style tournament-sanctioned bowling alley with dining facilities and a children‟s arcade area.
Black Oak Casino offers the largest non-smoking gaming area in the State, Texas Hold‟em everyday in a specially designated poker room, a Players Club and one of the best entertainment venues in the region - The Willow Creek Bar. This non- smoking auditorium seats 200-300 people, depending on the comedy or musical stage acts. Top-billing entertainment is pouring in from across the nation, from live Karaoke Gong Shows and Country stars, to themed-bands that rock you into yester- year.
Chicken Ranch Casino is newly remodeled with a Casino Boomtown feeling. 345 new slots along with high stakes bingo. Bingo Hall is available to be rented for events. Wnjoy delicious foods prepared by botht he head chef and the baker. Super-friendly employees make Chicken Ranch Casino a treat! Stop by for Senior Tuesdays!
WINERIES
As California has enjoyed a long standing reputation for great wines and great wineries and Tuolumne County is proud to be part of that great tradition. Visitors can sample award winning wines produced in the region from our fine local wineries including Gianelli Vineyards & Tasting Room, La Bella Rosa Vineyards, Hurst Ranch, Inner Sanctum Cellars, Twisted Oak Winery, Ironstone Vineyards and Chatom Vineyards.
FISHING
Catching the “Big One” is a relaxing way to get away from the stress of everyday life, a joins and a picturesque way to get to know Tuolumne County. All you need is a little bait, a boat and a love of the great outdoors to fish for Crappies, Bluegills, Catfish, Kokanee, Salmon, Bass or Trout. Even if you don‟t have a boat to enjoy one of our 78 lakes, like Lake Don Pedro, Pinecrest Lake, New Melones Lake or Lake Tulloch, let one of the fishing guides take you out on theirs…they‟ll even clean your fish for you! Contact Fish „n Dan's Guide Service, Mark Cottrell Fly Fishing or Evergreen Lodge Fishing Guide Service.
„Want to guarantee you‟ll catch a fish? Check out Springfield Trout Farm. Bring a picnic lunch and fish their well-stocked trout ponds.
MOVIE HISTORY
Breath-taking vistas and a rich, enduring history dating back to the famous 1849 California Gold Rush brought Hollywood to the foothills! Since 1919, over 300 movies, television shows and commercials have been filmed here giving everyone a chance to “be in the movies”. See the house in Columbia Historic Park where
Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper were “married” in the movie High Noon, visit Railtown 1897 Historic Park where Petticoat Junction, Back to the Future III and Pale Rider were filmed.
HIKING/HORSEBACK RIDING/CAMPING
„Feel like taking a hike? There are over 480-miles of developed trails to take in the fresh air, whether it‟s the Emigrant Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest or Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne County has over 2000 permanent campsites to enjoy and professional guides to help you discover them- some on horseback, like Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station and Aspen Meadows Pack Station.
Let Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite introduce you to “Glamping” with their ready-made well equipped tented camp sites just waiting for you to show up. Yosemite is open year round. Four seasons of opportunities beckon visitors to play in. Whether it‟s horseback riding, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, stargazing or a love for winter sports- this park calls out to us all.
MUSEUMS and HISTORY
Tuolumne County‟s rich Gold Rush heritage i s best-preserved in historic towns, museums, and two state historic parks. The Tuolumne County History & Heritage Guide and the Jamestown Historic Walking Tour Guide are beautifully designed and informative directories to help you really enjoy the experience. Tuolumne
County; recognized as one of a small but select region with such a rich heritage, was recently deemed a
“Preservation America” destination. Preservation America is a nationally recognized special designation for communities that protect and celebrate their heritage and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage.
Museums: Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum, Tuolumne County Museum and History Center, Tuolumne City Memorial Museum, Columbia Museum (Columbia State Historic Park), Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Fire Museum – Sonora, Veterans Museum of Tuolumne County
MARK TWAIN'S CABIN
Mark Twain heard the story of the “jumping frog” after leaving San Francisco to hide out in the Sierras, unable to make good on promised bail for a friend. In 1922, a cabin was built to commemorate the famed author‟s presence in Tuolumne County during the winter of 1865-66, but time and elements took their toll. So in 2005, the members of the Sonora Sunrise Rotary Club restored the cabin to celebrate 100- years of Rotary service. A good read before you visit is Mark Twain‟s book “Sojourn in Tuolumne County”.
GOLF & MINI GOLF!
The rolling hills of the Mother Lode are as picturesque as they are challenging, with more golf courses than ever to choose from. Whether you prefer the challenge of a championship eighteen-hole course or a delightful day at a small rustic one in the pines, our golf courses cover a variety of landscapes and views from the lower foothills to the high country of Twain Harte or Pine Mountain Lake. Year round golf and pro shops can be found at Lake Don Pedro Golf & Country Club, Mountain Springs Golf Club, Phoenix Lake Golf Course, Saddle Creek Golf Course Greenhorn Creek Golf Course, Twain Harte Golf Course and Greenhorn Creek Golf Course. Looking for a casual golf outing? Check out Twain Harte Miniature Golf for a fun time for the whole family!
WINTER SPORTS
Ski, snowboard and snowshoe enthusiasts as well as those who just enjoy playing and sliding in the snow have long been drawn to Tuolumne County every winter.
In the Stanislaus National Forest (via Highway 108) you‟ll find the Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area with Boulder Creek Canyon for the downhill skier and snowboarder. Challenge yourself on 12 lifts with a capacity to serve 15,700 skiers per hour, on 60 Green, Blue and Black Diamond trails. The new Family Lodge has a cozy Bistro and an expanded children‟s day care center with pre-school snow play program.
You can rent snowshoes locally (or bring your own) and go cross country skiing on miles of well-marked wilderness trails that start right at the lodge.
Leland High Sierra Snow Play offers the best and largest tubing and sledding area in the U.S! Enjoy the wellgroomed slopes (rope tow for hill climbing ease); with a day- use lodge that includes an outdoor deck, snack bar, indoor restrooms, pool tables and warm cozy fireplace. Or you can rent skates at the Long Barn Lodge to try your skill on the ice rink.
With the many scenic hiking trails along Highway 120, this area near the north entrance to Yosemite is a natural choice for snow shoe enthusiasts. It is considered by many to be an up and coming Snow Shoe Mecca! Trail guide books and snow shoes are available locally.
ACCESSIBILITY
Highway 120, open year round, is your Front Door to Yosemite National Park and the closest route to Groveland and Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and all points north.
Tuolumne County is accessible for private pilots via Columbia Airport and Pine Mountain Lake Airport and five international airports are within a two to three hour drive. These include: San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Fresno and Sacramento.
The historic gold rush town of Sonora is the county seat.
See www.YosemiteGoldCountry.com for more information on all activities.