The late season storms of the recent winter will pay dividends for the rest of the year in gushing waterfalls and copious wildflower blooms. Tuolumne County, California, is an ideal place to witness nature's spring awakening, with its perfect blend of natural beauty, historic charm, and creature comforts.
WATERFALLS
As winter's snow melts in the Sierra Nevada, waterfalls come to life throughout Tuolumne County, sending crystalline water tumbling from the High Sierra through the Gold Country foothills. Some are as easy to view as looking out your car window. Others will require a bit of hiking, but it's always worth the effort.
There's a list for starters, with a handy map at www.visittuolumne.com/find-waterfalls.
Along Highway 120 and in Yosemite, you can find Preston Falls and Carlon Falls. At Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, don't miss Wapama Falls and Rancheria Falls.
At Tioga Pass,* Tuolumne Falls & White Cascade are worth the hike via Glen Aulin Trail from Tuolumne Meadows in summer.
In Yosemite Valley, there are easy-to-moderate walks to Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, and Vernal Fall Footbridge.
Along Highway 108 and in the Sonora Pass Area,*Niagara Falls is visible from the Donnell Vista Point.
Blue Canyon Falls is visible on the right side of Highway 108, 6 miles east of Kennedy Meadows turnoff
There are numerous falls visible on Highway 108 going over the Sonora Pass
*Note: Waterfalls are seasonal. Some may not be accessible until the mountain passes open.
SPEAKING OF “FALLS” - TWO NEW HOTELS FALL INTO PLACE THIS SUMMER
With its May grand opening, Firefall Ranch proudly joins its two long-established sister properties, Rush Creek Lodge and Spa and Evergreen Lodge. While the Ranch itself is new, its location has historic Yosemite roots, formerly serving as a stop on the original stagecoach route to the park in the 1870s. Firefall sits on 300 sprawling acres of meadowland and Sierra foothills along Yosemite's Hwy 120 West corridor, the direct route from the San Francisco Bay Area. With 55 standalone cottages and villas spread throughout the property, there is space for guests to enjoy a secluded, nature-forward getaway enveloped in pristine natural beauty.
Opening in Summer 2024, the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in Jamestown will be the largest hotel in the county with 175 rooms, 22 suites, 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Highlights include a roof-top restaurant (high-end and healthy with spices and herbs grown on the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California reservation) plus eight additional restaurants and bars, spa and wellness center, an elevated resort swimming pool and a glass-front, 42,000 sq. ft. casino with views of the Sierra foothills and peaks of Yosemite.
WILDFLOWERS EVERYWHERE
Thanks to the varying elevation levels, Tuolumne County has a very long wildflower season, sometimes extending from March to September in some places.
The lowest elevations of Tuolumne County are the earliest to bloom. The trails around Lake Don Pedro are great places to see wildflowers.
The Blue Oaks Shoreline Trail is nearly six miles long is an ideal location for wildflower viewing, and with large rock outcroppings and scenic vistas, it makes for spectacular photos. You might even spot a bald eagle.
The Red Hills Recreation Management Area is a world of its own outside of Jamestown, with numerous easy loop trails through the serpentine landscape. Take in the sounds of the creek along the simple trails lined with golden blooms. Look out for road-runners while you explore. This uniquely red dirt grows a variety of wild ones like monkey flowers, brodiaea, poppies, and buttercups.
The West Side Trail in Tuolumne is easily accessible and perfect for morning or late afternoon leisurely walk or bike ride along the flower-lined path with fantastic vistas. Learn about the indigenous plants and the railroad history of the area as you walk along this old rail trail, with the help of the informational signs along the way.
The entrance to the little mountain town of Twain Harte will pull you into the magic of natural color with the daffodil views. A drive along Highway 108 provides stunning dogwood displays in April and May.
The Groveland area is a spectacular destination for views of lupines, brodiaea, owls clover, and buttercups. Take a drive along Ferretti Road for some Instagrammable meadow views or make a stop at the historic jail just off Main Street for a local garden full of life and wild blooms along the nearby creek. Grab a cup of coffee and bask in a spring blossom haven at Mountain Sage Coffee and Nursery. Hang for a while in their "Hammock Garden" and shop their garden of native to Tuolumne County plants.
In Yosemite National Park, the less visited trail to Lukins Lake blooms with Insta-worthy wild ones, like shooting stars, that thrive. Nearby, in Tuolumne Meadows, flowers like rich blue gentians, alpine goldenrod, corn lilies, red columbine, and fireweed make an appearance around this time of year.
RAILTOWN 1897 STATE HISTORIC PARK ROLLS OUT EXPANDED SEASON OF WEEKEND EXCURSION TRAIN RIDES
In partnership with the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown offers weekend excursion train rides through October.
Train ride guests enjoy a six-mile, 45-minute round trip ride on the Sierra Railway through the picturesque Mother Lode countryside. A limited number of tickets are also available to ride inside Sierra Railway Caboose No. 7 that was featured in several movies and television shows.
The park also includes vintage steam trains, a working roundhouse, and the timeless Sierra Railway Shops. Open daily through October from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for self-guided or docent-led tours along with exhibits that include interpretive signage. Train ride guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. If still available on the day of the train ride, tickets can be purchased at the Depot Store on a first-come, first-served basis. All paid train ride tickets include park admission and cost $23 for adults, $18 for youth ages 6-17 and are free for children five and under. Tickets to ride in the Sierra Railway Caboose No. 7 cost $28 per adult and $23 for youth.
For tickets and more information, visit www.railtown1897.org.
ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California. Tuolumne County is just a 2.5 hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to www.visittuolumne.com.
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Media Contact:
Laurie Armstrong Gossy
415-290-6830