State Parks and National Parks

Sierra National Forest

The Sierra National Forest has 11 reservoirs and lakes, 63 campgrounds, five wilderness areas and hundreds of miles of hiking, equestrian and off-road vehicle trails.

Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking, boating, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and camping.

Explore the Sierra National Forest by driving or bicycling on the 70-mile Judy Andreen Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway or the 100-mile Sierra Vista Byway.

The forest contains parts of the Ansel Adams and John Muir wildernesses. The John Muir, at 581,000 acres, is California's largest and most-visited wilderness. Parts of the Pacific Crest and John Muir trails cross both wilderness areas.

The 30,000-acre Dinkey Lakes wilderness is separated from the John Muir by the Ershim/Dusy Off-Highway Vehicle Route. Most of the Dinkey Lakes area is above 8,000 feet in elevation and the highest point is Three Sisters Peak at 10,619 feet.

McKinley Grove of giant sequoias is a stand of virgin trees. The largest is 230 feet tall, they average 15 feet in diameter.

National recreation trails in the forest include Shadow of the Giants, Lewis Creek, Rancheria Falls and Black Point.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region.