ABOUT THE AREA

Allow your mind to wander into yesteryear as you see such place names as Chinese Camp, French Flat, Poverty Hill, and Mi Wuk Village. Highway 120 offers year-round access to Yosemite National Park. Our county features Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows – exquisitely beautiful! The Emigrant Wilderness encompasses several thousand square miles. The elevation ranges from 1,405 feet in Jamestown to 9,628 feet at Sonora Pass. With a population under 60,000 residence, Tuolumne County is one of the least populated counties in California.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For detailed information about Tuolumne County events, please visit the following web sites. Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce and Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau.

BIKE

Great bike trails crisscross Tuolumne County from Strawberry and Lyons Dam to New Melones Lake to Yosemite National Park. Miles of back roads, logging trails and old railroad right-of-ways lead you on an adventure with the best possible views of scenic Tuolumne County. Bring your own bike or join a Gold Country Tour. Contact the Stanislaus National Forest District Office for more trail information.

BOAT

We have both large and small lakes that are ideal for those who want to water ski, fish, sail, canoe or houseboat. Boating in the High Sierras can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. Area lakes include New Melones, Pinecrest, Lake Tulloch, Lake Don Pedro and more!

COLUMBIA STATE PARK

The town's old Gold Rush-era business district has been preserved, with shops, restaurants and two hotels. Visitors have the chance to time-travel to the 1850s, imagining life when gold miners rubbed shoulders with businessmen and the other residents in Columbia. Visitors can experience a bygone era watching proprietors in period clothing conduct business in the style of yesterday. There are opportunities to ride a 100 year-old stagecoach, hire a "fine steed" for a horseback ride through the "diggins," pan for gold, or tour an active gold mine.

RAILTOWN - JAMESTOWN

Located in Jamestown, California, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is home to one of America’s last authentic, operating railroad roundhouses. Known as “The Movie Railroad,” Railtown’s locomotives and cars have appeared in over 200 film and TV productions, including Back to the Future 3, Petticoat Junction, and Little House on the Prairie. Weekends April-October (plus selected weekends in November and December), take a ride behind a real steam locomotive.

THEATER

Live theater in Tuolumne County is alive and well. From Broadway Musicals to cutting edge drama, the quality and selection of productions in un-surpassed. Sierra Repertory Theatre: 209-532-3120 and www.sierrarep.org

FISH

Fish by the stream, on the lake shore, from a boat or even at the trout farm - Tuolumne County has it all!

SNOW & SNOW PLAY

Ski, snow board, cross country ski and snow shoe enthusiasts as well as those people who just enjoy playing and sliding in the snow have long been drawn to the Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area. Others enjoy Leland High Sierra Snow Play for great tubing and sledding ... or ice skating near Long Barn Lodge.

GOLF

Great golf courses abound in the Sierra foothills. The variety of landscapes and views, with varied degrees of challenge, have something to offer all levels of golfers.

HIKE

Hike the many well-marked trails and see spectacular vistas, unique geological formations, wild flowers, sparkling lakes, and countless miles of streams and rivers.

HORSE RIDING

Horse riding will take you through the Emigrant Wilderness for a day or a week! Riding stables and tour guides are for hire.

PAN GOLD

Gold brought thousands of people to California. You can search for gold on your own or with the help of outfitters. You can explore a working mine as well.

WINERIES

The Gold Country has become the second "Wine Country" of California. Vineyards and wineries are available for touring.