Places to Go and Stuff to do Outside Yosemite
Mariposa’s Museum and History Center is on the main street running through town.
The area outside Yosemite National Park has a great assortment of attractions from museums, restaurants, horseback riding, fishing, an antique railroad you can ride on, several very enjoyable hikes, swimming and boat rentals in a nearby lake and much more. And if you are an art lover check out the Sierra Art Trails event that is usually held in late September or early October. These activities are located somewhere in or near the two nearby towns of Oakhurst to the south and Mariposa to the north. And as avid hikers and lovers of the Sierras we know that visiting the easter Sierra is well worth the effort!
Mariposa
Located about 20 minutes north of Sierra Trails Inn on California State Highway 140 is the small historic gold mining town of Mariposa. Our town hosts some nice restaurants, two small museums, a super market, laundromat, some shops, pubs (some with live music) and, driving towards the west entrance to Yosemite, there is a nice hike suitable for spring and fall. Mariposa also hosts a number of festivals and other events. Here is a short bit about the history of our town.
Hites Cove Trail, in between Mariposa and Yosemite, is s stunning walk that follows the south fork of the Merced River up into the mountains. This hike is at low elevation and so the best time to visit is spring: late February through May. With a little luck you will get to see amazing wild flowers and lots of super cute little Red Sierra Newts.
When driving into Yosemite along highway 140 past Mariposa you will eventually get to the bottom the gorge at the gorge-ous Merced River. Here, in an area called Briceburg, there is an intersection with a dirt road that heads south down-river, away from the national park. Along this stretch there are numerous places to explore, swim, camp or picnic. If you park at the end of the road it is possible to continue to hike along the river for a few miles with waterfalls, wildlife and great scenery. Talk to your hosts for more information regarding exploring this wonderful area.
The Mariposa Museum and History Center’s mission is to authentically portray the people and lifestyle of Mariposa County from the Native American and Spanish periods to the California Gold Rush and through the early 1900s. Original documents and artifacts, gold displays, artwork, photos, and Native American baskets, implements, and bead-work are just a few of the items for you to enjoy during your visit. Located off Main St, across the street from the "Happy Burger" Diner.
The California State Mining and Mineral Museum, located on highway 49 five miles before you reach the town of Mariposa, (driving from our Inn) is an intriguing natural history museum. It showcases exhibits of gems, minerals, metals, mining artifacts and more. Seeing their amazing giant gold nugget is worth the price of admission all by itself!
The Mariposa County Fair has provided a festive atmosphere for families in Mariposa and the surrounding areas, offering agricultural events, displays, demonstrations, entertainment, a carnival, a midway and more since 1939. All ticket sales are Box Office or phone sales only. No online sales available at this time. Check internet for exact dates.
Oakhurst
A 20 minute drive from Sierra Trails Inn south on California Highway 49 takes you to the small town of Oakhurst. An additional 10 minute drive past Oakhurst will take you to the Bass Lake recreation area.
The Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail offers a very nice hike that follows the creek past 2 wondeful waterfalls. It is a 10 mile drive north of Oakhurst on California state highway 41.
Yosemite Outfitters Guides and Sierra Fly Fisher offers fishing excursions in and outside of Yosemite.
Yosemite Trails Horseback offers highly rated riding adventures outside of the national park.
Yosemite Sugarpine Railroad is a four mile railroad excursion that takes you back in time on a historic narrow guage Shay steam train through the Sierra National Forest. Riding on this one of a kind journey guests will get to enjoy riding in open air or covered cars pulled by historic steam locamotives - engines once used to haul timber through the ruggid mountain terrain. Located 10 minutes outside the south entrance into Yosmite on highway 41.
A few minutes north of Oakhurst on highway 41, The Golden Chain Theatre offers year-round performances, from classic plays to lively musicals. Immerse yourself in the magic of live theatre and add a touch of drama to your Yosemite adventure
The 9 hole River Creek Golf Course , a 15 minute drive from our Inn, is in a beautiful setting with the Fresno River meandering along it’s edge.
The Oakhurst art and wine hop are fun events where you will get driven around in an open air trolley, traveling between wine tasting shops, quick bites and art galleries. The trolley keeps doing the circuit so you can get on and off as you like. Six times a year, May through October from 5PM - 8PM. See website for details and click here for a map of the tour circuit.
Bass Lake
Bass Lake is a 5-mile-long lake located about 15 minutes north of Oakhurst. It is a destination offering boat and kayak rentals, water skiing and fishing. It also has has several restaurants and sheltered public access beaches for swimming and sailing.
The map above shows the locations of practically everything the lake has to offer. In Bass Lake village you will find boat rentals, a market, restaurants that also serve alcohol and shops. Outside the “village” you will find more restaurants and boat rentals as well as several picnic areas that also serve as swimming beaches. Note that in the spring the swimming beaches will be grassy, but become more sandy later in the year, as the water level is lowered by PG&E, the company that manages this reservoir.