Mariposa County, California
Mariposa, California is a top spot for getting outdoors. With its scenic trails, top-notch activities and must-visit attractions, it is the perfect spot for an outdoor adventure. The best trails and activities in and near the area include hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and camping. There are also plenty of attractions to explore such as Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day trip or an exciting outdoor experience, Mariposa has something for everyone.
Top Spots in and near Mariposa County
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Mono County, California
Shepherd Hot Springs
4.0Located a short distance from US 395 near Mammoth/Yosemite Airport, Shepherd Hot Spring provides a great opportunity to relax while taking in spectacular views of the Eastern Sierras and surrounding area. After a hard day on the slopes or long day on the trail this hot spring provides a comforta...Read more -
Mono County, California
Crab Cooker Hot Springs
Getting There: Take Highway 395 heading toward Benton Crossing Road. Turn onto Benton Crossing and you’ll see an adorable wee green church. Continue two miles down the road. You’ll make a left turn and head down a dirt road. Cell service is scant in this area, so you'll probably want to...Read more -
Mammoth Lakes, California
Soak in Mammoth's Hilltop Hot Springs
4.3Mammoth’s volcanic valley floor is peppered with these natural steamy tubs with panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra. It’s pretty damn whimsical. My personal favorite is the Hilltop Hot Tub, which is a man-made stone pool fed by a bubbling, steamy creek. According to some corner of the web, it i...Read more -
Mammoth Lakes, California
Photograph the Fall Colors of McGee Creek
5.03 mi / 500 ft gainMcGee Creek is one of my favorite spots in the Eastern Sierra to photography the fall color. Most people avoid the area because the best views require you to hike and explore but the rewards are worth it. Right close to the parking lot is McGee Creek which is a beautiful creek to photograph offer...Read more -
Mammoth Lakes, California
Hike to Steelhead Lake through McGee Creek Canyon
5.011.5 mi / 2510 ft gainWhether you’re looking for a dayhike near Mammoth Lakes, planning a backpacking trip along the JMT, or have a few extra hours to spare on a cross-California road trip, this is an easy and popular trail choice for killer mountain views.I was delighted to discover that this is one of the most easil...Read more -
Mammoth Lakes, California
Backpack to Red Slate Mountain
22 mi / 5600 ft gainI would recommend you spend the night in the area to acclimatize, since the trailhead does start at ~8,000ft and you will be hiking up to ~10,500ft at the end of the first day and climbing up to 13,100ft on the second day. One option would be to reserve a spot at the nearby McGee Creek Campground...Read more -
Lakeshore, California
Evolution Valley via Florence Lake
4.530.36 mi / 3238 ft gainYou can get to the Evolution Basin a variety of ways, but the easiest is through the Florence Lake Trailhead. Here, you can choose to either take the Florence Lake Ferry across the lake, or save $25 and hike the extra 4 miles around the lake. Personally, I would choose the ferry. About five mile...Read more -
Lakeshore, California
Backpack to Crater Lake, Sierra National Forest
8.4 mi / 2100 ft gainStarting at Lake Florence, this hike starts out with a climb up and keeps this up over the next 3 miles. After about 3 miles of climbing you reach another lake, Dutch Lake which provides shade and a nice place to rest. From there it's a relatively flat 1.2 miles in to your destination. Once at Cr...Read more -
Wild Willy's Hot Spring, United States
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
5.0Also known as "Crowley Hot Springs", Wild Willey's is located a short drive from Mammoth Lakes. For more information on the hot springs and the public land restoration, check out the BLM's Website. From Mammoth Lakes, head south on the 395 for 3.5 miles until you make a left at Benton Crossing Rd...Read more -
Friant, California
Pincushion Peak
2.49 mi / 1043 ft gainHead North on Friant Rd. It will begin to head East, becoming Millerton Rd. Stay on Millerton Rd for 4.2 mi. Turn left onto Sky Harbor Rd (street JUST before Table Mountain Casino). Follow Sky Harbor Rd for 5.8 miles to the end of the road. Parking is available along the road. There are port a po...Read more -
Mono County, California
Explore Bodie's Ghost Town
5.0Bodie exploded as a gold mining town in 1876, after the discovery of gold ore. It is estimated that Bodie produced over $34 million worth of gold over the years. The town was finally abandoned in 1942.While driving on 395, turn onto 270 and follow it 17 mi to the ghost town of Bodie. The last thr...Read more -
Sonora, California
Bouldering at Columbia College
Get your hands on some limestone bouldering at this spot. There's actually two locations for bouldering in this area, Columbia College and Columbia State Park (about less than a 10 min. drive from Columbia College), but I made this specific adventure for climbing on the college. GPS Coordinates f...Read more -
Lakeshore, California
John Muir Trail: Camping at Bear Creek
The trail follows the creek for a few miles as it cascades forming very tempting pools and places to lay out. Try to resist jumping in the first pool you see and setting up camp. Although you really can't go wrong, some of the sweetest and deepest pools come after passing by a few smaller pools. ...Read more -
Mono County, California
Explore Crowley Lake Columns
4.0Starting from Mammoth Lakes you head South on Highway 395 until you get to Benton Crossing Rd. (Green Church on the corner) and make a left.From Bishop you head North for about 30-40 miles until you hit Benton Crossing Rd. and make a right.From here, continue West and bending South for close to 2...Read more -
Arnold, California
Hiking Disaster Creek
While this is not a terribly scenic hike, the trees, creek, and terrain are very beautiful, and the entire area is quiet and peaceful. You're likely not to pass a single other person on the hike, which is great for letting dogs off-leash.The trail starts off with a series of switchbacks, which ga...Read more -
Arnold, California
Backpacking to Sword Lake
5.0Getting There Take 108 to Pinecrest Lake to pick up a free backcountry permit at the Summit Ranger Station. (If you reach Strawberry you've gone too far.) Continue past Beardsley Lake to Clark's Fork Road on the left. Cross two bridges and Forest Route 6N06 will take you to the trailhead (County ...Read more
