Sierra National Forest

Recreational Activities

SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO

Whether you are interested in hiking, biking, camping, backpacking, picnicking, driving off-highway, fishing or any of the other popular recreational activities, the Sierra National Forest is the place to be.

RECREATION REPORT

This weekly report gives the status of campgrounds, trails, roads and recreational areas (whether they are open, closed, under repair, etc):

• Recreation Report and Trip Planner

ACTIVITIES

• Boating
• Camping
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding/Pack Stations
• Lakes
• Off-Highway Vehicles
• Pets on the Forest
• Picnic Sites
• Scenic Byways
• Viewing Autumn Colors
• Visiting Cultural, Historic and Special Places
• White Water Rafting
• Winter Sports

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GUIDES

For downloadable copies (PDF format) of our Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROGs) please follow this link. These are the same brochures and handouts as those available at any of our forest offices.

ACCESSIBLE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

Many opportunities are available for persons with disabilities. There are also programs that allow visitors discounts for fees charged on National Forests. more>>>

RECREATION AREAS

There are numerous places to visit on the Sierra National Forest that provide visitor’s with fantastic opportunities to experience recreational opportunities their National Forest. Click on the links below to find our information about boating, fishing, campgrounds, horseback riding, maps and picnic sites.

• Bass Lake
• Beasore Road
• Clover Meadow
• Courtright/Wishon Reservoirs
• Dinkey Creek
• Edison/Florence Reservoirs
• High Sierra
• Huntington Lake
• Kings River
• Mammoth Pool
• Merced River
• McKinley Grove
• Shaver Lake
• Sky Ranch Road

SCENIC BYWAYS

The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway start near North Fork and climbs through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, to more than 7,000 feet. It provides views of Ansel Adams, John Muir and Kaiser Wilderness Areas. It meanders for 100 miles through outstanding scenery of the Sierra Mountains. Visitors will see domes, majestic peaks, and sheer canyon walls. Evidence of glaciation is present along the byway in the natural phenomenon of Globe Rock, Arch Rock, and Beasore Meadow. The Scenic Byway ends near Oakhurst. More information on campgrounds and picnic sites. Also, additional information is available at the Wildernet website.

Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway The 70-mile Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway provides a memorable journey offering access to several resort towns, two popular recreation lakes, and countless creeks. Starting in the quaint town of Clovis, the scenic byways traverses up the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, through Shaver Lake at 5,530 feet elevation, Huntington Lake at 7,700 feet in elevation and finally ends near Kaiser Peak at 10,320 feet. For more information on campgrounds and picnic sites. Also, additional information is available at Sierra Heritage Scenic Byways.

RECREATIONAL SHOOTING AND FIREARMS USE

Recreational shooting and the use of firearms is permitted in National Forests. For more information on regulations for target shooting and the use of firearms click here.

FISHING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS

The Department of Fish and Game manages California's diverse fish and wildlife populations for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public. For information on fishing regulations... more>>>

A weekly fishing report is published in a local newspaper on Thursdays. Click here to access the Fishing Report.

More information on Fishing on the Sierra National Forest.

CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS

Reservations for campgrounds in the Sierra National Forest are available by contacting the National Recreation Reservation Service at 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.ReserveUSA.com. To see which campgrounds accept reservations, click here.

WILDERNESS AREAS

Wilderness Areas make up almost one-half of the public lands managed by the Sierra National Forest. Wilderness allows us to experience wild places without disturbing natural processes. For more information on Sierra Forest wilderness areas, please visit our Wilderness Homepage.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASS

Passes allow qualified citizens or permanent residents of the United States to enter fee areas without additional charge. more>>>

CAMPFIRE PERMITS

Campfire permits are required when camping in all dispersed and undeveloped areas in the National Forest. more>>>

HELP US PROTECT YOUR FORESTS

Please preserve and protect your National Forests. To do this, try to leave natural areas the way you find them, by practicing conservation ethics. Do not carve, chop, cut and damage any live trees. They have done nothing to deserve this treatment, and damaged trees cheapen the natural experience for others. Try to leave your camp or picnic site a little cleaner than you found it; the next visitor will thank you.

There are campgrounds on the Sierra National Forest that use the Pack it In, Pack it Out program for dealing with waste. This means that garbage cans are not provided. Campers are asked to bring their own garbage bags and take their garbage with them when leaving the campsite. While this seems like an inconvenience, the funds saved are used to provide additional recreational facilities. Do not bury litter; forest animals can smell it and will dig it up.