Recreational Activities
Hiking
Calaveras
| Groveland | Mi-Wok
| Summit
Aquamarine lakes and streams,
delicate wildflowers, spectacular vistas, unique
geological formations, and other scenic wonders await
hikers and nature lovers in the Stanislaus National
Forest. Forest trails give travelers a variety of
opportunities to experience the abundance of natural
beauty found on the Stanislaus. Many of them appear on
the Forest recreation map, Emigrant Wilderness
topographic map, or Carson-Iceberg Wilderness topographic
map available at Forest Offices. Hikers, horseback
riders, and
backpackers have 480 miles of trails, and over 1000 miles
of un-surfaced roads available for their use and
enjoyment.
Please be prepared
for trail conditions that vary from well maintained to un-maintained.
Whether your hiking trip will last an hour or an entire
day, wear comfortable walking shoes appropriate for the
season. Carry water and a good map of the area. Let
someone at home know where you are going.
Please be aware
of your impact on the natural environment and practice no-trace
hiking and camping techniques at all times. If you plan
to bring your pet, keep it on a leash and under control
to help minimize the publics concern regarding safety,
sanitation, and the threat to wildlife. Please pack out any
trash you may have so others may enjoy a
completely natural outdoor experience. Smoking while
hiking is allowed only during winter and early
spring (November through April), when vegetation
is green.
If you travel in the
spring, be careful when walking near streams. Snow runoff
can increase water depth and swiftness and decrease water
temperature to dangerous levels. Stay away from
streambanks at this time and resist the temptation to
swim or wade.
WATER QUALITY
Lakes and streams
can be contaminated even though they look and taste pure. The surest method of treatment to make water safe is to
boil it for five minutes. Other methods are filtering and/or
using chemical disinfectants such as iodine or chlorine
tablets or drops. A filter with a pore size less than 0.5
micron can remove most harmful bacteria and protozoa
including giardia. Chemical disinfectants such as iodine
or chlorine tablets or drops are not considered as
reliable as heat in killing giardia, although these
products work well against most waterborne disease-causing
bacteria. For increased safety, treat filtered water with
chemical disinfectants.
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