General Information

Location: 1/2 miles south of Chinese Camp, California.

Map:  Red Hills ACEC (pdf 2.3 mb)

Brochure:  Red Hills Interpretive Nature Trail (pdf 352 kb)

Description
The Red Hills is a region of 7,100 acres of public land located just south of the historic town of Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County. The Red Hills are noticeably different from the surrounding countryside. The natural serpentine in the area causes the plant assemblage to be limited to those species that are tolerant of such minerals. Included among the buckbrush and gray pine is a rich diversity of annual wildflowers that put on a showy display every spring. The endangered bald eagle is a winter resident of the area.

See the colors of spring in the Red Hills ACEC

Directions
From Sonora, take State Highway 49 south 15 miles to Chinese Camp, then drive south on Red Hills Road for 1/2 mile.

Visitor Activities:  Hiking, Horseback riding, wildflower viewing, birding, mountain biking, limited hunting.

Trail length: trail system with various loops, total of about 17.3 miles.

Facilities:  Restrooms, picnic tables

Permits, Fees, Limitations
There are no fees to enter the site. Target shooting is prohibited. Off-road vehicle use is prohibited.

Wheelchair Accessibility:  None.

Camping and Lodging
There are no developed camping sites within the Red Hills.  Lodging is available in Jamestown, approximately 5 miles north on State Highway 49, and in Sonora, about 10 miles in the same direction.

Food and Supplies
Food and supplies are available in Jamestown.

First Aid
No first aid is available on-site. The nearest hospital is located in Sonora. First aid is available through the Volunteer Fire Department in Chinese Camp, Green Springs Station on Route J59.

Know before you go
The best time to view wildflowers is late March through early May.

Learn more about the Red Hills...

For more information, contact:

Bureau of Land Management
Folsom Field Office

Become a Red Hills Volunteer