Service is daily from Sonora, Jamestown and Groveland. The bus departs from Sonora’s Best Western at 8am, then downtown’s Inns of California at 8:22am, returning at 8:03pm to Inns, and 8:18pm to Best Western. It departs Jamestown’s Rocca Park at 8:32am, and Groveland’s Mary Laveroni Park at 9:18am.

On weekends and holidays, Groveland gets extra service with departures from Mary Laveroni Park at 8am, 9:18am and 12:40pm. YARTS service will continue through Sept. 30, and is anticipated to resume in May 2013.

Roundtrip from Sonora is $25 ($17 for those 62 and older, 12 and younger or handicapped).

“For a startup, it seems like it’s doing well,” says YARTS Manager Dick Whittington, who says riders like the comfort of the air-conditioned buses replete with seat belts and restrooms. “In June we had 1,150 boardings in Tuolumne County, and in July, about 1,300 boardings.”

The senior-friendly service “really opens the park to people who may have driving limitations,” he adds.

Fares include park gate fees. With each paid adult one child can ride for free, so a grandparent and grandchild can ride for just $17. Tickets may be purchased from drivers, and no reservations are taken.

Call 1 (877) 989-2787 or visit online at yarts.com.

Even if you’re not a hiker – in fact, even if you use a cane, walker or wheelchair, or have young grandchildren in tow – you can still enjoy one of the world’s great wonders.

Our top 10 outings include picnics, photo outings and much more throughout Yosemite National Park. Most are in the valley due to its accessibility. Call the park’s main number, 372-0200, for visitor information on weather and road conditions, which can change suddenly.

1. Enjoy fall foliage

Along with the brilliant aspens in Lee Vining Canyon on the east side of Tioga Pass, there are oak trees scattered throughout Yosemite Valley and a single sugar maple across from the Yosemite Chapel, which park spokeswoman Kari Cobb calls “the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen in fall.” While it’s difficult to determine when peak color will occur, as it’s based on precipitation, leaves usually start turning in mid-to-late October.

2. Take photos at Glacier Point

Drive to this popular overlook for an impressive view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the park’s backcountry. A short, paved and wheelchair-accessible path takes you from the parking area to the overlook. To get there from Yosemite Valley, take Wawona Road (Highway 41) to Glacier Point Road, which is typically open to cars from late May through October or November. On the 31-mile, hour-long drive there, make sure to stop by Tunnel View – another lookout with stunning views. The drive from Sonora to Glacier is 91 miles and takes two and a half hours.

3. Share a picnic

Take the grandkids for a picnic at Tenaya Lake, an alpine wonder along Tioga Road (Highway 120). The lake received a $1.7 million upgrade this summer, including new parking and picnic areas. A new path provides easy access to the beach for those in wheelchairs or pushing strollers. The sandy beach is a great spot to relax and dip your toes in the chilly, snowmelt water.

4. Marvel at the Museum

While in Yosemite Village, stop by the Yosemite Museum — the first building constructed specifically as a museum in the national park system and a model for parks nationwide. If you’re lucky, you might get to chat with 83-year-old Julia Parker, a Native American basket weaver who works as a cultural specialist at the museum. Admission is free. Through Oct. 31, the museum  features “Yosemite Viewed: Landscape Paintings of the 19^th and 20^th Centuries.” The exhibit features iconic Yosemite landscapes by Thomas Ayres, Albert Bierstadt, Tomas Moran, Chiura Obata as well as other works from the park collection. The park’s Indian Cultural Museum is also on display in the same building year-round.

5. People watch at Yosemite Village    

Visitors from throughout the country and around the world congregate at Yosemite Village, the valley’s most developed area. It offers a variety of restaurants, gift shops and a convenience store – not to mention excellent people watching. The complex also boasts the Ansel Adams Gallery, showcasing the famed photographer’s prints. You can also hop on the free Yosemite Valley Shuttle or pay for a two-hour, ranger-guided valley tram tour ($23 for those 62 and older). Info: 372-4FUN.

6. Dine at the Ahwahnee

Enjoy an upscale lunch or sip a cocktail in the lounge of this historic hotel. Over the past 85 years, movie stars, musicians, presidents and royalty have slept and dined at the six-story hotel — one of the country’s grandest.  Among guests have been Charlie Chaplin, Robert Redford,  Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking of grand, the hotel hosts its annual Bracebridge Dinner, a 17^th Century English Christmas celebration complete with carolers, costumed  players and a sumptuous feast, on select dates in December. Tickets cost a small fortune (adult $325, children 13 and under $244), but the experience would definitely be something to check off your bucket list. Info: (801) 559-5000, yosemitepark.com/bracebridge.

7. Volunteer for a facelift     

Ask not what Yosemite can do for you, but what you can do for Yosemite. In partnership with  The National Park Service, the Yosemite Climbing Association puts on a five-day Yosemite Facelift each fall. This year’s dates: Sept. 25-30.  According to the Climbing Association’s website, the efforts have paid off.  The association reported after last year’s Facelift that “Yosemite appears to be getting cleaner every year.” Info: 379-2650, yosemiteclimbing.org.

8. Go for a stroll – wheelchairs welcome

In addition to Glacier Point and Tenaya Lake, those in wheelchairs can soak up some scenery on the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail and the boardwalk around Cook’s Meadow, both mile-long Yosemite Valley loop trails. Many other areas are easily accessed. The park offers a free 30-page guide detailing disability access to campsites, lodging, shuttles, recreation activities and more. Copies are available at the Yosemite Visitor Center, by calling 372-0200 to have a copy mailed to your home, or online at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.

9. Attend a workshop

Want to learn more about the park in a personal way? Consider taking a guided tour. Groveland-based Y explore Yosemite Adventures offers tours lead by professional naturalists, and photography workshops, including one led by Sonoran, Phil Schermeister, contributing photographer to National Geographic. On the Transect Birding Tour participants spend the day on a car caravan tour learning about the park’s avian habitats. Half-day tours start at $125 per person, and full-day outings start at $150. Those 65 and older receive a 5 percent discount.  Info: (800) 886-8009, yexplore.com.

10. Take a class

The National Park Service offers free programs on topics ranging from geology to wildlife. Programs are listed in the Yosemite Guide distributed at the entrance gate, or visitors can access the latest information online at nps.gov/yose. The nonprofit Yosemite Conservancy also offers a variety of fall-themed courses, including photography, painting and personal journaling. Prices vary. Info: 379-2317, yosemiteconservancy.org.

“Secret” isn’t a word often associated with Yosemite National Park.

After all, more than four million people from across the globe visit the park each year.

But amid Yosemite’s 1,169 square miles (it’s a bit larger than Rhode Island), there are some lesser-known spots – places not full of tourists snapping pictures or cars cramming into parking lots.

For starters, it helps to go during the off-season. And there’s no better time to fall in love with Yosemite than autumn, when the leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and the hordes of summer tourists have come and gone.

It also helps to think beyond Yosemite Valley, the park’s bustling main hub, complete with grocery store, post office, hotels and even a courthouse. According to the National Park Service, 80 percent of the park’s visitors pay a visit to Yosemite Valley at some point during their stay.

The valley may have Half Dome and El Capitan as backdrops, but the park’s Highway 120 corridor offers some spectacular scenery that includes giant sequoias, alpine meadows and peaceful lakes.

Below are four alternatives to Yosemite Valley. Activities at these out-of-the-way gems can range from picnic hikes to overnight backpacking. Keep in mind that some of these outings are off-limits during the winter months due to road closures and snow.

A weeklong Yosemite pass costs $20 or an annual pass $40. Those 62 and older can get a lifetime pass for Yosemite and all other national parks and federal recreation areas for just $10 at any park gate. Free entry days for everyone this fall include Sept. 29 for National Public Lands Day and Nov. 10-12 for Veterans Day Weekend.

A few of the hikes mentioned below, including the first one, involve walking into the park, so there is no entry fee.

Lake Eleanor

Sticking to the park’s edges is a great way to see some of Yosemite’s hidden gems.

Lake Eleanor, at 4,657 feet, is in the northwest corner of the park. You can fish along the shoreline, hike surrounding trails and even camp near the lake.

Because Eleanor is not accessible by any major road or highway, visitors don’t often have much company.

Eleanor Creek was dammed in 1918 to form this reservoir, part of the Hetch Hetchy Water & Power System supplying water to the San Francisco area.

It’s easily accessible via another reservoir, Cherry Lake, which is on the adjoining Stanislaus National Forest.

Getting there

You can get to Cherry Lake by driving from the town of Tuolumne or from Highway 120 east of Groveland.

From just east of Tuolumne, take winding Buchanan Road (turns into Forest Road 1N04 and Cottonwood Rd.) about 34 miles to Cherry.

East of Groveland, turn left off Highway 120 onto Cherry Lake Road just after the bridge over the South Fork of the Tuolumne River and continue 24 miles.

Drive across the dam at Cherry Lake (the gate is closed Dec. 15 until April 15) and continue to a T intersection. Turn right toward the Lake Eleanor Dam trailhead and take the short walk to the lake.

Want more of an adventure? Turn left at the intersection and continue 1.6 miles on 1N04 to a small parking area on your left. The Eleanor trail  is on the right.

No dogs or bicycles are allowed in the Yosemite Wilderness, which you enter at the start of the 1.2-mile descent to Lake Eleanor (you have to come back up, so pace yourself and bring plenty of water).

Explore coves

As you go descend, follow the “Lake Shore Camping” sign to the water, where there are numerous coves to explore. Soak up some solitude as you gaze at stunning islands with towering pines on them in the middle of the lake.

Cherry Lake is also worth checking out. The sheer size of the reservoir—about four miles long and a mile at its widest—makes you feel like you have it all to yourself.

Boating, swimming and leashed pets are allowed at Cherry Lake. To protect water quality, you must camp 100 feet above the high-water mark, the lake level at its springtime peak.

As for Lake Eleanor, free wilderness permits (call 372-0740) are required year-round for all overnight trips into Yosemite Wilderness.

Disabled access:  Restrooms, water faucets and some sites at Cherry Valley Campground are wheelchair accessible; the Eleanor trail is not accessible.   

Dogs: Allowed leashed at Cherry Valley Campground, but not on the Eleanor trail.

Nearest restrooms: Cherry Valley Campground, Stanislaus National Forest.

Drive time, mileage from Sonora: Two hours, about 48 miles (watch for deer and the occasional cow on the road). The road is narrow and a bit rough for the last mile or so.

The Raker Act of 1913 not only authorized construction of Lake Eleanor’s dam, but the flooding of Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley. At eight miles long, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is now the largest body of water in the park.Congress passed the legislation to provide San Francisco a reliable water source following a destructive earthquake and fire in 1906. Today, the Hetch Hetchy system provides water for 2.4 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, an association of municipal customers.Famed naturalist and Raker Act foe John Muir once said the Hetch Hetchy Valley is a twin to world-famous Yosemite Valley.

“Dam Hetch Hetchy!” Muir thundered in 1912. “As well dam for water tanks the people’s cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.”

The decision to build O’Shaughnessy Dam at the head of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is debated to this day, and some have urged that it be torn down.

Getting there

To get to Hetch Hetchy, turn left (north) onto Evergreen Road off Highway 120, about 27 miles east of Groveland and a mile west of Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, then drive 16 more miles to

the reservoir. About halfway there, you’ll come to the park’s Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station, where you must pay or show a pass.Last year, according to the National Park Service, nearly 29,000 vehicles passed through the Hetch Hetchy entrance. In contrast, the park’s busy South Entrance Station on Highway 41 near Wawona received nearly 446,000 vehicles.

The Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. most of the year. In November, the hours are reduced to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the end of March.

After checking out the top of the dam, continue walking through a dimly lit tunnel leading to Hetch Hetchy’s trailhead—otherwise known as “the gateway to the northern canyons of Yosemite’s wilderness.”

Day hikes, backpacking

From there it’s a pleasant five-mile roundtrip hike to Wapama Falls, where footbridges were recently rebuilt. Remember that waterfalls are strongest during the spring and can be just a trickle toward the end of the year.

For more experienced hikers, the roundtrip hike to Rancheria Falls is 13 miles. This can be done as an ambitious day hike or an overnight trek. From the Rancheria area, backpackers can access the northwest wilderness of Yosemite, including Tiltill Valley and Mountain. A free backpacking permit must be obtained at the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station.

According to a National Park Service brochure and map, visitors to Hetch Hetchy have “easy access to a vast wilderness filled with high-country lakes, streams and wildlife.”

Since the reservoir supplies unfiltered drinking water to millions of people, no swimming or boating is allowed.

If you’re looking for a shorter drive and hike, consider the trail to Carlon Falls off Evergreen Road. The trailhead is at the Tuolumne River Bridge about a mile down the road from Highway 120. Shortly after starting the four-mile roundtrip trek you’ll enter Yosemite, and, like Lake Eleanor, this is a free way to enter the park.

Disabled access: Trails beyond the dam area are not accessible.

Dogs: Not permitted on the dam or trails, but allowed in day-use area at Hetch Hetchy if leashed.

Nearest restrooms: At dam parking lot.

Drive time, mileage from Sonora:  Two hours, 65 miles.

Giant Sequoias

The smallest of Yosemite’s three giant sequoia groves, the Merced Grove is “perhaps the best opportunity for a solitary experience among these colossal giants,” reads a sign at the trailhead.

A good way to see these magnificent trees – which can tower above 300 feet, grow to 12 feet in diameter and live more than 2,000 years – is to take the three-mile round-trip hike, which follows the roadbed of the historic and now-abandoned Coulterville Road.

A small parking area for the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias is on your right, roughly five  miles east of Big Oak Flat Entrance Station at the park’s western edge.

Walk the flat, wide dirt trail a half-mile to a gate on the left that warns no bicycles or dogs are permitted. The trail gets slightly rougher as it leads downhill to the grove of 20 impressive trees. You’ll also see a historic cabin, built in 1934 as a summer retreat for park superintendents.

The grove is only 1.5 miles from the parking lot, and another mile will take you to Twin Bridges–which, as the name implies, is two bridges over a creek.

Tuolumne Grove

If the Merced Grove doesn’t give you your fix of big trees, continue down the highway to Crane Flat, turn left on Highway 120 (Tioga Road), and look for a large parking lot on the left for the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.

This hike is a little more than two miles roundtrip, as the first giant sequoia is only a mile from the parking lot. A highlight is walking through the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree.

The trail follows the historic and now abandoned Big Oak Flat Road through the 24-tree Tuolumne Grove. For a longer hike, continue another 4.2 miles to Hodgdon Meadow.

Both the Merced and Tuolumne grove hikes are moderately strenuous. The uphill return for the Merced Grove is a 600-foot gain and the Tuolumne Grove has a 400-foot gain.

Plan a picnic

The groves are ideal picnic hikes, as there are restrooms and picnic tables at the trailheads. The trails are marked for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

The park’s third stand of big trees, the Mariposa is near the park’s southern entrance, boasts fully 500 giant sequoias, but is often crowded with visitors.

Disabled access: Tram tours provide access to Mariposa Grove. Tuolumne Grove trail is paved, but includes some steep grades. Merced Grove trail is dirt and includes climbs.

Dogs: Permitted leashed at picnic areas near trailheads; not allowed on trails.

Nearest restrooms: At Merced, Tuolumne and Mariposa Grove trailheads, also just below the museum in the Mariposa’s upper grove.

Drive time, mileage from Sonora: Merced Grove, 53 miles (1 hr., 15 min.); Tuolumne Grove, 56.5 miles (1 hr., 15 min.); Mariposa Grove, 89.5 miles (2 hr., 15 min.).

Tioga Pass

Continuing east on Tioga Road from the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias will take you to a high-country wonderland.

As the highway leads to Tioga Pass – 54 miles from the Big Oak Flat entrance station – there’s something for everyone. Olmsted Point lookout offers great pictures. Cathedral Lakes has the spectacular 10,940-foot Cathedral Peak as a backdrop. And from Tuolumne Meadows you can take an easy stroll along the John Muir Trail to explore the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.

Tuolumne Meadows Pack Station, one of three stables in the park, offers summer horseback or mule rides ranging from two-hours ($64) to a full day ($128).  Contact the stable at 372-8427.

While the Tuolumne Meadows area is typically associated with summertime activities, it can be a great place to check out fall foliage or, on rare occasions such as last winter, to walk on frozen lakes and streams.

Eight miles northeast of Tuolumne Meadows is 9,945-foot Tioga Pass, the highest mountain pass you can drive over in the Sierra.

Near the pass is a trailhead for Mount Dana

At 13,057 feet on the eastern edge of both Yosemite and Tuolumne County, Mount Dana is the highest point in the county. Although not a technical climb, the trek to the top of Dana is steep and difficult. Even experienced hikers have difficulty due to the altitude.

If you’d prefer to look at 13,000-foot peaks from your, continue down Tioga Pass for a road trip into the eastern Sierra. Check out the tiny town of Lee Vining, an area that features brilliantly colored aspens in fall, along with Mono and Mammoth lakes to the south.

Or head north on U.S. Highway 395 through Bridgeport and take Sonora Pass to make a giant loop back into the foothills.

That scenery and solitude just can’t be found in Yosemite Valley.

Disabled access: Tuolumne Meadows stables can tailor rides to the needs of handicapped visitors. Exhibits at Olmsted Point are fully accessible. Newer trail to Tenaya Lake is accessible, as are  portions of the viewing area along the north side of Tenaya Lake.

Dogs: Permitted in picnic areas and campgrounds when leashed. Not allowed on trails or beaches like those at Tenaya Lake.

Restrooms: At Tuolumne Meadows campground and visitor center (indoor plumbing) and at both ends of Tenaya Lake.

Drive time, mileage from Sonora: 102 miles, about 2 hours.

For general park information: Online at nps.gov/yose or call 372-0200.

 Copyright © 2012 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

Chris McKenzie walks Table Mountain trail with her grandson

One of the greatest benefits of living in the Mother Lode is the natural beauty that surrounds us.

And there’s no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with family – both young and old.

Below are eight one-day outings, suitable for  both grandparents and children. Most are free, or at least low cost, and can include walks, picnics and photo outings. We’ve included directions from Sonora and mileage from both Sonora and Angels Camp.

Our list includes trips that appeal to avid hikers as well as to those who are less active or simply looking for a scenic drive with a few short stops.

That said, the list is hardly comprehensive – it’s just a sampling of what Calaveras and Tuolumne County have to offer. Dozens of day trips in all corners of the area wait discovery by the energetic and adventurous.

So set aside a summer day for a multigenerational adventure. Get out there and explore:

IN TUOLUMNE COUNTY

1. Table Mountain

Frequented by hikers of all ages, Table Mountain is visible from Highway 108 near Jamestown. It’s a long, flat lava flow that’s popular for viewing spring wildflowers.

At the top, hikers can see New Melones Reservoir on one side and the Sierra Nevada mountains on the other. On a clear day, you can even see snowcapped peaks in the distance.

The 1.5-mile roundtrip trail, maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, is considered challenging as it’s steep and rocky toward the top. Allow about an hour for the trip up and back.

Sturdy boots and hiking poles are recommended, as is water – particularly in the summer, when temperatures on the un-shaded trail can be extremely hot. A restroom is near the trailhead. Dogs must be leashed.

How to get there: From Sonora (6.4 miles, 10.5 from Angels), take Highway 108 west, turn right on Rawhide Road in Jamestown, and follow it for about three miles. Turn left on Shell Road and stay to the left. Visitors can park at the first cattle gate and walk a mile-long path to the beginning of the trail up the mountain. Or, those with high-clearance 4WD vehicles can drive the rugged road to the trailhead. Please close both cattle gates behind you.

Also check out: After your hike, shop the historic stores in downtown Jamestown or, on the weekends, ride a steam train at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (984-3953, railtown1897.org).

Info: Call the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Sonora-area office at 536-9094.

Extra Tip: Remember that walking from the gates will add time to your hike. Also, don’t forget to close those gates behind you.

2. Westside Railroad Grade

This grade, a mile east of downtown Tuolumne, was once plied by logging trains and is the perfect walk for all ages. Not only is it easy, but it offers spectacular views of the North Fork of the Tuolumne River, and has two picnic tables and benches along the trail.

The first section of the trail is part of the Tuolumne Parks and Recreation District. It then crosses some Bureau of Land Management property before entering the Stanislaus National Forest’s Mi-Wok Ranger District. A March landslide closed the seven-mile trail – which leads to River Ranch Campground – 2.3 miles in, so the round-trip walk is now about 4.6 miles until repairs are completed.

The trail is wide enough to bike or push a stroller. It’s also popular for walking dogs.

How to get there: The trailhead is 10.5 miles from Sonora and 26 from Angels Camp. From Sonora, take Tuolumne Road until it ends at Carter Street in Tuolumne. Turn left onto Carter, then make a right onto Buchanan Road. A parking turnoff can be found shortly on the left, and the trailhead is posted.

Also check out: If the kids still have energy after the walk, stop by the new Tot Lot in Tuolumne; its entrance is near the library on Main Street. Or drive northeast along Tuolumne Road North up to Twain Harte’s Eproson Park (about 5½ miles), which features one of the nicest playgrounds in Tuolumne County.

Info: Mi-Wok Ranger District, 586-3234.

Extra Tip: This trail is best in the fall and spring, when wildflowers are in bloom. Winter brings mud and the summer is scorching in the river canyon (not to mention the trail can be overrun with prickly yellow star thistle). During warm weather, go early or later in the day. As always when hiking in the foothills, watch for rattlesnakes.

3. Pinecrest

Pinecrest Lake – at 5,600 feet – features hiking, swimming, boating and a day-use area perfect for an afternoon picnic. The lake, part of the Stanislaus National Forest’s Summit Ranger District, is owned by PG&E.

Starting at the Pinecrest Marina, there’s a four-mile trail that loops around the lake. The trail can be rocky, and granite areas slippery at times, so it may not be the best walk for young children or the elderly.

Afterward, relax in the shade of the towering pines at the picnic area, where many of the tables have grills nearby. There’s also a sandy beach area and a roped-off swimming section where boats can’t go.

Dogs are not allowed in the day-use picnic area from May 15-Sept. 15. Outside of that area, they are allowed on a leash.

How to get there: Take Highway 108 about 30 miles east of Sonora to the Summit Ranger Station, where you’ll turn off the highway to the right and travel down Pinecrest Lake Road for about a mile. Mileage from Angels Camp is 46.

Also check out: Pinecrest Lake Resort (965-3411, pinecrestlakeresort.com) offers a full-service marina, restaurant, coffee bar, ice cream shack, bicycle rentals and a sport shop that sells fishing licenses.

Info: Summit Ranger District, 965-3434.

Extra Tip: Stay until the evening to catch a movie under the stars. During the summer, family-themed outdoor movies are shown at the Pinecrest Theater near the lake. For movie schedules, visit pinecresttheater.com.

4. Highway 108 High Country

Continuing east on Highway 108 from Pinecrest will take you to many treasures of the Stanislaus National Forest.

Among them is Donnell Vista, a well-known overlook and picnic area that provides sweeping views of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, Donnell Reservoir and the Dardanelles.

A new handicapped-accessible trail is expected to open this summer. The new trail will allow those wheelchairs to go from the parking lot to the lookout, forest officials say.

Donnell Vista is ideal for all ages as it combines a short walk with amazing photo opportunities and a picnic area with restrooms. Leashed pets are allowed on the quarter-mile trail.

Donnell is 46 miles from Sonora and 62 from Angels Camp.

Farther east on Highway 108 will bring you to Columns of the Giants, accessed by an easy half-mile trail. Awaiting hikers is a striking rock formation similar to Devils Postpile National Monument near Mammoth Lakes. The columns were formed by a volcano and sculpted by glaciers thousands of years ago.

Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station – just three miles farther east on Highway 108 – is a gateway into the Emigrant Wilderness, either by foot or horseback. The high-country resort also has a general store, saloon and restaurant. Call 965-3900 or visit kennedymeadows.com.

How to get there: Donnell Vista is 16 miles east of Pinecrest along Highway 108. The trail to Columns of the Giants is eight miles farther east along Highway 108, next to the Pigeon Flat Campground.

Also check out: Enjoying the drive? Continue east on Highway 108 to 9,624-foot Sonora Pass, where a parking area with restrooms provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail, running from Mexico to Canada.

Info: Summit Ranger District, 965-3434.

Extra Tip: Fill up on gas before venturing to the high country, where gas stations are sparse and fuel much more costly.

5. Yosemite National Park

This world-renowned park is known for its towering granite cliffs and booming waterfalls. It’s also the ultimate day outing: abeautiful drive, plenty of places to soak up the scenery, and potential photos just about everywhere you look.

Yosemite features all types of hikes – ranging from difficult, such as Half Dome and Upper Yosemite Fall, to easy walks, including those to Bridalveil Fall and the Lower Yosemite Fall Loop Trail.

A paved trail leads from the Bridalveil Fall parking area to the waterfall’s base. Leashed dogs are allowed on this short, easy walk. Lower Yosemite Fall Loop Trail is a mile-long paved path that gives incredible views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. It’s also open to leashed dogs.

Across from Yosemite Falls, there’s a wheelchair-accessible wooden boardwalk at Cook’s Meadow as well as at Stoneman Meadow near Curry Village.

How to get there: Drive east on Highway 120 through Groveland and to the park’s Big Oak Flat Entrance Station. From there, it’s about a 40-minute drive to Yosemite Valley (72 miles from Sonora and 82 from Angels Camp).

Also check out: For those wanting to avoid the summertime crowds of Yosemite Valley, drive to breathtaking Tuolumne Meadows and the Tioga Pass area of the park instead.

Info: A weeklong vehicle pass to enter Yosemite costs $20. An unlimited annual pass costs $40. For those 62 and older, a $10 national parks’ lifetime pass is available at the entrance station. Free park entry will be offered June 21 (the first day of summer), Sept. 24 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11-13 (Veterans Day weekend). For more information, call 372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose.

Extra Tip: Stop in Groveland on the way to or from Yosemite. Groveland’s Mary Laveroni Community Park, along Highway 120, is a great place to let the kids play or use the restroom. Visit nearby Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum to learn about the area’s history and wildlife; kids will enjoy the “please pet” display of animal pelts.

IN CALAVERAS COUNTY

6. Natural Bridges

Kristen Gilbert relaxes at Natural Bridges

This summertime hot spot near the Tuolumne-Calaveras county line rewards hikers with a swim in ice-cold water through limestone and marble caves.

Just 10 miles from Sonora (nine from Angels Camp), Natural Bridges gives the experience of being in an exotic locale, with dripping waterfalls and moss-covered rocks.

The round-trip hike to and from the popular swimming hole is only 1.4 miles. Once at the bottom of the canyon, hikers are rewarded with a refreshing dip in Coyote Creek. The walk is considered moderately difficult because heading back, it’s all uphill. Pets and bicycles are not permitted.

Picnic tables are near the creek, but on crowded days they can be snatched up quickly. A restroom is near the trailhead off Parrotts Ferry Road.

How to get there: From Sonora, take Parrotts Ferry Road through Columbia and across New Melones Reservoir toward Vallecito. Shortly after entering Calaveras County there will be a Natural Bridges sign and parking to the left.

Also check out: On the way to Natural Bridges, stop at Columbia State Historic Park, which has a variety of shops and charming Gold Rush era displays. On the Calaveras side, visit Murphys for wine tasting (without kids) or take the kids to Murphys Community Park, which has a great playground, charming gazebo and Murphys Creek running through.

Info: Natural Bridges is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The bureau’s Sonora-area office can be reached at 536-9094.

Extra Tip: Those who may find the water temps too chilly — kids and adults alike — should bring a float or raft to guide through the cave.

7. Calaveras Big Trees State Park

What makes this 6,500-acre park remarkable are the majestic trees for which it’s named.

Big Trees offers five hiking trails, including walks through two groves of giant sequoias.  The heavily traveled North Grove trail is an easy 1.5-mile loop, while the more remote South Grove offers a more isolated experience.

Guided hikes of the North Grove start at 1pm every Saturday year-round (in the winter, free snowshoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis).

The park, with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, has shaded picnic areas and a visitor center with a museum and gift shop. Leashed dogs are allowed in developed areas like picnic and camp sites, but not on trails.

How to get there: The park is off Highway 4, 37 miles from Sonora and 30 from Angels Camp.

Also check out: Arnold features shopping, dining and golfing. White Pines Lake, a mile off Highway 4 in Arnold, offers fishing, swimming and boating. Restrooms are close by, along with a beautiful new children’s playground and an exercise area.

Info: Big Trees’ day-use fee – from sunrise to sunset – is $8 per vehicle ($7 for drivers 62 and over). Park information is available at 795-2334, 795-3840 (visitor center) or www.parks.ca.gov.

Extra Tip: Make sure to get your picture at two of the most photographed spots in the park. They both happen to be on the North Grove trail: a huge tree-stump platform at the beginning of the trail, and the Pioneer Cabin Tree, which you can walk through, toward the end of the trail.

8. Lake Alpine

Jerry Snyder and granddaughter Emma at Utica Reservoir, with dog Rafe.

From Arnold east over Ebbetts Pass and to Highway 89 near Markleeville, Highway 4 is a National Scenic Byway.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration gave this 56-mile stretch of highway such a designation for a reason: The narrow road curves through magnificent scenery ranging from valleys and canyons to peaks and rugged ridges.

One of the highlights is Lake Alpine, just east of Bear Valley in western Alpine County.  Like Pinecrest, Lake Alpine offers hiking, swimming, boating and fishing. A good resource to check out before heading there is lakealpine.com.

Lake Alpine is within the Stanislaus National Forest’s Calaveras Ranger District, with headquarters in Hathaway Pines (between Murphys and Arnold). Stop by the ranger station to pick up free information about the Lake Alpine area.

How to get there: Lake Alpine is 50 miles from Angels Camp and 58 from Sonora, via Parrotts Ferry Road.

Also check out: Keep going east on Highway 4 to 8,730-foot Ebbetts Pass — a much different mountain pass than Sonora Pass, but just as spectacular.

Info: Calaveras Ranger District, 795-1381.

Extra Tip: What better way to explore the lake than by canoe, kayak or boat? Lake Alpine Resort (753-6350, lakealpineresort.com) has all of those and more, including a restaurant, general store and bar. Kayakers will also enjoy a paddle on Spicer or Utica reservoirs, just six miles south of Alpine.

© 2011 Friends and Neighbors

]]> http://seniorfan.com/2011/06/8-great-day-outings/feed/ 0