Below the snow line" winter destinations

  In the foothills

- Dragoon Gulch, Sonora

-New Melones (hiking/mountain biking trails and wildlife viewing)

Snow Play off of Highway 108

  Cross-country options around the Dodge Ridge Ski Area:

     There are a number of trails and roads designated for cross-country skiing around Dodge Ridge. Skiing on Crabtree Road from its intersection with Dodge Ridge Road takes you on a 2.5-mile incline up to Aspen Meadow. The views are excellent, and the good news is that it is downhill the whole way back down. Trails for more skilled and adventurous backcountry skiers can be taken off of Crabtree Road leading to steeper slopes and views of the North Fork and Clavey River drainages.

      The Gooseberry Road trail offers moderate to advanced opportunities for both cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with varying terrain that can be accessed just beyond the Dodge Ridge parking area on the loop road. For those just wanting a beginning opportunity, a short snowshoe or ski excursion up into the forest is easy at this location.

      Cross-country ski trail maps for the Dodge Ridge area are available at the Forest Service Summit Ranger Station and at the Dodge Ridge ski center. The maps provide more detailed information as to the skill level required for various routes.

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  Herring Creek Road

      This Forest Service road is located just two miles east of Strawberry off Highway 108 and receives far less visitors than the Dodge Ridge area. Its gradual incline is ideal for moderate level cross-country skiing. For those wanting to head out a few miles with a destination in mind and a map in hand, you can ski out to the Herring Creek bridge and old growth forest groves on the south side.

 

  Lyons Reservoir Road/Sugar Pine Railroad Grade

     At least a few times in most winters there is enough snow for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at lower elevation destinations. The Lyons Reservoir Road is located just west of Long Barn on Highway 108 past Sierra Village. There is a large pullout for parking on the north side of the road. The road eventually leads to Lyons Reservoir, which is about a 2-mile trek downhill from the highway. If you’ve planned ahead, from the reservoir, you can link up with the Sugar Pine Railroad grade at the dam and ski the level 5 miles back towards the South Fork-Confidence Road trailhead.

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The Highway 4 corridor offers
Big Trees Park and Bear Valley scenery

  Calaveras Big Trees State Park

      Along the Highway 4 corridor, Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers exceptional beauty and chance to see wildlife in a moderate elevation park setting. Parking at the main lot and taking the “closed for the winter” main road out into the Park is the easiest way to explore on either cross-country skis or snowshoes. The west-side entrance to the Park can also be a good option for those who prefer fewer people and a steeper incline.

  

 

  Bear Valley offers a host of options

      High up the mountain highway, the Bear Valley area is one of the most spectacular scenic destinations in the region for winter recreation. Bear Valley Cross Country and Mountain Adventures Seminars are two local businesses that provide a range of exciting skiing, snowboard, and snowshoe adventures with excellent guides, trails, etc. CSERC recommends both businesses.

      For those only wanting a short outing, the Spicer Road area has a snow-park and plenty of areas for snowplay, skiing, or snowshoes. Go online to learn about the Snow-Park regulations if you plan to use that facility.

     Another excellent option in the Bear Valley area is Big Meadow, on the south side of the highway. When Big Trees Park and other low elevation areas run short of snow, Big Meadow is likely to still have plenty for those seeking scenic adventures in a blanket of white.

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  Dragoon Gulch, Sonora

     This hidden trail is nestled along Dragoon Gulch, a tributary drainage of Woods Creek. The trail can be accessed from Woods Creek Rotary Park in Downtown Sonora, across from the fairgrounds on Stockton Road. The 60-acre property was dedicated to the City of Sonora and has recently been developed with about 2 miles of trail that meander through old growth oaks, manzanita, toyon and ponderosa pine. This is a year-round destination that is accessible to those who are looking for a quiet, easy walk close to town. Currently mushrooms are emerging from the soil along the forested trail, and the last of the oak leaves have fallen after recent storms.

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  New Melones hiking/mountain biking trails and wildlife viewing

     As the snow piles up in the high country, winter rains turn the hills around our foothill lakes to a bright green. This is a great time to get out and enjoy the beauty of the foothill oak woodlands, particularly around New Melones, a premier destination for wildlife viewing.

     There are miles of trails for exploring by foot or mountain bike around New Melones Reservior. These clearly marked trails are most readily accessed via Glory Hole and Tuttletown Recreation areas off of Highway 49. For those who aim to do mountain biking, be sure to wait until the trails are dry to avoid rutting and erosion.

     Wildlife viewing is one of the reasons why New Melones is a good low-elevation choice in the winter. With few people on the trails, wildlife can be readily seen. Birds that have migrated down in elevation from the high mountains or from areas in the north can be seen in the oak woodlands and chaparral thickets along the trails. Eagles, ospreys, and lots of waterfowl can be viewed along the reservoir shore or in the inlets.