Auburn This city is located in the heart of Placer County and is known for its charming downtown area. Youll catch a shuttle to get to Devils Postpile from Catch the shuttle Mammoth Adventure Center at Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. Tucked at the base of the eastern Sierra Nevada, this little mountain town offers you complete solitude. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. Grab sandwiches to-go and picnic at Yee Tok Chee Park, Via Del Mar Plaza or Rodeo Beach, with its picturesque off-shore rock formations. The few-block downtown is devoid of chains and flavored instead by local eateries, art galleries and characterful shops, like the custom leather outfitter Mountain Mike. But surrounding mountains remain gorgeous and uncrowded. Sierra Foothills AVA. 10 Best Places to Visit in Southern California. But what sets this North County San Diego favorite apart is its chill, congenial vibe. Many mountain ranges have ski towns focused only on one time of year. U.S. 395s viewpoint at 7,864 feet shows you Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierraand a guardrail festooned with bumper stickers from around the world. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Looking for dining recommendations? The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Read: 6 Underground Mine Tours in California 10. Where to stay. And yet, for every famous Yosemite site, the Sierra holds hundreds of equally lovely but barely known alpine valleys; for every Tahoe, dozens of high mountain lakes. Lovely mums for sale at a San Luis Obispo farmers market (Photo: San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce). We nibble at them. . Located near Donner Lake and Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee is home to a wealth of beautiful outdoor activities and scenery, plus lots of great Tahoe area hikes in summer. Its also in the up-and-coming Gold Country wine region, and there are several great vineyards located in town so you can experience both history and wine while enjoying a mountain getaway. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The 25-mile, nearly 7,000-foot climb starts innocently enough in Three Rivers, one of Sequoia National Parks gateway towns. Your next hometown could be one of these 25 Best Places to Live. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Three Rivers Population: 2,182 A gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Three Rivers is nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In town, scour antique shops for treasures and tap your toes to live jazz playing in the town square. There are many locally owned businesses within the neighborhood, including gyms and cafes. Go for a sunset sail, take a shot at paddleboarding, or find a slice of beach and take in the to-die-for beauty. Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. In summer, the beach of June Lake is so spectacular its hard to believe its real! More outdoor exploration awaits at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary; a paradise for birders. This is merely a sampling of the foodie fun you can have along with your hiking, biking, and skiing adventures. Summer at Lake Tahoe is the same as it ever was, too. Though most stick around the General Sherman, the best sequoia grove in Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks stands on the Congress Trail. Where to stay in Sierra Foothills? It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills and was founded in 1848. 5. And for generations, its been Californias backyard mountain range. Region Characteristics Area Amenities Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness Tuolumne County offers a wide range of amenities for every age group. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Craft beer fans can sample the countys growing micro-brew scene at Pizza Port, a local brewer with crave-worthy pizza and a bounty of other celebrated local brews to boot. Heading east, 4 curlicues up and over Ebbetts Passs 8,732-foot summit. Thinking about making a move to the area? Shopping and dining in the European-style village is equally luxurious, offering a mix of high-end brands and boutiques along stone-paved streets in buildings with adorably curly-cued roofs. Roseville is only 20 minutes away from Sacramento and is a short ride away from the nearby Sierra Nevada foothills and Folsom Lake. Shasta as well. Founded in 1911, this small Danish village set in the Santa Ynez Valley is the epitome of charming, in the European sense. Browse 1,064 sierra foothills stock photos and images available, or search for californian sierra nevada or folsom lake to find more great stock photos and pictures. But there is much more to Cali than sun and surf, glitzy cityscapes and epic traffic jams. A 5-mile round-trip hike leads to Wapama Falls. The Sierra Nevada covers much of California's center and includes a patchwork of protected lands: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park s, Lake Tahoe (the largest alpine lake in North America) and the Desolation Wilderness, Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses. You might think you know the Sierras inside-out, but many of the mountains best sights are waiting for you to discover them. The city of Sonoma is a perfect start for any wine-tasting adventure, as the Buena Vista Winery here was the states first winery, founded in 1857. This historic city is full of charm, from its quaint downtown area to its picturesque Victorian homes. There are many good bases for hiking around the Sierra Nevada. This California Historic Landmark, with its vine-draped stone walls, launched long before the area became a wine production mecca. How to Order Grass Fed, Pasture Raised Meats Directly From the Farmer, Kings Beach: Grab a Bite at White Caps Pizza. The Truckee River outlet in Tahoe City (Photo: Luke H. Gordon), We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience and save your preferences. Carlsbad, the village by the sea in Southern California (SoCal), is adored for its seemingly endless coastline. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Travel Inspiration. South of San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara, like many of its neighboring coastal cities, boasts picturesque beaches along with an average of 300 days of sunshine. This is just a taste of the best mountain towns in California High Sierra. Here is our list of the top lodging establishments in the Sierra Foothills area of Sutter Creek and Plymouth. It is the Sierra Foothills' best kept secret. Thousands of people do it each year. Other ways to embrace being out in the wild include mountain biking, fishing, and rock climbing on Suicide Rock and Tahquitz Rock, the intimidating monolith that comes into view long before you exit the highway. No approach to the Sierra is unimpressive, but if you want to be hit over the head with the magnitude of the range, the eastern side is your best bet. "CommUnity" was the festival theme this year, a concept that came roaring to life throughout the nine film venues scattered across downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley, sister towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Just walk down the stairs to Commons Beach for a dip or listen to some free, live outdoor music. SUNSET is a registered trademark of S Media International Corporation. Looking for lodging recommendations for the area? American Fire Now 1,200 Acres, Covering Parts Of Sierra Foothills In Smoke. But locals argue about which other mountain pass boasts the best scenery. Set in a valley fringed by the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai is a cute low altitude mountain town in Southern California. Its charming no matter the time of year and a great place for all sorts of outdoor activities. You can get out on the lake in a boat, kayak or standup paddle board and admire the impressive views of the surrounding mountains. Its close enough to Yosemite that you can visit on a day trip, but it also has enough happening on the lake for it to be worth a visit all on its own. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Geology meets geometry in a massive rock formation of hexagonal columns formed by an ancient lava flow more than 100,000 years ago. #7 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Or traverse the city and beyond by way of the Ojai Valley Trail. A short drive from either Los Angeles or San Diego, Idyllwild is a great place to play in the snow and stay in a charming cabin in winter or enjoy the hiking trails in summer. The beautiful town of Nevada City is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and youd be forgiven for feeling transported back in time when you visit as you see all the lovely Victorian architecture in downtown Nevada City. Primary Sidebar. Get fresh recipes, wine pairings, weekend getaway ideas, regional gardening tips, home design inspiration, and more. Its a must-stop on a an adventure through the California Sierra Nevada. The Northern California mountain town of Mt. The Sierra Nevadas define the interior, with many wonderful California mountain towns dotting the foothills and edges of the mountains, and smaller ranges in Southern California combine both beauty and accessibility. Come in the spring to see all the apple blossoms, or in fall to pick your own apples. Location : Downieville CA 95936. Or tide pools? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The town of South Lake Tahoe is the largest in the Lake Tahoe area, but it still maintains its small California mountain town vibe. 3. Being in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country makes it easy to try the local wines featured at village tasting rooms. Anyone that enjoys spending their time outdoors doing lots of activities filled with fresh air 2,000 vertical feet of singletrack in Bass Lake, towns & communities surrounding the Lake Tahoe region, Stroll the main thoroughfare and pick up a gift for a friend or family, wines grown within the county or enjoy a frosty pint brewed locally, California State Mining and Mineral Museum, perfect basecamp to the High Sierra in any season, gateway to Devils Postpile National Park, New Melones Lake for hiking, mountain biking, & even amazing fishing, new dining options available in Markleeville. The characteristically warm weather makes the state beach a popular attraction year-round, perfect for riding waves, building sand castles, running along the hard-packed shore or boardwalk, and relaxing with the sound track of crashing waves in the background.