Places to Explore In The Sierra Nevada

Discover the best places to explore in The Sierra Nevada with curated recommendations from our travel experts.

Bass Lake

Almost surrounded by the Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake is a reservoir whose waters can reach 80ºF in summer. Created by a dam on a...

  • 1 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Bishop

One of the biggest towns along U.S. 395, bustling Bishop has views of the Sierra Nevada and the White and Inyo mountains. First settled by...

  • 3 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

Bodie State Historic Park

Bodie State Historic Park's scenery is spectacular, with craggy, snowcapped peaks looming over vast prairies. The town of Bridgeport is the gateway to the park...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

El Portal

The market in town is a good place to pick up provisions before you get to Yosemite. You'll find a post office and a gas...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Fish Camp

As you climb in elevation along Highway 41 northbound, you see nothing but trees until you get to Fish Camp, where there's a post office...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

Fresno

Fresno, with half a million people, is the center of the richest agricultural county in the United States. Cotton, grapes, and tomatoes are among the...

  • 1 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 15 Things To Do

Independence

Named for a military outpost that was established near here in 1862, sleepy Independence has some wonderful historic buildings and is worth a stop for...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 4 Things To Do

Lee Vining

Tiny Lee Vining is known primarily as the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park (summer only) and the location of vast and desolate Mono Lake...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 1 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

Lone Pine

Mt. Whitney towers majestically over this tiny community, which supplied nearby gold- and silver-mining outposts in the 1860s, and for the past century the town...

  • 4 Restaurants
  • 1 Hotels
  • 4 Things To Do

Mammoth Lakes

International real-estate developers joined forces with Mammoth Mountain Ski Area to transform the once sleepy town of Mammoth Lakes (elevation 7,800 feet) into an upscale...

  • 8 Restaurants
  • 9 Hotels
  • 11 Things To Do

Mariposa

Mariposa marks the southern end of the Mother Lode. Much of the land in this area was part of a 44,000-acre land grant Colonel John...

  • 1 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 2 Things To Do

Oakhurst

Motels, restaurants, gas stations, and small businesses line Highway 41 in Oakhurst, the last sizable community before Yosemite National Park and a good spot to...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 2 Things To Do

Three Rivers

Three Rivers is a good spot to find a room when park lodgings are full. Either because residents here appreciate their idyllic setting or because...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Visalia

Visalia's combination of a reliable agricultural economy and civic pride has produced the Central Valley's most vibrant downtown, with numerous restaurants, craft breweries, and cafés...

  • 1 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 4 Things To Do

Explore The Sierra Nevada

Sights 39

Nightlife 4

Performing Arts 3

Restaurants 25

Hotels 25
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Fodor's Southern California: with Los Angeles, San Diego, the Central Coast & the Best Road Trips
Fodor's Southern California: with Los Angeles, San Diego, the Central Coast & the Best Road Trips
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Fodor's Northern California: With Napa & Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe & The Best Road Trips
Fodor's Northern California: With Napa & Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe & The Best Road Trips
  • Easy Planning
  • Local Writers
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  • Pullout Map
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