Things to See

The rolling foothills radiate a vibrant green as billowing cumulus clouds roll through deep blue skies. This lush winter landscape provides the animals — and those who come to see them — room to roam in a peaceful Gold Country paradise where the historic legacy of precious metals is matched only by today’s precious wildlife.

Prepare for a magical Yosemite winter phenomenon - Frazil Ice! Learn all about what it is, and where you can see it right here.

Yosemite Mariposa abounds with creatures great and small. From oak-studded foothills to 13,000-foot granite peaks, the animals enjoy a pristine sweep of unmatched beauty where they feed and play freely.

Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County set the stage for epic family getaways, with the more children, parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents tagging along the merrier.

Mariposa County offers a full complement of unique places and distinctive things to do in and around Yosemite.  From soaring above Half Dome to sipping estate-pressed olive oil and riding into the sequoias on horseback, here’s an insider’s list of unique places to visit in California.

Encompassing nearly 900,000 acres and bordering the western edge of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County, the Stanislaus National Forest is an unforgettable realm of natural beauty. 

One of the largest natural tracts in California, the Sierra National Forest flanks the southern and western edges of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County. Abundant recreational opportunities earn the Sierra National Forest’s rep as an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Yosemite Mariposa offers what could be the widest variety of hikes in California. Whether it’s a slow amble through the wildflowers while the kids chase butterflies or a solo climb up the granite switchbacks as clouds pass beneath you, there’s a trail for everyone regardless of age or ability.

There are endless things to do in California. Take a look at some of our favorites - and they can all be done in or close to Yosemite National Park.

One of California’s secret fishing destinations, sun-soaked Lake McClure and its little brother Lake McSwain are nestled in the oak-studded Sierra foothills on the western edge of Mariposa County.