Mariposa County’s northwest corner is foothill, canyon and crag country. The bedrock landscape is marked by ruddy outcroppings and plunging valleys along its highways. Big blue reservoirs here are fed by the Wild & Scenic Merced River and provide ample opportunities for water recreation.
Highways
- Highway 49
- Highway 59
- Highway 132
Hubs
- Lake McClure/Lake McSwain
- Lake Don Pedro
- Bagby Recreation Area
See & Do
At an elevation of 867 feet, sun-soaked Lake McClure and Lake McSwain are nestled in the oak-studded Sierra foothills in Mariposa County’s northwestern sector. Lake McClure and smaller Lake McSwain are fed by the Merced River and offer full-service family resorts featuring protected swim areas, day-use picnic tables and even a floating obstacle course called the Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park. Camping, fishing and waterskiing are also popular here, and the lower elevation provides a blast of summer heat that makes the water more inviting than ever.
Nearby Exchequer Mountain Bike Park has 700 acres of crunchy, chain-stretching joy overlooking Lake McClure. The Barrett Cove Recreation Area is an inviting venue for a lakeside camping trip.
The Bagby Camping & Recreation Area is located just below the Wild & Scenic Merced River at the inlet of Lake McClure, offering a wide range of campsites and boat launch.
