Things to Do
Activities in Twain Harte ~ Yosemite ~ High Sierra ~ Gold Country ~ Dodge Ridge
Things to do when visiting McCaffrey House
McCaffrey House, located above the picturesque town of Twain Harte, is an ideal destination for four season travelers. Explore the magnificent Sierra High Country and California’s Mother Lode. Visit Yosemite National Park, Calaveras Big Trees, Columbia State Park and Pinecrest Lake. It’s also fun to visit Cover’s Apple Ranch and Indigeny Reserve – Organic Apple Ranch, Ciderworks and Distillery. Following are our suggestions.
About the Area
Allow your mind to wander into yesteryear as you see such place names as Chinese Camp, French Flat, and Poverty Hill. Highway 120 offers year-round access to Yosemite National Park. Our county features Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows – exquisitely beautiful! The Emigrant Wilderness encompasses several thousand square miles. The elevation ranges from 1,405 feet in Jamestown to 9,628 feet at Sonora Pass. With a population under 60,000, Tuolumne County is one of the least populated counties in California.
Favorite Restaurants
Interested in Craft Beer? Check out this article that includes McCaffrey House.
We recommend The Rock & Eproson House for the best beer!
Twain Harte
Alicia’s Sugar Shack
The Eproson House
The China House
El Jardin
The Rock
Sweetharte Ice Cream Shoppe
The Prospector
Sonora
El Arroyo | Cantina & Méxican Kitchen
The Diamond Back Grill
Sonora Thai Cuisine
Emberz Wood-Fired Foodz
Seven Sisters at the Black Oak Casino
Soulsbyville
The Standard Pour
Cold Springs
Mia’s
Pinecrest
The Steam Donkey
For information about Tuolumne County events and activities, please visit the following websites.
If you are planning to visit Yosemite National Park, we recommend visiting the “Live Once. Live Wild.” website. It is full of excellent information about Yosemite
A Wealth of Activities
HIKE & BIKE
Hike the many well-marked trails and see spectacular vistas, unique geological formations, wild flowers, sparkling lakes, and countless miles of bicycle Tuolumne County streams and rivers. Great bike trails crisscross Tuolumne County from Strawberry and Lyons Dam to New Melones Lake to Yosemite National Park. Miles of back roads, logging trails and old railroad right-of-ways lead you on an adventure with the best possible views of scenic Tuolumne County. Bring your own bike or join a Gold Country Tour. Contact the Stanislaus National Forest District Office for trail info.
HORSE RIDING
Horse riding will take you through the Emigrant Wilderness for a day or a week! Riding stables and tour guides are for hire at Kennedy Meadows and Aspen Meadows.
GOLD PANNING
Gold brought thousands of people to California. You can search for gold on your own or with the help of outfitters such as Gold Prospecting Adventures in Jamestown. You can explore a working mine as well.
THEATER
Live theater in Tuolumne County ranges from Broadway Musicals to cutting edge drama. The quality of the productions is remarkable. Sierra Repertory Theatre has two theatres – one in East Sonora and the other at the Fallon House in Columbia State Park.
WINERIES
The Gold Country has become the second “Wine Country” of California. Vineyards and wineries are available for touring. We heartily recommend La Bella Rosa, Gianelli Vineyards, Hurst Ranch Red, Zuni Vineyards, and Inner Sanctum Cellars. Inner Sanctum Cellars and Gianelli Vineyards have tasting rooms in Jamestown.
RAILTOWN – JAMESTOWN
Located in Jamestown, California, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is home to one of America’s last authentic, operating railroad roundhouses. Known as “The Movie Railroad,” Railtown’s locomotives and cars have appeared in over 200 film and TV productions, including Back to the Future 3, Petticoat Junction, and Little House on the Prairie. Weekends April-October (plus selected weekends in November and December), take a ride behind a real steam locomotive.
GOLF
Great golf courses abound in the Sierra foothills. The variety of landscapes and views, with varied degrees of challenge, have something to offer all levels of golfers. We recommend the local Twain Harte Golf Course and Mountain Springs Golf Course.
MINIATURE GOLF
Twain Harte Miniature Golf, a charming, challenging 18 hole course nestled in the heart of the mountain village, has been in operation for over 60 years!
COLUMBIA STATE PARK
The town’s old Gold Rush-era business district has been preserved, with shops, restaurants and two hotels. Visitors have the chance to time-travel to the 1850s, imagining life when gold miners rubbed shoulders with businessmen and the other residents in Columbia.
BOATING
We have both large and small lakes that are ideal for those who want to water ski, fish, sail, canoe or houseboat. Boating in the High Sierras can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. Area lakes include New Melones, Pinecrest, Lake Tulloch, Lake Don Pedro and more!
FISHING
Fish by the stream, on the lake shore, from a boat or even at the trout farm – Tuolumne County has it all!
GAMBLING
Black Oak Casino, owned and operated by theTuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, is located in Tuolumne, CA in the beautiful Sierra Foothills eight miles east of Sonora. The Casino encompasses 164,000+ square feet of gaming and entertainment options for everyone.
“Perfection! Stephanie and Mike are the perfect hosts. The rooms were fantastic with beautiful decor. The breakfasts were amazing and it was lovely to catch up with the other guests and hosts at breakfast and cheese and wine time. A real home from home and made to feel so welcome. Thank you. ” – England, United Kingdom