Stanislaus National Forest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stanislaus National Forest | |
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| IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area) | |
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| Location | California, United States |
| Area | 898,099 acres (3,634 km²) |
| Established | February 22, 1897 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Stanislaus National Forest contains 898,099 acres (1,403.3 sq mi/3,634.5 km²) in four counties in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests. It was named after the Stanislaus River. The Emigrant Wilderness is located entirely within its boundaries. Portions of the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, including the Dardanelles Cone, and the Mokelumne Wilderness are also within the Stanislaus National Forest. It is located primarily in eastern Tuolumne County, adjacent to the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park, but parts of it extend (in descending order of forestland area) into southern Alpine, northern Mariposa, and eastern Calaveras counties.
It contains 78 lakes, and 811 miles (1,305.2 km) of rivers and streams. It has 1,100 miles (1,770.3 km) of non-motorized trails, and 2,859 miles (4,601.1 km) of roads, 188 miles (302.6 km) of which are paved.
The proximity of the Stanislaus National Forest to the San Francisco Bay Area make it a popular recreation destination. The stunning volcanic and granite formations in the wilderness are somewhat marred by the heavy cattle grazing, a shock to many backpackers. Exceptional whitewater rafting and kayaking can be found in the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River and Cherry Creek. Other beautiful rivers flowing out of the Stanislaus include the Clavey River the Stanislaus River, and the Merced River along the southern boundary.
Two ski resorts Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley operate here under a special use permit. Forest headquarters are located in Sonora, California.
