Arnold, California is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at 4,000 ft elevation and is a center point for year-round activities. From winter sports, including downhill mountain and cross-country skiing, to summer activities such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and cycling, the Arnold area of Calaveras County is a place where families or groups come each year. We have many reasons to vacation here in the Arnold area, all year long. Whatever your desires, our renal homes will be an excellent "base camp" for you. Here are just some of the area offerings.
Located right next to Calaveras Big Trees State Park in the Stanislaus National Forest. We are also a short drive from Columbia State Park in Columbia.
We have a two-week music festival in Bear Valley, during July, and into early August.
Ironstone Amphitheatre has concerts throughout the summer ( June through September) - featuring international rock and country artists. Sierra Vacation Rentals has cabins only a short drive away.
Kayak and Canoe rentals are available at the Sierra Nevada Adventure Company.
OARS offers whitewater rafting from April to early June. Imagine a five mile run at a 70-ft/mi gradient through groves of Sequoia Trees.
There are numerous lakes and rivers in the Big Trees area. You will find fishing all year long from ice fishing during the winter months to summer fishing. Anglers come up here for fly, lure and bait fishing. White Pines Lake is just a short drive from downtown Arnold. Up further is North Fork of the Stanislaus River, Spicer, Utica and Union Reservoirs, Lake Alpine, Mosquito Lake, Highland Lakes, Beaver Creek. Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods has fishing licenses, fishing supplies, and everything else you need for outdoor activities, all year long. Check out The Trout Spot also in Arnold for fly fishing classes, guide services, and supplies.
Golfers get in the swing at golf courses in the area, Sequoia Woods Country Club and GreenHorn Creek. Sierra Vacation Rentals rents cabins close by golfing.
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Hikers will find countless miles of hiking trails. Off-Highway Vehicles will also find unpaved roads for 4WD vehicles.
Gold Panning Adventures such as Roaring Camp Mining Company or Goldrush Originals.
There are numerous Historical locations from the Gold Rush days such as Columbia State Park (where we have a rental right inside the park), Sierra Nevada Logging Museum in White Pines, Angels Camp Museum (Including the Mark Twain Exhibit.), and the Ironstone Heritage Museum (Including 19th century gold mining and early Native American Inhabitants.)
A local once said; “Napa is where you go for automotive parts, Calaveras is where you go for Wine.” Wine lovers will love the numerous wineries surrounding the Murphys area and are only a short drive down the hill.Beaux Chevaux Winery & Cellars, Black Sheep Winery, Bodega del Sur, Broll Mountain Vineyards, Chatom Vineyards, Frog’s Tooth Vineyards, Hatcher Winery, Indian Rock Vineyards, Irish Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, Milliaire Winery, Newsome-Harlow Wines, Tanner Vineyards, Twisted Oak Winery, Val du Vino Winery, Zucca Mountain Vineyards and more as new ones open in our booming wine region.
Biking enthusiasts will love our area; we have the Arnold Rim Trail in Arnold, Natural Bridges on Parrotts Ferry Road, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and the incredible Ebbetts Pass Highway. Check out Mountain Pedaler for bikes and more rides in the area.
There is an ancient hidden world underneath the hills up here and five different places to go to explore the caverns up here; Moaning Cavern Park, Mercer Caverns, Moaning Cavern Park, Sutter Gold Mine.
For special events, such as weddings, the possibilities are almost endless! There are many gorgeous places to have this momentous occasion. Ironstone Vineyards, Sequoia Woods Country Club, Twisted Oak Winery, and the Bear Valley Lodge and Arnold Black Bear Inn are just a few of the beautiful locations in the area available to hold weddings. Murphys Taxi Service or Stagecoach Limousine can arrange transportation. Sierra Vacation Rentals can handle wedding parties of any size in our many cabins.
You can shop until you drop up here and find so many treasures that are not found down in the valley and beyond. Some of the stores that are quite interesting to our visitors are Creative Cookware LLC, D.E.A. Bathroom Machineries, all in Murphys, Fine Things, and The Outhouse Collection both, offer décor and fine gifts in Arnold, Stories in Stones in Angels Camp, in Murphys. These are just a few of our local shops. Come walk, browse and shop in a relaxing and beautiful area.
In March the town of Murphys ( just 10 miles down the hill from many of our cabins) rolls out the green carpet (and green beer of course) with their Irish Days featuring a parade and the main street filled with booths selling food, clothes, trinkets, wine, and of course, beer! Everybody is Irish on Irish Days in Murphys. Come back in the fall for the annual Grape Stomp - enter or cheer the teams on !
Mark Twain made the city of Angels Camp famous with his tale of the frog jump. Every May Calaveras County hosts the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee - an international renown Frog Jumping Contest - REALLY !! Carnival rides, rodeo, demolition derby, and of course, Frog Jumping.
There are Countless Vacation Opportunities up here in Big Trees Area. Now that you know all the activities you can enjoy up here in Arnold, please View Our Properties.