Musick Creek Falls

There are watersports galore available at Shaver Lake (15 minutes’ drive), where you can go jetskiing, boat racing or swimming, stick to the shoreline and fish for trout, salmon or bass, or simply soak up the sun on the beach. Learn about logging around the lake at the Museum of the Sierra (20 minutes), or check out the vast General Washington Tree, a giant sequoia at McKinley Grove (45 minutes). If you’re visiting in winter, China Peak Mountain Resort (also 45 minutes) is heaven for skiers and boarders, with a variety of slopes for all levels of ability. In summer, the resort doubles up as a mountain-biking park and disc golf course. Sitting on the San Joaquin River in the High Sierra, Mono Hot Springs (90 minutes) is known for its naturally heated pools full of health-giving minerals. Dinkey Lakes Wilderness (an hour and 15 minutes) is a pristine region of glacial lakes ringed with conifer forest and popular for its varied hiking routes.