Visiting Sierra County can be good for your health. We keep it simple, no schedules, no deadlines, no dress codes. Not even one stoplight can be found on our roadways, just sit back and enjoy the drive. It's a good place to rest, relax and renew.
When visiting Sierra County, good things happen. You slow down, your mind clears and you are aware only of the raw and unspoiled beauty around you. Breathtaking views of the sierra mountains and the wild rivers surround you. You are home.
Sierra County is located in the heart of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It remains today much as it was over 100 years ago when the gold seeking Argonauts worked the rivers and mountains in search of their fortune. The creeks and rivers run free and the forest meadows wrap their beauty around mountains that have defied contemporary development.
The mountainous region of the Lakes Basin should be at the top of any outdoor enthusiast's list of places to play. Over 100 glacially formed lakes and ponds and a network of trails make hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding and OHV riding a special treat. Amenities range from primitive campgrounds to historic lodges and restaurants that are nestled in some of the most spectacular settings of the Sierra Nevada.
The Sierra Valley, on the east side of the county, is an agricultural and livestock region. With 120 thousand acres, it is the largest alpine valley in America. A large portion of California's water supply comes from this valley.
Its grasslands, freshwater marshes and alkaline flats make this a permanent home for many species of wild life. A great number of migratory birds stop over in the fall and return for nesting in the spring.
The west side of our county offers the extreme beauty of the Sierra Buttes with its tall craggy peaks which provide over 35 miles of world class mountain bike trails with over 6000' of decent and its winding rivers with 18 miles of class 5 (expert only) whitewater beckoning experienced kayakers in the spring.
Restaurants and lodging in historic gold mining towns as well as campgrounds right in the middle of it all, await!
With each season comes a new surprise. A burst of color in the spring signals the birth of new wildlife families. Summer brings warm comfortable days for play and enjoyment of the great outdoors. Breathe deeply and make s'mores. The cool clear nights, away from city lights, make stargazing amazing. Mother Nature does her best work in fall with a show of color at every turn. It's a perfect time to hike and explore. Winter slows the pace with a sparkling blanket of snow turning everything into a wonderland where skiers and snowmobilers reap the rewards.
Sierra County offers you a treasure of choices from the gold our original settlers came for, to the beauty and adventure they stayed for. It's all here in the playground of the Sierra.
