7 Most Memorable Small Towns in California's Sierra Nevada
Taking its name from the Spanish “snowy mountain range,” Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo spotted the Santa Cruz mountains in 1542 from the ocean off of the San Francisco peninsula. "Sierra Nevada" extended along the interior mountain range, and the rest is, well, history.
Today, it is an unconventional California outdoor escape in the face of all the beach towns and the Bay Area. The towns in the foothills of the Sierras pulse with mountain-high vibes and nature's party. Take South Lake Tahoe with its Heavenly Resort bumping up against the Nevada border—your ultimate "Vail'' in California without the prices and better weather where you can actually move to the beat or down the slopes in lighter clothes!
Auburn
Nestled on the west side of the range, some 30 minutes from Sacramento, Auburn merges Gold Rush history and modern culture against the Sierra views! More than a pitstop on your travels to Lake Tahoe’s north shore, the town is a spellbinding destination to make memories where the prestigious 100-mile Western States trail-running race runs through. You can enjoy the Auburn State Recreation Area at the crossroads of the American River, which protects the confluence. From hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding along the lacing trails, the North and Middle Forks are great for whitewater rafting! Home to 14,000 locals, Auburn bears historic intrigue as an entirely California Historic Landmark, with sites like Park Victorian, restored to its original 1874 grandeur, and the goldmine magnate-built 1880s Power’s Mansion Inn, a Victorian home where Herbert Hoover stayed.
There are no better suds in the region than at Auburn's two award-winning breweries, Moonraker Brewing Co., with its Northeast-style "hazy" IPAs and food trucks outdoor, or Knee Deep, a kid- and dog-friendly microbrewery with renowned West Coast-style IPAs like Moonraker. The county's growing viticulture guides you along the local Placer Wine Trail to vineyards and wineries, where winemakers pour the wine! Auburn's handsome Old Town district is full of antiques, collectibles, and decor through shops and galleries in between restaurants like Old Town Pizza for indulgent deep-dish pies. After harvest, the annual Mountain Mandarin Festival is in late fall at Auburn’s Gold Country Fairgrounds, while Hidden Falls Regional Park offers summertime sundrenched valley views.
Bishop
Home to some 4,000 nature lovers and adventurers, Bishop nestles in Owens Valley, along the eastern Sierra Nevada, with mild weather from May to September to enjoy outdoor activities. This unique town, drenched in the views of the beautiful Sierra wildernesses of snow-capped mountains and serene lakes, is your ticket to unforgettable mountain adventures along the nearby trails leading to natural wonders. From the majestic Bishop City Park for an easy-breezy stroll to impressive longevity and altitude hikes, you can learn about all the possibilities at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center, like the nearby Manzanar National Historic Site and the spectacular Alabama hills.
The cozy downtown, enticing equally with history and small town wanders, stuns visitors against the breathtaking mountain vistas, whether making your way over for a morning coffee to Black Sheep Coffee Roasters with a treat from the decadent Erick Schat's Bakery or catching a matinee at Bishop Twin Theatre. From an indulging shopping scene to breweries, Owens Valley Distilling Company, and family fun at Back Alley Bowl & Grill, the local attractions are geared to help you unwind in a memorable way after rock climbing or some advanced hiking through the area like Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, as well as at Bishop Creek Canyon with fishing.
Groveland
Looking handsome against the west side of Yosemite Park, Groveland prettifies the area with its colorful downtown of historic sites and architecture as a scenic backdrop. Home to some 3,100 locals and spoiling them with outdoor adventures, you too can quickly access the Tuolumne River and Pine Mountain Lake after a hot summer day hike or a guided tour. Exuding charm with its local brand of humor and slower pace, the peaceful atmosphere calms your overhyped city senses and eases shoulder tension as you start exploring in and around the city at your leisure. The mild May through October temperatures mean a haven for outdoor enthusiasts in the surrounding countryside.
Catering to families, couples, and groups of friends, there is something unforgettable for everyone along its historic streets, like the local Mary Laveroni Community Park and playground. Start with reputable coffee and a delish breakfast right from your Evergreen Lodge, and stop by the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum before venturing to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Rainbow Pool for summertime hiking, fishing, and boating. In the winter, you can enjoy breathtaking cross-country skiing trails against the Sierra views and recharge at Around the Horn Brewing Company or The Iron Door Saloon. Set base in this unique town, and you will have Yosemite National Park at your feet!
Nevada City
Nevada City is one of the Sierra's friendliest and liveliest Gold Rush towns, at the crossroads of Tahoe National Forest, the South Yuba River, and the High Sierras, with the best preserved downtown. Full of historic architecture and family attractions—entirely a national historic landmark—this is your all-season base with quality restaurants, comfortable lodging, boutiques, galleries, and museums! Home to 2,800 hospitable locals, the small town under flavorful old-Cali charm was among the most populated in the state at its height in the 1850s, with 10,000 boisterous souls and gold diggers! The inspiring spring wildflowers and clear summer views turn vibrant along the South Yuba River and Grass Valley in gold foliage, transitioning into skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in the valley.
The town starred in the award-winning The Christmas Card movie, with its front-stage appearance of historic buildings and twinkling white lights. Its lower elevations make hiking accessible even in the winter, like Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge, and 45 minutes to Donner Summit. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum and the Onyx, Grass Valley’s locally owned Sierra Theater, will occupy you on a rainy day and evening. Stop by the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in the third week of February for a nightly screening, and don't miss the Mardi Gras Parade on February 19th in the historic downtown. There's also a Foothills Celebration wine-tasting event, The Artist Workshop, and next year's festivities, including Charles Dickens Christmas, among other great ways to collect memories.
South Lake Tahoe
This town bumps right against the Nevada state line with Heavenly Mountain Resort—California Lodge. Hugging the immense lake, South Lake Tahoe is full of contesting diversions for every taste, with family pursuits and unbeatable Lake Tahoe views throughout! The aptly named resort with a vibe-to-party and the favored craft beer hangout at the Stateline Brewery & Restaurant offers entertainment for everyone! From The Shops, with year-round fire pits, boutiques, and eateries, as well as zen-like calm at Serenity Spa, stop by the handsome multi-screen movie theater in a historic stone and timber complex. You can enjoy summertime outdoor concerts with past performances by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, or take a gondola ride for an eye feast from Heavenly Gondola in any season!
From Emerald Bay State Park for kayaking to D.L. Bliss State Park for strolls and picnics, you can hit the slopes, tackle the trails, and bum it out at Kings Beach. Hop on a sunset Lake Tahoe cruise boat into the mesmerizing frame of stunning pine forests and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada's peaks. There's Tahoe Keys Marina for watercraft and standup paddleboard rentals, and Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach is your ultimate stay! The temple-like Himmel Haus is unforgettable for your eyes and tastebuds with German fare and Belgian brews, and you can still dance around the region's best brews without resort vibes at the local hipster dive bar, Whiskey Dick’s Saloon, Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Brewing Company, or Tahoe AleWorx!
Tahoe City
Founded in the 1870s, Tahoe City boasts popularity at an elevation of 6,250 feet with an attractive streetscape proximate to local hiking trails and skiing areas. The feeling of genuine local warmth will linger long after, with the plentiful accommodation options and a welcoming atmosphere through fine restaurants, cafes, boutiques, bars, and markets. You can take a relaxing stroll through town and mingle with the locals on a shopping spree, with several great lakefront restaurants of various local cuisines and styles, like the top-rated Fire Sign Café. Bridgetender Tavern and Grill is right between the 64-acre Tahoe Rim Trailhead and Tahoe Marina Lakefront, with thrilling water adventures at Commons Beach.
Watson Log Cabin/Living Museum, a picturesque building from 1908, offers a fascinating contrast of life in this popular area with mountain lifestyles over a century ago. There are also camping and RV sites nearby for more star-struck memories! Other memorable attractions include Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks and Tahoe City Golf Course, with the highest applicable demand in the summer months, followed by nearby snowy pursuits in the winter. Don't skip out on the crowds with clear lake views and enough room for everyone to enjoy the scenery on strolls and water pursuits for close-knit memories with your loved ones!
Truckee, California
Just north of Lake Tahoe, Truckee is a popular wintertime destination, quizzically because of the lower crowds than South Lake Tahoe's resort. This town in the beautiful Sierras flourishes in the winter months with local hospitality under a hefty blanket of snow as a lesser-known skier's paradise. You can enjoy real wonderland scenery in and around, like traditional skiing along the Lake Tahoe shore in the foothills, including Northstar California Resort just south. There's also the most popular Squaw Valley (Olympic Valley) with Palisades Tahoe, a resort named after the relevant events in the 1960s, where you can shred the powder along the footsteps of the Olympians.
Families can enjoy ice skating, sleigh rides, and dog sleds, as well as year-round hikes to Sugar Bowl. As one of the state's snowiest places, just around the corner from the Bay Area, the town greets you with fresh alpine air and an inspired riverside shopping scene, with crowd-pleasing dining venues like Cottonwood, Moody's Bistro Bar, Beats, and Pianeta overlooking the river. Truckee's unique maritime climate and Truckee River make it a resplendent summertime destination. From the nearby Donner Memorial State Park for hikes with a beach to some of the nation's finest backcountry wilderness trails, really get your gears running on a memorable escape!
The illustrious range is a favorite place to make memories, where no experience is alike in the little towns along the creases, with different views, vibes, and lower summer crowds than the beaches. Many boast old-Cali vibes, like the Gold Rush towns of Auburn and Nevada City.
There's great water fun along the immense Lake Tahoe shoreline, including South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, and Truckee just north, with its own Truckee River. Doubling up as your ultimate skiing destination in the southern US, Truckee's local mountain fever is infectious!
