The Best small towns in California's Sierra Nevada To Chill Out
Some 4 million people visit Yosemite National Park alone, and over a million ski Mammoth Mountain during the season. Lake Tahoe sees nearly 3 million visitors each year. Believe it or not, these sights are all encompassed within the Sierra Nevada mountain range, along with trails to Mt. Whitney, the US' tallest peak. Visit the Sierra and enjoy access to the whole natural thoroughfare on a summer getaway or for wintertime pursuits.
Choose one of these towns in California's Sierra Nevada with easy access from where you are to its huge swath covering 400 miles north to south and 70 miles east to west. Nibble away at the Sierra's and enjoy in-town attractions like gold rush sights, saloons, and farmers markets. The charming small towns, with many under the radar in the mountain creases, offer a stellar escape from society to chill with the lakes, the wildlife, and the stars in the night sky.
Bishop
This bouldering paradise and fishermen’s hideout is a chill-worthy place with your favorite pursuits and immersive scenery. Let go of your worries in the outdoors amid the unreal Alabama Hills that have starred in nearly 400 films. Bishop embraces its past, with the Laws Railroad Museum offering a glimpse at the lives of settlers back in the day here in the Owens Valley.
The protected valley in the California High Sierra is blessed with mountain views and pleasant weather, even in the winter. Enjoy stealing sights of the still snow-covered peaks while perusing through modern attractions and annual events like Mule Days, the world's largest non-motorized parade. Enjoy easy access from Highway 395, which serves as a getaway to the tremendous Death Valley National Park, Mt. Whitney, Mammoth, or June Lake.
Kyburz
Kyburz is a cute little town of around 170 residents in El Dorado County, Northern California. It offers easy access from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Placerville along the Highway 50 corridor on your way to Lake Tahoe. Its own vast natural offerings amid the surrounding Eldorado National Forest include the Wrights Lakes, with a gorgeous campground, and lakeside access to the Twin Lakes trail. Take a stroll or hike all the way to the aptly named Desolation Wilderness through the area that only gets more beautiful to Grouse Lake, 2 miles away.
Trek through the rough terrain with windswept sights and only the heartiest trees, just like the mighty hikers and rock climbers who play and explore the granite slopes of the Sierra like they are children's toys. Grab a hiking permit in Kyburz or a treat from one of its cute restaurants, and linger for some peace and quiet away from the bustling city. Snatch a cabin for a weekend or spend the night camping under the stars and the community's iconic landmark, the granite spire named Sugarloaf. The immersive town with all the pursuits will make the time fly by in a blink of an eye, yet you will leave feeling refreshed after the chillest getaway of a lifetime.
Markleeville
Just half an hour south of South Lake Tahoe, Markleeville is a sleepy town during the change of seasons and a popular place for bikers, fishermen, and hikers to chill out during the summer. This scenic area is home to a plethora of rental cabins with easy access to the wildflower slopes and paddling on Lake Winnemucca. Find nearby hotsprings heavenly after Nordic pursuits like snowmobiling.
Enjoy a handful of shops and restaurants like Stonefly, a wood-fired bistro, and the cool Cutthroat Brewing Company. Grover Hot Springs State Park welcomes campers with sites and views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Snatch a cabin stay or choose a yurt or Airstream at Wylder Hope Valley to glamp in style and comfort with a café and general store at hand.
Mineral King
Mineral King, a small gem within California's rugged Sierra, is an endearing town that will truly unwind you. The successive twists and blind turns along the 7,000-foot climb over a deep canyon with rugged edges dead-end at Mineral King Valley. Mineral King is the epitomic getaway from it all, with bad cell phone reception and a lack of services that will be the best thing that has happened to you in a long time. The glacier-carved valley is optimal for warm-season hikes through the flowering meadows and tumbling creeks amid pine stands into alpine lakes.
After a massive avalanche wiped out the Disney property store and post office here in 1969, the valley became part of Sequoia National Park in 1978. This cozy town, surrounded by soaring granite peaks reaching 11,000 feet, will reward you with the chillest experience of a lifetime. Enjoy canoeing and nature picnics along the nearby headwaters of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. There is a restaurant and a general store in town, and civilization is 25 miles along the narrow road to Three Rivers.
Nevada City
Nevada City, a small town just 30 minutes from Truckee on Highway 20, is the place to chill in any style and any season. The Apple Hill area in the Sierra Foothills, some 50 miles west of Lake Tahoe, is full of bucolic sights. Enjoy farm visits between Pollock Pines and Placerville or a relaxing stroll along the streets with farm stands and U-picks in town. From excellent restaurants to holiday parades and street fairs, you will feel refreshed, recharged, and ready to get back in the game of life. In October, a complimentary shuttle by El Dorado Transit meanders through the area's farms, like the popular Rainbow Orchards, with the best hot apple cider donuts.
This bustling gold rush town boasts breweries and saloons to lounge in and plays host to a lovely Victorian Christmas to chill like in the days of yore. The lovely Grass Valley, just four miles away, is a natural playground, while the family-friendly Crystal Basin Recreation Area offers hiking, biking, and camping. Recharge at Heartwood restaurant's historic vibe over some of the best farm-to-table dishes in the region or classic fare at Friar Tuck’s like fondue and prime rib. Chill out after all the adventures at the National Exchange Hotel, a gloriously renovated mid-19th century building with a French-Californian restaurant, Lola, and its Victorian-era bar.
Truckee
This cozy town, only twenty minutes from Lake Tahoe, is a popular mountain getaway to chill out by the "big blue." Truckee's natural charm and endearing character aspire for the best nature adventures around this scenic part of the Sierra. Stroll through the scenically historic downtown area with a beautiful blur of vestiges from the past and vibrant attractions of the day.
Dive into the best mountain cuisine of your life, revered throughout the region, at hotspots like the Cottonwood for a top-notch dinner overlooking downtown Truckee. The Bar of America along Main Street is a chill local drinking scene in a historically beautiful 19th-century building that adds to the atmosphere. Enjoy something new from the countless great foodie places in town to replenish after adventures like hiking, biking, and skiing.
Twain-Harte
Twain-Harte is a beautiful little town with towering pondarosa pines at an impressive 4,000 feet above sea level. Come to chill in the alpine scenery and fresh mountain air in between active pursuits, camping, and other recreation in the High Sierra. Visit any season for strolls along the naturally air-conditioned streets that always feel respite-like with plentiful attractions.
Enjoy summertime hiking along the Sonora Pass with many trails of varied scenery and difficulty, from Leavitt Meadows to the alpine lakes. The Trail of the Gargoyles and the Columns of the Giants offer unforgettable volcanic formations along the way. Even the winters stay mild in this town thanks to the mountains' protection from wind and blizzards. There is plenty of frosty fun at the biggest snow play park in California, Leland Snow Play, with twelve acres for snow play, tubing, and snow shredding at Dodge Ridge.
Angels Camp
The cozy town with an aspiring moniker, City of Angels Camp, boasts a modest spread along the Sierra Nevada foothills. This mountainous enclave played host to the likes of Bret Harte and Mark Twain while they wrote the greatest literature of the American West. Get away from it all to chill amid the peaks and get inspired in this one-of-a-kind, charming town along the streetscape in the footsteps of America's prominent literary figures.
Find the most attractive downtown area with neat boutique shops, a bakery, two restaurants, and the Utica Hotel, and stop by the annual frog jumping jubilee, inspired by Mark Twain. The nearby New Melones Lake offers easy hikes, great fishing, and picnics along the shore, as well as mountain biking to break a sweat. This impressive town will chill you out with its scenery and recharge you with the energy of the mountains in the serene embrace of Mother Nature.
These off-the-grid towns are your ultimate escape from the city soot into fresh mountain air, sights, and activities to explore through the national parks covering a million little Sierras. Chill out in any style, from a relaxing stroll to a bar or to a scenic picnic, light-hearted hiking, or thrilling adventures like mountain biking and climbing.
Regardless, the grandeur of the Sierras will follow your footsteps, like the giant sequoias, the world's largest trees and the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. The protected wilderness of the Sierras offers lakesides, alpine vistas, and stunning stargazing that will make you feel like you have landed on a different planet.
