Why Sonora · Tuolumne County, California
A historic Gold Country town at the doorstep of Yosemite — two and a half hours from the Bay Area, and a world away from it.
The Front Door to Yosemite
Tuolumne Meadows. The giant sequoias of the Tuolumne Grove. Hetch Hetchy's waterfalls, rivals to the Valley's own. While the crowds queue for the Valley floor, your weekends start at the quiet end of the park.
Local mountain skiing and snowboarding minutes from home at Dodge Ridge, with Bear Valley just over the county line. Snow skiing, snowshoeing, and quiet white forests — no long haul required.
Sonora Pass and Tioga Pass — two of the Sierra's highest — reopen for the season. Waterfalls run full at Hetch Hetchy, which has one of the longest hiking seasons in the park thanks to its lower elevation.
Pinecrest Lake for the family, Don Pedro and New Melones for boating and fishing across a hundred miles of shoreline. Backpacking and climbing out of Tuolumne Meadows. Water skiing, rafting, and long evenings.
Cider and spirits at Indigeny Reserve, wine tastings, music at local vineyards. Gold-panning and stagecoach rides at Columbia State Historic Park. Farmers' markets, parades, and music in the park.
Everyday Life
Sonora's historic downtown is full of one-of-a-kind shops, museums, and restaurants. There's live theater, two state historic parks, and Dragoon Gulch — a woodland trail tucked right inside the city limits.
Wonderful schools — public, private, charter, and a community college — make it a place to raise a family, not just to pass through. This is the tight-knit community our physicians chose, for the same reasons you might.
Where to Begin
Tuolumne Meadows, giant sequoias, and Hetch Hetchy — the quiet, awe-inspiring half of the park.
Tuolumne County's premier year-round mountain destination — winter skiing and summer trails alike.
A living Gold Rush town — stagecoach rides, gold panning, and wooden sidewalks preserved since 1850.
Calaveras County's mountain destination for year-round recreation, just over the county line.
Ride a historic steam train at the state park in Jamestown — a piece of working California history.
Cider and spirits made on site, just outside Sonora — one of the county's favorite tasting stops.
Local Resources
A Community in the Sierras awaits you. Let's talk about your next chapter.