20 Charming Mountain Towns To Visit In California

1. Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes is one of the best mountain destinations in California, and for a good reason! This is one of my favorite mountain areas to visit for hiking in the summer, fall color chasing in the fall, and snowboarding in the winter.

For first-time visitors, I recommend stopping by the Twin Falls Overlook, which offers an amazing viewpoint of the nearby Twin Lakes.

Take a scenic ride up the Panorama Gondola, where you can grab a bite at the summit café while enjoying views of the surrounding landscapes. The Village At Mammoth is a great place to do a bit of shopping and dining after a full day of outdoor adventures.

A few of my favorite day hikes near Mammoth Lakes town include:

• Skelton Lake Trail
• Horseshoe Lake Trail
• McLeod Lake Trail
• TJ Lake Trail
• Heart Lake Trail

Want to stay overnight? Then check out this post covering the 10 Best Hotels In Mammoth Lakes!

2. Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is another popular mountain town in California that’s located just a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles. Big Bear Lake receives over 3 million visitors every year, making it one of the busiest mountain destinations in California.

While winter is the most popular time to travel to Big Bear, there are plenty of activities to do year-round.

In the summer, I like to spend time by the lake, go mountain biking, and hike to the summit of the Castle Rock Trail. If you have little kids, check out the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, where you can learn about local wild animals that are rescued and rehabilitated at this zoo.

Fall is a great time to visit Big Bear Lake, when you can see stunning fall colors in the little downtown area and along the local trails.

The winter season brings lots of snow fun! I like to spend an entire day snowboarding or skiing at Snow Summit or Bear Mountain, followed by a relaxed evening cozying up around the fireplace at one of the local cabin rentals.

3. Idyllwild

Idyllwild is one of the most charming mountain towns to visit in Southern California. This town is a hidden little gem, and not many people know of it!

From relaxing resorts to serene hiking trails and delicious restaurants, there are so many incredible things to do in this small mountain community.

Spend a few hours roaming around downtown Idyllwild, where you will find eclectic souvenir stores, specialty shops, and wine tasting spots.

For short and easy hikes, check out the Idyllwild Park Trail and the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, both of which are dog-friendly.

For overnight stays, I highly recommend staying at the Tahquitz Pines Retreat, a gorgeous mountain hotel just outside of the downtown area.

Read Next: 10 Best Things To Do In Idyllwild, California

4. Sonora

Sonora is a small town in one of the most popular Gold Rush areas in Central California. Located just an hour’s drive from Stockton and two hours from Sacramento, this is a great weekend destination for Central California locals.

Start your visit by exploring the nearby Columbia State Historic Park, which was once one of the largest gold rush towns in California.

Dragoon Gulch Trail is an excellent day hike near downtown Sonora. This trail is perfect for those who want to spend an hour or two hiking outdoors without having to venture far away from Sonora City.

Sonora Tap Room is a great place to grab a beer after exploring the area. For something a bit different, head out to Indigeny Reserve cider distillery, where you can try various apple ciders grown at this orchard.

Read Next: 8 Great Things To Do Around Sonora, California

5. Julian

Julian is a historic mining town in San Diego County that offers a peek into the California Gold Rush times. This is also a great destination to visit in September and October for apple picking.

Start your visit by taking an hour-long tour of the Eagle Mining Co., an old-fashioned gold mine from the 1870s. The tours take place every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and cost $15 for adults, $8 for kids (ages 5-11), and $1 for kids under 4.

While in town, trying an apple pie from one of the local bakeries is a must! Julian Pie Company and Mom’s Pie House are two of the most popular places to grab a slice of a freshly baked apple pie – so delicious!

Julian is also home to the California Wolf Center, the only wolf reserve in San Diego County. Here you can see Northwestern wolves and Mexican wolves in person and learn more about their conservation efforts.

6. Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta is a wonderful town at the base of the Mount Shasta volcanic peak in Northern California. Many people drive through this town along Highway 5 on their way to Oregon, but it’s well worth a stop!

From wilderness hikes to waterfall adventures, epic mountain views, breweries, and amazing restaurants, there is plenty to do in this area.

If you love waterfalls, hike to the Hedge Creek Falls, which is located just 10 minutes south of Mount Shasta City. This is a stunning waterfall that plunges down a cliff along a columnar basalt wall.

Bunny Flat Trail to Panther Meadow is another popular hiking route that offers amazing views of Mount Shasta along the way.

Afterward, stop by Pipeline Craft Taps & Kitchen for a refreshing craft beer and some delicious nourishing food!

7. Lone Pine

Lone Pine is a small town along Highway 395 in the Eastern Sierra. I often stop by the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center here to pick up backpacking permits, fill up on gas, and grab food in town while traveling to Mammoth Lakes.

From Lone Pine town, you can easily reach the unique Alabama Hills recreational area. Go for a hike along the Mobius Arch Loop Trail, stop for a photo along the scenic Movie Road, or explore one of the many unique natural arches that can be found in this area.

Due to the unique setting, it’s not surprising that a lot of movies and TV shows have been filmed here. Over 400 movies have been taped here, including scenes from Iron Man, Maverick, Gladiator, Django Unchained, and many more!

8. June Lake

June Lake is a small ski town 30 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes. While Mammoth gets all the big visitor crowds in the winter season, June Lake offers a much quieter (and cheaper) option for those who want to hit the slopes.

After spending the day at the June Mountain Ski Area, I like to head over to June Lake Brewing for some post-skiing beers and food.

Fall is another great time to visit June Lake when you can see stunning fall colors along the June Lake Loop Drive.

Read Next: 15 Incredible Things To Do In Mammoth Lakes In Fall

9. Bridgeport

Bridgeport is one of the best small towns to visit in the Sierra Nevada if you enjoy outdoor activities and unique historical attractions. Located just an hour north of Mammoth, this little town is close to hiking trails, hot springs, lakes, and ghost towns.

Within a 30-minute drive, you can reach the famous Bodie State Historic Park, one of the best preserved gold-mining towns in California. If you enjoy fishing, head over to Twin Lakes, which has some of the best trout fishing in the state.   

After a fun day full of outdoor adventures, soak your sore muscles at the Travertine Hot Springs or Buckeye Hot Spring outdoor geothermal pools, two of the best hot springs in California.

While the town itself is small, there are several excellent places to stay overnight including:

• The Bodie Hotel
• Walker River Lodge
• Virginia Creek Settlement

10. Tahoe City

Tahoe City is a wonderful place to stay for visiting Lake Tahoe year-round. This is where I chose to stay during my Lake Tahoe trip in February. Compared to the larger South Lake Tahoe City, it has a more quaint and laid-back atmosphere.

If you enjoy water sports, head down to the Commons Beach, where you can swim, kayak, or rent a boat at the Tahoe City Marina to take out on the lake.  

While Tahoe City is small, there are plenty of bars, lounges, and restaurants in the lakeside area. On my visit, the Tahoe Tap Haus was a personal favorite!

For easy hiking trails, I recommend checking out the Eagle Rock Trail. While this trail is quite steep, it is only 0.7 mile long round trip and offers excellent views of Lake Tahoe from its summit.

11. Bishop

Similar to Lone Pine, Bishop is another popular small town that I like to stop by along Highway 395 on the way to Mammoth. I often make a pit stop here to grab some food, fill up on gas, and stretch my legs at the Bishop City Park.

If I can’t make it to Mammoth, I often stay in Bishop overnight to break up the drive. A few of the top hotels in Bishop include:

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bishop by IHG
• Bishop Village Motel
• Vagabond Inn Bishop

If you don’t mind a bit of a detour, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a fascinating natural preserve about an hour drive from Bishop. Here you can see Ancient Bristlecone Pines that are over 4000 years old!

12. Grass Valley

Settled in the 1850s during the gold rush times, Grass Valley is a historic town that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. This unique city is a great place to visit for those who are interested in historic attractions, amazing restaurants, eclectic shops, and wine tasting spots.

Take a walk through the quaint downtown area, which features well-preserved 19th-century architecture. For overnight stays, I highly recommend The Holbrooke Hotel, which offers the best of old-time charm and modern upgrades.

During your time in Grass Valley, be sure to take a tour of the Empire Mine State Historic Park. After gold was discovered at this location in 1850, it became the richest and largest hard rock gold mining complex in California!

13. Lake Arrowhead

If you’re looking to escape into the mountains in Southern California, Lake Arrowhead is a great alternative to the overcrowded Big Bear Lake.

It’s a great place to go for a walk along the South Shore Trail, explore local souvenir shops at Lake Arrowhead Village, have lunch next to the lake, and enjoy water sports in the summer season.

If you have kids, I highly recommend spending a few hours at the nearby SkyPark at Santa’s Village. This is a fun outdoor adventure park with biking trails, zip lines, rock climbing stations, an archery range, and so much more!

14. Oakhurst

Oakhurst is one of the best mountain towns to make as a home base for visiting Yosemite National Park. This is one of the last ‘bigger towns’ that has a Vons grocery store, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels before heading into the Yosemite wilderness.

Oakhurst is located just a 30-minute drive from Yosemite’s South Entrance off Highway 41. From here, you can easily visit Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias before heading to Yosemite Valley.

On my latest Yosemite trip, I stopped by Smokehouse 41 BBQ in Oakhurst – a must-try BBQ spot! The meat at this restaurant is smoked for up to 14 hours, making it so tender that it just melts in your mouth.

For overnight stays, I highly recommend checking out:

• Sierra Sky Ranch – a historic cattle ranch that evolved into a guest ranch in 1946.
• Hounds Tooth Inn – a charming bed and breakfast that serves a hot breakfast for guests daily.
• Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn – a comfortable hotel with a restaurant, an indoor and an outdoor pool.

15. Lake Isabella

Lake Isabella is one of the best hidden gems in Central California that I discovered while living in Bakersfield. This little lake town is located just an hour’s drive from Bakersfield, making it an excellent weekend getaway for Central Valley locals.

Go for a scenic drive along Highway 178 that travels through a towering canyon carved out by Kern River. Take a quick tour of the Silver City Ghost Town, go for a soak at Remington Hot Springs, and grab food at the Kern River Brewing Company.

For hiking options, some of my favorite trails in the area include:

• Isabella Peak Trail
• Unal Trail
• Whiskey Flat Trail

Read Next: 7 Wonderful Things To Do At Lake Isabella All Year Long

16. Nevada City

Nevada City is a smaller city close to Grass Valley in Northern California. While Grass Valley has a livelier downtown and is slightly larger, Nevada City appeals more to nature enthusiasts, art lovers, and those looking to get away from the crowds. Nevada City and Grass Valley are only a few miles apart, so you can easily visit both on the same trip!

Spend the day at South Yuba River State Park, where you can explore historic bridges, go on serene hiking trails, and jump in for a refreshing swim in swimming holes along the Yuba River.

In the afternoon, take a stroll along Broad Street, which is lined with historic 19th-century buildings, arts galleries, boutique shops, and cozy eateries.

17. Ojai

Ojai is a small mountain town and arts community just 30 minutes north of Ventura. Within a short drive, you can visit both the beach and the mountains on the same day! This is one of the best places to vacation along the California coast if you’re looking for quick weekend trip options.

With the Topatopa Mountains as the backdrop, this charming town offers incredible views along with amazing restaurants, boutique hotels, art galleries, wine tasting spots, olive oil tastings, spas, and so much more.

For the creatives, I highly recommend taking the 2-Hour Pottery Workshop and Studio Tour in Ojai. I did this workshop with my friend, and we had so much fun creating our own pottery pieces and later returning to glaze them with various colors.

Read Next: 15 Charming Places To Stay In Ojai, California

18. Truckee

Located north of Lake Tahoe, Truckee offers plenty of outdoor fun year-round! You can go hiking in the morning, fish in the afternoon, and watch the sunset on the shores of Donner Lake in the evening.

For something a bit more thrilling, book this Class III Whitewater adventure along the Truckee River. This is a great rafting experience for first-time rafters or families with kids over 7 years old.

In the winter months, enjoy some snow fun at the Northstar California Resort located just 10 minutes south of Truckee town. This luxury resort offers over 100 ski trails along with a vibrant village and a hotel with pools, spas, and restaurants.

19. Three Rivers

Three Rivers is a small community near the southern entrance of Sequoia National Park. This is the last place where I usually stop to stock up on food, fill up on gas, and often camp overnight before heading up into Sequoia National Park.

Sierra Subs & Salad and Three Rivers Brewing Co. are some of my favorite spots in town for food and drinks.

If you enjoy river rafting, spring is a great time to go on a whitewater adventure along the Kaweah River that travels next to Three Rivers town.

There are several highly rated outfitters in town, including Kaweah Whitewater Adventures and Mountain Descents, that you can check out for a thrilling rafting adventure!

20. Angels Camp

Tucked away in Calaveras County, Angels Camp isn’t a well-known tourist attraction, but there is plenty of charm and fun activities to be found in this historic gold rush town.

During my visit, I stayed at the Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort, which has a few different accommodation options, including RV camping, cabins, and tent camping. This RV campground offers a central location to stay for visiting the nearby towns, including Murphys, Vallecito, Sonora, and Jamestown.

Within a short drive, you can reach the nearby Moaning Caverns Adventure Park, where you can take a tour of the largest single cave chamber in California. If you enjoy wine tasting, be sure to check out the various wine tasting rooms and cellars along Highway 4, just 15 minutes northeast of Angels Camp.

While in the town, be sure to stop by the Angels Camp Museum, which houses one of the largest carriage collections in the US!

Map Of Best Mountain Towns In California:

Map Tip: Click on each location to see more details!

Have you visited any of these mountain towns in California? Let us know your favorites in the comment section below!

Looking for more things to do in California? Be sure to check out these popular posts next:

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• 13 Of The Most Scenic Boardwalks In California
• 20 Gorgeous Lakes To Visit In Mammoth, California

This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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