Outbound Collective logo

Long Barn, California

Long Barn, California, offers a range of top outdoor adventures, with the best trails and outdoor activities. The Pinecrest Lake Loop Trail is a must-visit for hikers. This moderate 4-mile trail circles the scenic Pinecrest Lake, with stunning views of the water and surrounding forest. For a more challenging trek, try the Emigrant Wilderness Trail. It offers a diverse landscape, including rivers, rock formations, and lush meadows. Don't miss the Columns of the Giants, a unique geological formation near the trail. For a relaxing day, visit the nearby Stanislaus River Parks, perfect for fishing and picnicking. Remember, these outdoor attractions are within and near Long Barn, making them convenient for a day of exploration.

Top Spots in and near Long Barn

  • Pinecrest, California

    Hike to Cleo's Bath

    4.5
    6.5 mi / 1263 ft gain
    This 6+ mile hike is located at Pinecrest Lake in the Stanislaus National Forest located in Tuolumne County and features a lake, river, forest, waterfall, and swimming hole. It is accessible year-round,  in winter there will be snow, and the hike is dog friendly except between May 15th-September ...
    Read more
  • Pinecrest, California

    Backpack to Chain Lakes

    4.4 mi / 864 ft gain
    This trip begins at ~7500 feet at the Box Springs Trailhead This trail is at the end of Forest Route 3N20Y. The trail, which is not regularly maintained and may at times be hard to follow, initially descends slightly to 7300', then stays mostly flat before rising just before the lakes. You will p...
    Read more
  • Tuolumne County, California

    Hike the South Grove Trail in Big Trees SP

    3.7
    5 mi / 560 ft gain
    The South Grove Trail of Calaveras Big Trees State Park sees far less traffic than the North Grove due to its increased mileage and distance from the park entrance. The trail starts at the South Grove Trail head which is located nine miles east of the entrance on the main park road. The trailhead...
    Read more
  • Pinecrest, California

    Backpack to Bear Lake (Emigrant Wilderness)

    4.5
    8.34 mi / 705 ft gain
    Start by picking up your wilderness permit at the Summit Ranger Station near Pinecrest - (209) 965-3434. There's no quota for this area, so no need for reservations in advance. To reach the trailhead, make your way south from the Ranger Station and turn left onto Crabtree Rd. Drive along this ro...
    Read more
  • Sonora, California

    Bouldering at Columbia College

    Get your hands on some limestone bouldering at this spot. There's actually two locations for bouldering in this area, Columbia College and Columbia State Park (about less than a 10 min. drive from Columbia College), but I made this specific adventure for climbing on the college. GPS Coordinates f...
    Read more
  • Tuolumne County, California

    Backpack Chewing Gum Lake

    3.3
    4.5 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Chewing Gum Lakes is located in Emigrant Wilderness, South of Lake Tahoe and North of Yosemite, with stunning valley views and gorgeous granite faces, peaking through the tree lines of the Stanislaus National Forest. Sitting just north of Yosemite allows you to take in a portion of the beauty of ...
    Read more
  • Tuolumne County, California

    Climb Cracks at the Gianelli Edges

    We first found the Gianelli Edges mentioned in the Climbers Guide to the Sonora Pass Highway. A short 2.5-3 hour drive from our place in Oakland, it's a great spot for a quick single day or overnight climbing excursion. Just head out 120 toward Yosemite and pull off on the 108 toward Burst Rock/G...
    Read more
  • Arnold, California

    Hike the North Grove Trail in Calaveras Big Trees SP

    5.0
    1.7 mi / 40 ft gain
    When thinking of the iconic Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada, one usually thinks of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. However, there is a often forgotten area of Giant Sierra Redwoods that gets far less traffic than the more popular groves. The North Grove Trail takes you through a grove of over 1...
    Read more
  • Angels Camp, California

    Upper Natural Bridge Trail

    1.9 mi / 410 ft gain
    Upper Natural Bridge Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Columbia, California.
    Read more
  • Groveland, California

    Drive the Yosemite Valley Loop

    4.3
    Upon entering Yosemite Valley National Park I made it a point to see Half Dome, El Capitan, and Washington Column and several other famous Yosemite formations. What I didn't realize was as soon as I entered The Village was that all could be seen within a 15 minute loop around the valley floor. Th...
    Read more
  • Groveland, California

    Rainbow Pool

    4.5
    Finding Rainbow Pool is a little tricky, since it is off the side of a highway, but when you find it there is parking and bathrooms. There is a easy walkway to get down to the pool itself, and trails to climb to the top to slide or jump off the rocks. Many people tend to fish up top underneath th...
    Read more
  • Groveland, California

    Wapama Falls

    4.71 mi / 623 ft gain
    Hetch Hetchy has a completely different character than other areas of Yosemite National Park, and the hike to Wapama Falls is an excellent way to explore this relatively remote section of the park. You can only imagine what this valley looked liked before it was dammed and is second to none compa...
    Read more
  • Groveland, California

    Hetch Hetchy to Rancheria Falls

    4.8
    12.55 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Situated in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch Hetchy is is a not often visited treasure of the Central Sierra Nevada. In 1913, in an extremely controversial move, work on the O’Shaughnessy Dam was started to provide water to the growing population of San Francisco. Today, Het...
    Read more
  • Arnold, California

    Backpacking to Sword Lake

    5.0
    Getting There Take 108 to Pinecrest Lake to pick up a free backcountry permit at the Summit Ranger Station. (If you reach Strawberry you've gone too far.) Continue past Beardsley Lake to Clark's Fork Road on the left. Cross two bridges and Forest Route 6N06 will take you to the trailhead (County ...
    Read more
  • Pinecrest, California

    Lower & Upper Relief Valleys and the East Flange Rock

    21.6 mi / 3600 ft gain
    The Lower and Upper Relief Valleys are beautiful alpine valleys cut by Relief Creek in the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness and are an excellent alternative to Yosemite National Park if you're looking for solitude and no crowds. The East Flange Rock juts prominently over Lower Relief and is an ea...
    Read more
  • Pinecrest, California

    Climb Granite Dome via Lower & Upper Lewis Lakes

    25 mi / 5000 ft gain
    Granite Dome is the signature peak in the Emigrant Wilderness, with fantastic views north to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, east to the Hoover Wilderness (Sawtooth Ridge), and south to Yosemite including, on a clear day, Cathedral Peak and the Cathedral Range.There are several routes up Granite D...
    Read more

Camping and Lodging in Long Barn

Pinecrest
Pinecrest, California

Pinecrest

Pioneer Trail
Pinecrest, California

Pioneer Trail

Lake Alpine   Lodgepole Group
Big Meadow Cmpg

Lake Alpine Lodgepole Group

Big Meadow Stanislaus Natl Fs
Big Meadow Cmpg

Big Meadow Stanislaus Natl Fs

Glory Hole Recreation Area
Angels Camp, California

Glory Hole Recreation Area

Dimond O
Groveland, California

Dimond O

Guides, Insights and Stories from Long Barn

Confronting Our Egos through Travel

Confronting Our Egos through Travel

Ryan Longnecker

23 Things I Learned in 23 Days on the John Muir Trail

23 Things I Learned in 23 Days on the John Muir Trail

Girls Who Hike

Why Backpacking Clouds Rest Should Make Your Permit Application Lineup

Why Backpacking Clouds Rest Should Make Your Permit Application Lineup

AJ Johnson

10 Ways to make camping in Yosemite National Park even better

10 Ways to make camping in Yosemite National Park even better

Meghan White

Review: Danner Mountain Light boots in Yosemite National Park

Review: Danner Mountain Light boots in Yosemite National Park

Hannah Sibley