Located in Tuolumne County, right near Mariposa County where Yosemite Valley is nestled, Mi-Wuk Village is not too far from Yosemite National Park. Whether you’re headed to Yosemite or not, you might find yourself visiting little Mi-Wuk Village and its neighboring towns the next time you rent an RV and explore Northern California.

The Great Outdoors

Mi-Wuk Village has an elevation of 4,500, so you know there are mountains to hike in the area. While not in Mi-Wuk but right nearby in Sonora, you can hike along the scenic Clavey River to get to God’s Bath swimming hole (or any of the smaller pools before you get to God’s Bath if it’s busy). Rainbow Falls in Groveland is another popular swimming hole along the south fork of the Tuolumne River, although the slippery rocks along the waterfall may not be ideal if you’re traveling with young children. In Pinecrest, you can hike the 6.7-mile Pinecrest Lake Loop to get to Cleo’s Bath, another picturesque swimming hole that is still considered somewhat of a “secret gem.” This hike offers additional views of a lake, river, and waterfall. Grabbing drinks or snacks to bring during the hike and to the swimming hole is recommended, and conveniently-placed is a little store near the parking lot prior to the hike.

All three swimming holes are in the Stanislaus National Forest, which constitutes almost 900,000 acres of land in four counties in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. The forest was named after the 96-mile Stanislaus River that was popular amongst tens of thousands of gold seekers during the Gold Rush. The Me-Wok people originally inhabited the banks of this particular river, and the river is named after Estanislao, a Spanish magistrate educated by Spanish soldiers who was also a native tribe leader. He is thought to have inspired the Legend of Zorro. He was passionate about protecting his fellow Native Americans in battle and later taught native languages to non-natives.

For more history, Mi-Wuk village has erected a monument honoring Chief William Fuller, son of a Me-Wok chief’s daughter, for his contributions to the community and the local band of Me-Woks. He established a small reservation that organized the local Me-Wok tribe and was a voice for the Native Americans. In addition, nearby town Twain Harte has a trail called the Shadow of the Mi-Wok, which is a short ¼ mile walk with outdoor historical exhibits. A longer hike, also with historical plaques to read along the way, is located on the West Side Trail. It is ten miles total, five miles there and five miles back. If you are not a fan or carrying a heavy backpack—especially if you are used to your luxury RV rental from Mi-Wuk Village holding onto your belongings for you—Potato Ranch Llama Packers rent out llamas that will carry the weight for you during hikes.

If you’ve gone on all of the hikes, swam in all of the swimming holes, and visited all of the historical items the town has to offer and just want to play or relax outside, Twain Harte also has a golf course and shows movies in an outdoor amphitheater in the summer. Also, a fun summer activity is the “Concerts in the Pines” outdoor live music sessions. In the opposite direction is Pinecrest Lake Resort. At Pinecrest Lake, you can swim, fish, or take a boat out on the water. The town of Pinecrest also has the Dodge Ridge Ski Area and Leland High Sierra Snow Play Park for wintertime activities.