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| Stanislaus National Forest | |
|---|---|
Cherry Lake in Stanislaus National Forest | |
![]() Interactive map of Stanislaus National Forest | |
| Location | California, United States |
| Nearest city | Sonora, California |
| Coordinates | 38°15′N120°00′W / 38.250°N 120.000°W /38.250; -120.000 |
| Area | 898,099 acres (3,634.48 km2) |
| Established | February 22, 1897 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Stanislaus National Forest |
Stanislaus National Forest is aU.S. national forest which manages 898,099 acres (1,403.3 sq mi; 3,634.5 km2) of land in four counties in theSierra Nevada in NorthernCalifornia. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests. It was named after theStanislaus River.


The forest is located primarily in easternTuolumne County, adjacent to the northwestern part ofYosemite National Park, but parts of it extend (in descending order of forestland area) into SouthernAlpine County, NorthernMariposa County and EasternCalaveras County. Forest headquarters are located inSonora, California. There are local ranger district offices inGroveland,Hathaway Pines, andPinecrest.
TheEmigrant Wilderness is located entirely within its boundaries. Portions of theCarson-Iceberg Wilderness, including theDardanelles Cone, and theMokelumne Wilderness are also within the Stanislaus National Forest.
It contains 78 lakes and 811 miles (1,305.2 km) of rivers and streams. It has 1,100 miles (1,770.3 km) of non-motorized trails and 2,859 miles (4,601.1 km) of roads, 188 miles (302.6 km) of which are paved.
The forest contains some 139,000 acres (560 km2) ofold growth, which includesLodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta),Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) andWhite Fir (Abies concolor).[1]
The proximity of the Stanislaus National Forest to theSan Francisco Bay Area makes it a popular recreation destination. The volcanic and granite formations in thewilderness exist alongside heavy cattle grazing. Whitewaterrafting andkayaking can be found in the wild and scenicTuolumne River andCherry Creek. Other rivers flowing out of the Stanislaus include theClavey River, theStanislaus River, as well as theMerced River along the southern boundary.
Two ski resorts,Dodge Ridge andBear Valley, operate here under a special use permit.
TheRim Fire was ignited on the Stanislaus National Forest in August 2013, and eventually grew to become the third-largest fire in California history. The fire was named after the Rim of the World Vista onCalifornia State Route 120, where the fire was initially reported.