Tours

Tours for the Whole Family

Suggested Tours

(Grouped by close geographical locations)

Chinese Camp/Jamestown (about 7-10 miles west of Sonora except for Tulloch-20mi.)
Sierra Pacific Cedar Mill—Chinese Camp (Cedar fencing and pencil stock mill)
Pacific Ultra Power—Chinese Camp (Bio-Mass uses and clean energy production)
Brooks Quarter Horse Ranch (Inside arena demonstration on Quarter Horse training)
Gold Panning on Woods Creek (recommended for spring)
Railtown 1897 (not affiliated with TuCARE tours, but nearby)

Tulloch Lake/Dam/Power House
(Water resources, energy production, nature walks)

Columbia/Melones
Blue Mt. Minerals Limestone Mine (Limestone, marble and aggregate mine)
Melones Lake Visitor Center (in conjunction with Lake staff-Water cycle, habitat, etc.)
Moaning Caverns (not affiliated with TuCARE tours, but nearby)
Columbia College (not affiliated with TuCARE tours, but nearby)
Columbia State Park (not affiliated with TuCARE tours, but nearby)

Sonora/Tuolumne
Cover’s Apple Ranch (not affiliated with TuCARE tours, but nearby)
Mother Lode Ranch (Cattle and Horse Ranching)
Tuolumne River Canyon walks (Biodiversity, Wildlife, Eco Systems)
Miwuk/East Hwy. 108 to Pinecrest (15-40 minutes from Sonora, east)
Miwuk Ranger District Office and Visitor Center (Forestry, Recreation, Wildlife Habitat)
Stanislaus National Forest Sites (Forestry, Wildlife Habitat, Water Shed Management, Etc.)
Summit Ranger District Office and Visitor Center (Forestry, Recreation, Wildlife Habitat)
Private forest land sites—mostly Sierra Pacific lands (Forestry related tours)
Aspen Meadows Pack Station and Meadow (Biodiversity, Recreation, Cattle Ranching)
Pinecrest Lake (Biodiversity, Habitat, Recreation, Water Resources)
Dodge Ridge Ski and Recreation Area (Biodiversity, Habitat, Recreation)
Fahey Cabin (Historically restored cow camp cabin)

Based on the time of year, the weather conditions, etc. tours can be held in the Miwuk and above area through the end of October and possibly into November, then resuming in late March or early April, again depending on weather. Tours on the Stanislaus National Forest are in conjunction with Forest Staff. Forestry related tours on private timber land is dependent on whether an active forestry project is taking place unless the tour is for biodiversity, nature walks, or some other non-timber related excursion.

Possible trip scenarios:
Chinese Camp Mill, Ultra Power (3-3.5 hours)—Wood Products & Uses of Wood for Energy
Chinese Camp Mill, Ultra Power, Tulloch Dam (4-5 hours)—Wood Products & Alternative Energy
Blue Mt. Minerals, Columbia State Park (3 hours)—Mining, Now and Then
Blue Mt. Minerals, Chinese Camp Mill, Ultra Power, Tulloch Dam (5-6 hours)—Tuolumne County Natural Resource Overview
Forest Tour (active logging site), Chinese Camp Mill (4 hours)—From Wood to Lumber
Forest Tour (active logging site), Chinese Camp Mill, Ultra Power (5 hours)—From Wood to Lumber to Energy
Brooks Horse Ranch, Rosasco Cattle Ranch (4 hours)—Cattle and Horse Ranching
Melones Visitor Center, Butterfly Talk with Entomologist (3 hours)—Water Cycle & Life Cycle
Melones Visitor Center, Tulloch Dam (4 hours)—Working Water, Multiple Uses
Canyon Walk, Covers Apple Ranch (3-3.5 hours)—Biodiversity and Habitat Walk with Apple Farm Experience
Aspen Meadows Pack Station (horse back rides available for a fee), Meadow Study (3-4 hours)—1 hour pack trip on horseback and/or pack demonstration with butterfly/bug talk in the meadow
Logging site, Aspen Meadows Station, Pinecrest Lake (4-5 hours)—The Multiple Uses of the Forest

TuCARE tours are free of charge!
All tours can be customized with your needs in mind. Tour materials are available for all age groups/grade levels. Additional activities, nearby recreation facilities, parks, public restrooms and picnic areas can be suggested if needed.

Schools Are Responsible for Their Own Transportation

Note: Some locations do not allow children under the age of 5-6 (with rare exceptions), especially in lumber mills, the biomass plant, the mine and the dam. Sierra Pacific Industries requires all participants to sign a waiver of release of liability before attending the tours. Weather is a big factor for most tours. Blue Mt. Minerals is only available for tours in dry weather. The Melones Visitor center is not open year-round for tours. Cattle ranch trips (excluding the Brooks and Mother Lode ranches) are only available when cattle are not on high country ranges (usually after October 15th and before April 15th). The Aspen Meadow station is not open after October until late spring. Meadow tours can still be held until wet weather. Ultra Power is usually closed for tours all of May. Tulloch Dam does not allow tours on outage days.