Take the long way home.
Browse outdoor places and related local stories around Merced County, from nearby trails and open spaces to day trips toward Yosemite and Mariposa.
Outdoor places and related editorial stories appear together here; use Latest Stories for the complete story archive and site-wide search for both content and listings.
Showing 73–96 of 108 matching results.
Outdoor places and related stories
Related story · Outdoors
Henderson ParkPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Henderson Park popular for picnics Stretched along the bank of the Merced River in eastern Merced County, Henderson Park is shaded by tall trees and further back from the road than the facilities…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Merced 1240 Elks park1240 Elks Park (1) Merced 1240 Elks Park 27 sites located at: 3600 Wardrobe Ave. Merced, Ca.…
Related story · Local History
Livingston Historical Museumphoto by adam blauert Livingston Historical Museum Foundation On the northern edge of Merced County, the town of Livingston boasts an interesting historical museum.…
Outdoor place · Parks, Zoos & Museums
Fresno Chaffee Zoophoto by adam blauert Zoos in the Valley The Applegate Zoo in Merced is the best place within a 100 mile drive where you are guaranteed to see a broad selection of local wildlife.…
Related story · Outdoors
George J. Hatfield Recreation AreaPhoto by adam blauert George J. Hatfield Recreation Area: This state park has a mile of river frontage and plenty of shade.…
Related story · Local History
Raymond Museumphoto by adam blauert From 1886 until the completion of the Yosemite Valley Railroad in 1907, the closest you could get to Yosemite by rail was the town of Raymond in the foothills of Madera County.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Merced County Wildlife Refugesphoto by adam blauert Merced County Wildlife Refuges Most of the acreage is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with additional areas under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Game.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Great Bike Paths in Merced CountyBike Paths - photo by adam blauert Bike Path in Merced Merced County communities have an extended network of bike paths and bike lanes with many more planned for future construction.…
Related story · Local History
Meux Home Museumphoto by adam blauert The Meux Home Most nearby counties – Mariposa, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, San Benito, Madera – and our own, have museums of county history. Surprisingly, Fresno County doesn’t.…
Related story · Local History
Dos Palos Museumphoto by adam blauert History in the valley Although the Merced County Historical Society Museum displays history of the entire county in Merced’s old courthouse building, it is augmented by history museums in other…
Related story · Local History
Fossil Discovery Center of Madera CountyPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County From Antiques Roadshow to American Pickers and Pawn Stars, popular TV shows have long featured treasures found in unlikely places.…
Related story · Outdoors
Sierra Foothill ConservancyPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Most of the best hiking trails between Merced and Yosemite National Park are located on land surrounding the large reservoirs that provide water for farms, businesses, and homes.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
George J. Hatfield Recreation Area Merced Countyphoto by adam blauert George J. Hatfield Recreation Area This state park has a mile of river frontage and plenty of shade.…
Related story · Local History
Kearney Park and MansionPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT M. Theodore Kearney During the mid-1800’s, the majority of people who visited the San Joaquin Valley couldn’t see the agricultural potential that would be unleashed through irrigation. M.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Hensley lake ~ Very close to Merced County with many facilitiesPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Hensley Lake Less visited than nearby Eastman Lake, Hensley Lake has almost as many facilities and comparable fishing. Hensley Lake was created by a dam on the Fresno River.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Eastman Lake: Formed by a dam on the Chowchilla reservoir, this tends to be more popular than nearby Hensley Lake.Eastman Lake Eastman Lake: Formed by a dam on the Chowchilla reservoir, this tends to be more popular than nearby Hensley Lake.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Reservoirs, Fishing, and Boating within an Hour of Merced County CommunitiesPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Hub for boating, fishing, and water recreation Encircled by the reservoirs of the Central Valley’s irrigation system, Merced County is a hub for boating, fishing, and water recreation.…
Related story · Yosemite & Mariposa
Yosemite Conservancy~Dedicated to improve your visit to YosemiteYosemite Conservancy A non-profit organization that supports Yosemite national park and the visitors who come to the park. If you are new to the Conservancy, I encourage you to check out all the opportunities.…
Related story · Yosemite & Mariposa
Stars in the sky over YosemiteStars in the sky over Yosemite Yosemite is one of the best locations to get a great view of the stars.…
Outdoor place · Outdoors
Don Pedro Lake - One of California's highest-rated fishing area & 5th largest artificial lakePHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Don Pedro Lake The fifth-largest artificial lake in California, Don Pedro is one of California’s highest-rated fishing areas.…
Related story · Yosemite & Mariposa
June 30 1864 amid the Civil War… The Yosemite Grant Act. Learn what it is by Visiting the Yosemite Museum in 2014.June 30, 1864, amid the Civil War… The Yosemite Grant Act President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act into law on June 30, 1864, amidst the brutal American Civil War.…
Outdoor place · Parks, Zoos & Museums
Pacheco State ParkPHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT Mexican land grant This park preserves part of a large Mexican land grant given to the Pacheco family in 1843. 28 miles of trails are available for hiking, biking, and equestrian use.…
Related story · Yosemite & Mariposa
Yosemite Hiking trail tips. Three easy trails for a day hike.Yosemite Hiking trail tips. Three easy trails for a day hike. To enjoy the beauty of Yosemite, you don’t need to be climbing the Half Dome cable or backpacking in the high country.…
Related story · Yosemite & Mariposa
Yosemite National Park Hiking: Waterfalls, Streams and Rivers"Beautiful but deadly." (see video below) Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places in the world. But it is also one of the most dangerous with the flowing streams, waterfalls, and rivers.…