2025's Most Underrated Towns In California's Sierra Nevada
With summer just around the corner, 2025 is shaping up to be the perfect year for new adventures and unexpected vacation destinations. If you are from California, you will be happy to know that some of the best places are in your backyard: the Sierra Nevada. These seven towns may not be the biggest, but they are packed with all kinds of adventure potential, including film festivals, lakeside beaches, and national parks. Get ready to discover a different side of the mountain range in the most unexpected ways as you visit 2025's most underrated towns in California's Sierra Nevada.
Bishop
If you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned Western culture, Bishop is the perfect spot to channel your inner cowboy. Each summer, the town hosts the Tri-County Fair, complete with rodeo competitions, livestock shows, fair rides, games, and plenty of family-friendly fun. To go horseback riding, arrange a trail ride with Rainbow Pack Outfitters, which offers rides through flower meadows, along lakes, and across basins. There is no better place to learn about Bishop’s western story than at the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and featuring 11 acres of exhibits and history.
Nevada City
Nevada City is a Victorian-era town with a thriving art scene. From June through August, the town hosts its First Friday Art Walks, an event series that promotes emerging artists through live art demos, live music, and a curated selection of art vendors in the downtown district. To experience even more of the art scene, check out the Nevada City Film Festival, which will take place this year from June 20 until June 22. Throughout the festival, attendees can enjoy a variety of independent and international films, Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, workshops, happy hours, and special outdoor screenings. The nature that surrounds Nevada City is equally worthy of attention. Scotts Flat Lake, for example, sits at an elevation of 3,100 feet, surrounded by forested mountainsides and offering places to camp, fish, and swim.
Truckee
About an hour east of Nevada City, travelers will find the mountain town of Truckee, which is emerging as a major hub for outdoor recreation. Bikers in particular will adore the town, which offers 26.6 miles of paved trails to explore, according to Visit Truckee Tahoe. For a riverside trail, consider biking along the Truckee River Legacy Trail, a 9.6-mile round-trip route that winds along the Truckee River, ending in the Glenshire Neighborhood. On warm and sunny days, travelers can sunbathe and swim at West End Beach Park, a 2-acre beach on the shores of Donner Lake. After a day outdoors, you will find countless restaurants in town to satisfy your hunger. Pianeta Ristorante is an excellent option for Italian food lovers, offering house-made meatballs, sausages, and pastas.
Three Rivers
Considered the gateway to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s southwestern boundary, deserves a spot on every national park enthusiast’s bucket list. Travelers visiting the parks typically enter through the nearby Ash Mountain Main Entrance, which provides access to both areas. Inside, visitors will find giant mountains, canyons, caverns, and, of course, the ancient sequoia trees, popular for hiking and camping. Concluding your day of exploration, there are plenty of cozy lodges to return to in Three Rivers. Buckeye Tree Lodge & Cabins is a spectacular choice, offering river views and wellness activities such as on-site yoga classes and massages. For a souvenir, visitors can browse some of Three Rivers’ art galleries, like Kaweah Arts, which showcases artwork from over 50 local artists.
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes has recreational activities for every season of the year. Heading into summer, travelers will find alpine lakes, creeks, and streams that are perfect for fishing. At the Mammoth Lakes Basin, for example, anglers can fish for brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. In the fall, there are plenty of places to appreciate the area’s fall foliage. Visitors can hike along the Heart Lake Trail, which is surrounded by colorful aspen trees. During the winter season, travelers can hit the slopes for a day of skiing or snowboarding, before cozying up in one of the town’s local taverns, such as The Warming Hut, which specializes in American comfort food, serving favorites like chicken n waffles, baby back ribs, and burgers.
Sonora
As a historic California gold rush town, Sonora tells a story like no other in the Sierra Nevada. Travelers can learn about this gold rush history at the Tuolumne County Historical Society Museum, which features a large collection of artifacts from the gold rush era through modern times. Sonora’s Opera Hall is another famed landmark in town, originally constructed as a flour mill in 1879 and now holding concerts, art shows, and other community events. To experience the natural beauty of Sonora, spend an afternoon on the Dragoon Gulch Trail, a 3.1-mile trail network that meanders through the gorgeous oak woodlands.
Auburn
Between its golf courses, vineyards, and music scene, Auburn is the perfect travel destination for those seeking a relaxing of pure relaxation. There are several golf courses in the Auburn area, with The Ridge Golf Course being one of the most highly rated. Covering 170 acres, the course beautifully features oak-studded knolls, hills, and rock outcroppings. After a game of golf, travelers can head over to Viña Castellano Winery, where they can enjoy a tasting or wine flight in the vineyard’s Stone Barrel Cave and Tasting Room or picnic area. For a night of fine music, grab tickets for a concert with the Auburn Symphony, which performs works from renowned composers like Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Tickets for the 2025 and 2026 season will go on sale on July 1.
California is packed with renowned vacation destinations, but sometimes you find yourself craving something quieter. These small towns, with their smaller populations, offer fewer crowds, but just as much excitement and adventure. You can kick back with a glass of wine at a mountain winery, cheer on a rodeo, or venture into Sequoia National Park, all right here in the region. Visiting these towns, you will quickly discover that sometimes the most meaningful trips are in the places you least expect.
