Tag Archives: livestock

Big Meadows California

Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch Resort cottages on Child Meadow
Childs Meadows Lassen
Childs Meadows @ Lassen

Big Meadows, California

In the mountains numerous places called ‘big meadows’ exist in California. Large meadows, huge meadows, high elevations and low. We are truly blessed by such a natural beauty in our local region. Remember those who have protected the land for future generations.

  • camping near
  • picnic
  • cattle grazing
  • hike thru
  • bike around
  • horseback riding
  • cross country ski
  • snowmobiling
  • stargazing
  • wildflowers
meadowroad
Inyo National Forest – highcountry backroads

For Southern California meadows – Mount Pinos has a large meadow next to the walk-in campground, Chula Vista. San Diego’s Laguna Mountain has some meadows and Big Bear Lake offers sage meadows, on the Fawnskin side.

Wild Meadows range from 3000′ elevation in the foothills, to about 11,000′ elevation in the highcountry. Vacant of trees, these wide open areas are generally colder spots, with moisture and with fragile ecosystems.

Eastern Sierra’s Inyo has gorgeous meadows of lupine wildflower (see above). Cattle grazing and 4×4 roads all over, up to 12,000′. High country mountain peaks surround. That area is called Coyote Flat w/ Coyote Lake. 4WD needed! Winter, snowy and almost inaccessible.

SNOW – Since meadows are generally located in the mountain regions, deep winter snow can make these special places impossible to reach (for about half the year). Summer is the prime time to explore the higher elevations, so plan accordingly.wildflower

WILDFLOWERS – Remember that the higher the elevation, the later the wildflowers will bloom. High Sierra meadows often bloom well into July & August.

AUTUMN COLORS – Aspen groves are often located next to meadows. Fall colors can be quite decent around October, before the first snow fall of the season.

Big Meadow Kern
Big Meadow, Kern Plateau in Sequoia NF

MENDO glade – In the Mendocino National Forest the meadows are called “glades” – and the area has been heavily impacted by wildfire. Snow Mountains Wilderness was totally burnt in the Ranch Fire 2018, the largest wildfire in California history.

NORCAL history – Some Mountain Maidu tribes are known as the “Big Meadow Indians” – they made the Big Meadows of the Upper Feather River their home. Damming the Feather River created Lake Almanor in 1914, which flooded the meadows and forced native people to relocate.

reds meadow
Horse pack station Red’s Meadow, behind Mammoth Mtn. Eastern Sierra

The Big Meadows below are listed from south to north.
Enjoy!

Big Meadow Sequoia, Kern Plateau, off Sherman’s Pass Rd

Big Meadows Road #14S11, Giant Sequoia NM
(in between Kings Canyon NP & Sequoia NP)

Big Meadow Campground, Sequoia, Road #14S11

Big Meadows Campground, Stanislaus NF, near Arnold, CA

Big Meadows Campground, El Dorado National Forest

Big Meadow Campground, Rock Creek Canyon, Eastern Sierra

Big Meadow Campground, Hell Hole Reservoir

Cherry Mdws

Other awesome meadow areas include –

Monache Meadows, near Kennedy Meadows @ PCT
Horse Meadow Campground NFS, Kern Plateau
Dome Land Wilderness – Manter Meadows
Shirley Meadows Road #25S15
Powell Meadow Rd#21S36, Sequoia National Forest
Jerky Meadows – Lloyds Meadow Road #22S82
(primitive camping & trailhead Golden Trout Wilderness)
Jackass Meadow, Sierra National Forest
Horseshoe Meadows Road, Lone Pine, CA
Dinkey Creek Road, Sierra National Forest
Lake Henshaw, N San Diego County
Laguna Meadows, Cleveland NF, San Diego Mountains
Indian Valley – Greenville & Taylorsville, North Sierra
Grover Hot Springs, Sierra Nevada
Dixie Glade Campground, Mendocino NF
Kingsley Glade Campground, Mendocino NF
Sugarfoot Glade Campground, Mendocino NF
Beasore Meadow, way up behind Bass Lake, CA
Dunderburg Meadow, off Green Creek Road
Butte Meadows – N of Chico, CA
Blue Lakes Road – Sierra Nevada, South of Tahoe
Kaiser Pass Meadows, above Huntington Lake, CA
Jones Valley/Jones Meadow – SR 172 in Lassen NF
Spencer Meadows (hike) – trailhead @ Hwy 36 @ Lassen
Battle Creek Meadows @ Mineral, CA & Lassen NF

Childs Meadows – along Hwy 36 @ Lassen NF

Dixie Fire @ Childs Meadow AUG 2021

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS are the perfect place to watch meteor showers! Bring your tarps, blankets, pillows and lounge chairs, plus plenty of snacks & drinks for the overnight adventure.

LagunaMdws
Laguna Mdws, Cleveland NF
inyohighroad
click to expand

Oakdale Rodeo

Oakdale Rodeo

Cowboy Capital of the World

Oakdale hosts a large rodeo annually.

In 1954, the Oakdale Saddle Club held its first professional rodeo, keeping the name the Oakdale Clover Round-Up. By, 1957 the name of the rodeo officially changed to the Oakdale Rodeo.

Barrel Racing, Rodeo Dance, Oakdale Rodeo Parade on Saturday morning.  The parade features, a grand marshal, horses, local businesses, bands, classic cars.

 Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds
1624 East F Street
Oakdale, CA 95361
209-847-4083

Annual event: April
4 day event

OAKDALE, CA

oakdalerodeo.com

Out of the Chute

 

Los Angeles County Fair

The Fun Starts Here

LA County Fair

Los Angeles County Fair is held several miles from downtown LA; at the Pomona Fairgrounds (off Interstate 10). Concerts, carnival rides & games, exhibits, horse shows, home & garden shows, arts & crafts. Big event for the county of Los Angeles.

NOTE 2022:
The LA Fair has permanently moved to the month of May

Annual event; May
909-623-3111

Los Angeles CA

lacountyfair.com

Tulare County Fair

Tulare County

Tulare Fair

Tulare is located in the California Central Valley (the “bread basket”) – so summers can still be quite warm, or should we say HOT, even in September.

Big county fair for this farming region. Agriculture shows, auctions, destruction derby, exhibits, competitions, 4H livestock, parade, rodeo, tractor pull and much more. Don’t miss the delicious Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler Cook-Off and the Tri-Tip Cook-Off. Carnival rides and carnival games too.

Annual event; September

Tulare County Fair Assoc.
620 South K St.
Tulare, CA 93274
559-686-4707

tcfair.org

 

farris wheel

Lassen County Fair

Fair

Lassen County Fair

The NorCal event Lassen County Fair is held in Susanville California. Carnival rides, destruction derby, ranch rodeo, arts & craft vendors, food, & plenty local music too. This whole Northern California region is awesome for summer camping & fishing, so make a week of it & enjoy the natural scenery, outdoor recreation & this annual county fair.

Annual event; July
530-251-8900

SUSANVILLE, CA

lassencountyfair.org

Lassen Fair

Demolition Derby

Zipper

Gold Country Fair

Auburn Gold Country Fair - 7 September 2007

Auburn Gold Country Fair

California Gold Country Fair

Auburn is home to the Gold Country Fair every September. 4-day event w/ parade, pony rides, carnival rides & games, entertainment.

1273 High Street
Auburn, CA 95604

Annual event; September
530-823-4533

Auburn CA

goldcountryfair.com

20070907 Cowgirl

Grape Festival in Lodi

GrapeMural

Lodi Grape Festival & Harvest Fair

Located in the California Central Valley farming region in Lodi, California. Carnival games, rides, entertainment, livestock & animals, wine tasting, square dancing, arts & crafts.

Annual event; September
209-369-2771

LODI CA

grapefestival.com

 

GrainMural

2011 Lodi Grape Festival

CaseyPony2

Del Norte County Fair

Day 13: Crescent City

Del Norte County Fair

Crescent City in the infamous Redwood Empire of Northern California hosts the Del Norte County annual fair in late summer. This traditional country fair includes livestock, carnival, entertainment, talent show, 4H exhibits & arts. This is a prime time to plan a summer vacation to the north coast. More than a dozen local redwood campgrounds nearby to choose from.

Annual event; August
800-350-9556
707-464-9556

CRESCENT CITY, CA

dnfair.org

Del Norte County Fair 8/07

Del Norte County Fair 8/07

Intermountain Fair

Intermountain Fair 2010

NorCal Intermountain Fair

90 years running. Intermountain Fair is held annually at McArthur Fairgrounds, east of Fall River Mills, CA. Small town parade, exhibits, livestock, motocross, demolition derby, carnival rides and games. If you are looking for a small hometown fair inside California, this one is choice pickins.

The Inter-Mountain Fairgrounds is located in the northeastern tip of Shasta County on Highway 299E in the town of McArthur, CA. McArthur is located in the Fall River Valley – along with neighboring communities of Fall River Mills, Glenburn, Pittville, and Dana. All are farming communities with a total population of about 2,000 people @ 3400′ elevation.

Annual event; August & September

Fall River Mills, CA

inter-mountainfair.com

y Picture 1035 ed

Home Town Parade

Intermountain Fair 2010

Santa Cruz County Fair

santa cruz county fair racing pigs

Santa Cruz County Fair

September is the month for the Santa Cruz County Fair. Carnival rides and games, horses, live music, entertainment. Auto races, pig races, horse show

Annual event; September
831-724-5671

Santa Cruz California

santacruzcountyfair.com

 

Sam and Arthur go down the slides at the 2000 Santa Cruz County Fair

Monterey County Fair

fair trails

County Fair in Monterey

Over 80 years of this coastal event in California. Carnival rides, livestock show, food, live music, arts & crafts, horse races & wine tasting. This is by far the largest summer fair event in the whole region. Campgrounds and hotels in the area fill up fast in warmer months, so make reservations if you want to visit the Monterey Bay Area.

Annual event; September
831-372-5863

MONTEREY, CA

montereycountyfair.com

 

bred-heifers2.jpg

montereybay

Humboldt County Fair

Humboldt County Fair 2008

Humboldt Fair in Ferndale

Northern California Coast near the Humboldt Redwoods, this county fair has to be one of the oldest in the golden state – over 100 years running! The scenic Victorian Village of Ferndale hosts the annual Humboldt County Fair every August. Carnival rides, games, music, food, livestock & horse races too.

Annual event; August

FERNDALE CA

humboldtcountyfair.org

 

Humboldt County Fair 2008