Being a short drive from anywhere as well as having a range of gardens on your doorstep means it’s easy to live alongside and appreciate nature when you live in Fresno.

Not only do we have our own attractions, we are also only a short drive from the Sierra National Park, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park and Stanislaus National Forest. Each offers a unique opportunity to spend time outdoors, walking, biking or wandering around. Let’s take a quick look at each.

Sierra National Park

The Sierra National Forest is on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains and offers exceptional mountain views, trees, wildlife and recreation over 1.3 million acres of National Park.

Within the park you can cycle, hike, camp, fish, ride horses, hunt and participate in water sports that conform to the Forestry Service rules.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous of all our country’s natural areas. Located in California, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a magnet for tourists from all over the world.

Set in over 760,000 acres of wild land, it includes part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, as well as forests, waterfalls, rivers, granite cliffs and wilderness.

Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is east of Fresno and borders the Sequoia National Park on the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It has over 460,000 acres of wilderness, mountain and canyon. The park includes General Grant Grove and Redwood Mountain Grove.

The Kings River and the San Joaquin River both flow through the park, offering some great campsites.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park borders Kings Canyon National Park and shares many of its geological features. It is also where you can find Mount Whitney and the Giant Forest. The Giant Forest, as its name suggests is home to giant trees, half of the largest trees in the world.

The park allows camping, picnicking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and a range of other pursuits. It also puts on guided walks and other activities.

Stanislaus National Forest

Stanislaus National Forest is almost 900,000 acres of National Forest in California. One of many national areas on the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Stanislaus National Forest is also one of the oldest.

The Stanislaus River provides the backdrop for hiking , or whitewater rafting and kayaking. The Tuolumne River and Cherry Creek both offer opportunities for rafting and kayaking too.

As you can see, Fresno is perfectly located for any of you who like the outdoors. There are millions of square acres of wilderness, forest and water to enjoy and all are cared for and looked after for you to enjoy.