Arnold, CA-- 4,000 is a good number for Arnold. The town in Calaveras County sits at an elevation of around 4,000 feet, and its population is over 4,000 by a little bit.
Located along the shady, winding road that climbs in elevation on its way from Angels Camp to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold has some shops, a real estate office, restaurants a B&B, camping and our favorite--Sierra Nevada Logging Museum.
For many, the road to Arnold leads to the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway that straddles a mountain and several counties (Calaveras & Alpine). It is a drive you will enjoy after the snow melts of winter when the spring blossoms with color.
Calaveras County contains mostly unincorporated towns such as Arnold. the
others include Avery, Copperopolis, Dorrington, Forest Meadows, Mokelumne Hill,
Mountain Ranch, Murphys, Rail Road Flat, Rancho Calaveras, San Andreas,
Sheepranch, Vallecito, Valley Springs, Wallace and West Point.
Named for Bob and Bernice Arnold who opened Ebbetts Pass Inn in 1927, tourism at
that time had grown when word spread about the big Sequoia trees in the nearby
groves, but logging was the main industry and today, the logging museum in
Arnold commemorates the active logging industry by collecting photos, machinery
and memories from those who worked in the business during its heyday. Logging
has not totally diminished from the area, but the giant redwoods are now
protected. The Calaveras Big Trees State Park (between Arnold & Dorrington) and
Sierra Nevada Logging Museum are both "must-see" attractions.
Ebbetts Pass, the official source is byways.org.
April:
Cedar Center Easter Egg Hunt, Arnold
May:
Jumping Frog Jubilee and County Fair, Angels Camp; Spring Flea Market and Faire,
Arnold
June:
Annual Quilt Faire, Arnold; Annual Crafts Faire, Arnold; Two Rivers Territory
Trail Run and Block Party, Arnold
July:
Independence Day Parade, Arnold; Annual Independence Weekend Crafts Faire,
Arnold; Klines Meadowmont Crafts Fair, Arnold
August:
Stevenot Triathlon, Arnold; Family Fun Fest at the Lake, White Pines, Arnold;
Big Trees Family Day, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold; Arnold Medical
Clinic Benefit Golf Tournament, Arnold
September:
Annual Labor Day Flea Market, Cedar Center, Arnold; Annual Sierra Nevada Logging
Museum Logging Jamboree, Arnold; Klines Meadowmont Crafts Fair, Arnold; National
Handicapped Sports Wine Tasting Benefit, Arnold
October:
Ski Swap & Bike Sale, Independence Hall, Arnold; Pumpkin Patch People, Cedar
Center, Arnold; Annual Haunted House and Halloween Party, Hazel Fisher School,
Arnold
November:
Annual Christmas Bazaar, Chapel in the Pines, Arnold; Pinebrook Ladies Christmas
Boutique, Arnold; Annual Christmas Craft Faire, Hazel Fisher School, Arnold
December:
Historic Christmas Bed and Breakfast Tour, Arnold; Countywide Arnold Christmas
Open House, Arnold
Things to do:
Downhill Skiing
Cross Country Skiing
Ice Skating
Snow Mobilng
Boating
Rafting
Swimming
Backpacking
Hiking
Tennis
Racquetball
Horseback Riding
Bicycling
Golfing (5 courses, 2 driving ranges)
Spelunking
Gold prospecting
Fishing
Camping & Hiking & Fishing
Big Trees State Park
Lake Alpine above Bear Valley
New Melones Lake in Angels Camp
Caves
Cave City San Andreas
Mercer Caverns Murphys
Moaning Cavern Vallecito)
State Parks
Big Trees State Park
Columbia State Park
Rafting & River Trips
O.A.R.S. Whitewater Trips
Bicycling
Bear Valley Mountain Bikes: 209-753-2834 (BearValley)
Sierra Nevada Adventure Company 888-900-SNAC