Treasures Sorted by Activities and Interests
Tulare County Treasures await you in or near communities all over our big county (California’s seventh-largest and one of its most geographically diverse). Travel our back roads and byways as well as our highways to explore an amazing array of landscapes, cultural and historical sites, and famous trails. Whatever your interests and favorite activities are, you’ll find Treasures to enjoy and inspire you along your way.
Please Contact Us if we’ve missed listing an activity, an interest, or a Treasure that meets our criteria. Thank you!
Archaeology
Blue Oak Ranch Preserve (McCarthy Blue Oak Ranch Preserve)
Exeter Rocky Hill Site (near Exeter; visitors allowed only by prior reservation; article page pending — no page yet)
Architecture
Ash Mountain Entrance Sign, Sequoia National Park
Bank of Italy Building (now Bank of Sierra), Visalia
Buck Rock Fire Lookout (in Giant Sequoia National Monument)
C. A. Elster Building, Springville
Exeter Senior Center (formerly Exeter Carnegie Library, Carnegie Community Building)
First Congregational Church of Porterville
Generals Highway Stone Bridges, Sequoia National Park
Hockett Meadow Ranger Station, Sequoia National Park
Moro Rock Stairway, Sequoia National Park
Orosi-Cutler Branch Library (Carnegie library)
Pear Lake Ski Hut, Sequoia National Park
Pogue Hotel (now Lemon Cove Women’s Club), Lemoncove
Redwood Meadow Ranger Station, Sequoia National Park
Smithsonian Institution Shelter on Mt. Whitney, Sequoia National Park
Tharp’s Log, Sequoia National Park
Tulare Union High School Auditorium
Backpacking
Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, near Three Rivers
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Smithsonian Institution Shelter on Mt. Whitney
Wilderness Areas: Chimney Peak, Domeland, Golden Trout, Jennie Lakes, John Krebs, Owens Peak, Sacatar Trail, Sequoia Kings Canyon, South Sierra
Bicycling/Mountain Biking
Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail, Sequoia National Forest
Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, near Three Rivers
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest (on paved and dirt roads only; NO single-track)
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Birding
Virtually all the natural Treasures afford birding opportunities.
(Note: Sandhill Crane viewing at Pixley National Wildlife Refuge in winter.)
Boating/Kayaking/Rafting
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Kaweah River (seasonal)
Kern River (annual Kern River use permit required)
Camping (fee required at most campgrounds)
Buck Rock Fire Lookout, nearby in Sequoia National Forest
Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, near Three Rivers
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Lake Kaweah (west of Three Rivers)
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
River Ridge Ranch & Institute (near Springville)
Success Lake (east of Porterville)
Wilderness Areas: Chimney Peak, Domeland, Golden Trout, Jennie Lakes, John Krebs, Owens Peak, Sacatar Trail, Sequoia Kings Canyon, South Sierra
Caving
Sequoia National Forest (mainly Boyden Cavern, Giant Forest National Monument; wild caves are greatly restricted)
Sequoia National Park (mainly Crystal Cave; wild caves by permit only)
Dog Walking
Note: When visiting a Treasure that permits dog-walking, please walk your dog responsibly: respect and protect wildlife, water quality, and the enjoyment of other visitors. Keep your pet on a leash less than six (6) feet long (unless otherwise indicated) and under your control at all times. Please always pick up your pet’s poop and dispose of it in an appropriate waste container. Thank you for doing your part to maintain access for dogs at these special places.
(NOTE: Be aware that pets are not permitted on any trails (or off trails) in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Pets are allowed on a less than six-foot leash in campground and picnic areas in these parks.]
Treasures that allow dog walking:
Bartlett Park, east of Porterville (on leash)
Blue Oak Ranch Preserve (McCarthy Blue Oak Ranch Preserve) (on 6′ leash)
Bravo Lake Botanical Garden/Woodlake Botanical Garden, Woodlake (on 6′ leash)
Buck Rock Fire Lookout, Sequoia National Forest, (on 6′ leash)
Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area (on leash), near Three Rivers
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park (on leash)
Cutler Park, east of Visalia (on leash)
Dry Creek Preserve, near Woodlake (on 6′ leash)
Giant Sequoia National Monument (on 6′ leash)
Homer Ranch Preserve, near Woodlake (on 6′ leash)
Kaweah Oaks Preserve, east of Visalia (on 6′ leash)
Lake Kaweah, west of Three Rivers (on 6′ leash)
Ledbetter Park, Cutler-Orosi (on leash)
Mooney Grove Park, Visalia (on leash; also has dog park)
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest (under owner’s restricted control or 6′ leash)
Sequoia National Forest (on 6′ leash)
Success Lake and Big Sycamore Trail, east of Porterville (on 6′ leash)
Tule River Parkway, Porterville (on leash)
