Located in central California, lies the Stanislaus National Forest. You can fish in over 800 miles of rivers and streams, enjoy a comfortable cabin, stay in a campground, or hike into the backcountry seeking pristine solitude. You can swim near a sandy beach or wade into cold clear streams cooling your feet while lost in the beauty of nature, raft the exciting and breath-taking Tuolumne River, or canoe one of the many gorgeous lakes. You can ride a horse, a mountain bike or a snowmobile. Clearly the choice is yours in the special places of the Stanislaus National Forest.
The USDA Forest Service celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 1, 2005. On this date 100 years ago, the Forest Service was created as an agency with a unique mission: to sustain healthy, diverse, and productive forests and grasslands for present and future generations. The creation of the Forest Service initiated a century of change in managing public forests and grasslands, with introduction of a new conservation ethic and professional workforce to carry it forth. As the agency celebrates its centennial, we are asking the public and our partners to join us in celebrating their national forests and connection with these public lands.
The first forest reserves were set aside beginning in 1891 and were administered by the Department of the Interior's General Land Office. Conservationists of the day, including John Muir founder of the Sierra Club, fiercely debated over who should manage these reserves.
Early in 1905, Gifford Pinchot, then the chief of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Forestry, began gathering support for transferring the forest reserves from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. Pinchot was a firm believer that the nations' forest should be a sustainable source of lumber and other resources needed by the growing nation.
On July 1, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt changed the Bureau of Forestry to the USDA Forest Service; he appointed Gifford Pinchot as the first chief forester. Two years later, these forest reserves were named "national forests" in order to signal an emphasis on the "wise use" of these public lands.
The creation of the Forest Service introduced a new conservation ethic that was different than that of any other land management agency. Its mission, "Caring for the Land and Serving People," focuses on multiple use and strives to sustain healthy, diverse, and productive forests and grasslands today and for future generations.
- T Walker
Big Meadow Campground 
Scenes was in Little House on the Prairie episode The Lord Is My Shepard. A favorite of LH fans and loved the mountain scenes. Often talked about and commented the beauty of it.
The Stanislaus National Forest along the Hwy 108 corridor is spectacular in its beauty. If you long to be away from the crowds of Yosemite or Tahoe, check out this area! We often hike and see not another soul! Spent two afternoons at the beach at Beardsley Lake and had the entire beach to ourselves both days. Hiked on trails to Boulder Lake and Herring Creek Rsvr and again -- no people. This was week before Labor Day. 
Based mainly out of the Sonora area in
Tuolumne County a great place to camp off of HWY 108 . Many maintained camp grounds and many dispersed camping oppurtunitys availible. Check out LamarSierra.com , for infromation on tours of this area .
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