West Mill Lodge guidebook
Food scene
Historic California small town. Great for wine tasting, ice cream eating, shopping.
211 locals recommend
Murphys
Historic California small town. Great for wine tasting, ice cream eating, shopping.
Great local beer on tap, and good pub food. Great for families. Lots of TVs to watch sports, and a diverse menu so there is something for everyone. Take-and-bake pizzas if you'd rather cozy up the fire in your rental cabin.
Snowshoe Brewing Company
2050 California 4Great local beer on tap, and good pub food. Great for families. Lots of TVs to watch sports, and a diverse menu so there is something for everyone. Take-and-bake pizzas if you'd rather cozy up the fire in your rental cabin.
Locally crafted gin, vodka and bourbon, with tastings at the still.
14 locals recommend
Hinterhaus Distilling LLC
Locally crafted gin, vodka and bourbon, with tastings at the still.
Historic roadhouse with bar food, drinks and a beer garden in back with a view of the forest. Surprisingly welcoming for families during the day.
91 locals recommend
Lube Room Saloon
3431 CA-4Historic roadhouse with bar food, drinks and a beer garden in back with a view of the forest. Surprisingly welcoming for families during the day.
Excellent Italian restaurant. Definitely worth a visit.
113 locals recommend
Sarafina's Italian Kitchen
794 CA-4Excellent Italian restaurant. Definitely worth a visit.
Dogwood
1224 Oak CirGreat food in an elegantly casual setting.
El Vaquero
925 CA-4Quality Mexican food in downtown Arnold.
A great new addition to the Arnold food scene. Terrific breakfast and lunch, and evening BBQs in the summer. Good coffee, and they have a band shell and a big lawn for summer evening music and wine events.
61 locals recommend
Bistro Espresso
1225 Oak CirA great new addition to the Arnold food scene. Terrific breakfast and lunch, and evening BBQs in the summer. Good coffee, and they have a band shell and a big lawn for summer evening music and wine events.
Just what it says on the sign. Historic general store with convenience items, but also a wine/beer bar, espresso, free wifi, local souvenirs, and helpful staff for anything you need to know about what's happening in the area.
19 locals recommend
Camp Connell General Store
4036 CA-4Just what it says on the sign. Historic general store with convenience items, but also a wine/beer bar, espresso, free wifi, local souvenirs, and helpful staff for anything you need to know about what's happening in the area.
JJ's Dive Bar & Grill
1051 CA-4Like it says, it's a dive bar with food. Nuf said.
Sightseeing
Great for kids and families, or anyone who loves an adventure. Beautiful old-growth groves of giant Redwood and Sequoia trees over 300ft tall.
274 locals recommend
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1170 CA-4Great for kids and families, or anyone who loves an adventure. Beautiful old-growth groves of giant Redwood and Sequoia trees over 300ft tall.
The best preserved original gold mining town in California. Many original buildings and examples of authentic mining equipment, cute shops, a functioning blacksmith who you can watch work (or purchase a freshly-made metal item), ice cream, restaurants and bars, and you can even pan for gold. A SUPER family day of history, excitement, learning and playing. Something for every member of the family, and an important part of our western story.
54 locals recommend
Columbia
The best preserved original gold mining town in California. Many original buildings and examples of authentic mining equipment, cute shops, a functioning blacksmith who you can watch work (or purchase a freshly-made metal item), ice cream, restaurants and bars, and you can even pan for gold. A SUPER family day of history, excitement, learning and playing. Something for every member of the family, and an important part of our western story.
Great stopover on your way to or from the cabin. About 30 minutes from the cabin near Murphys on Hwy-4.
164 locals recommend
Moaning Caverns Adventure Park
5350 Moaning Cave RdGreat stopover on your way to or from the cabin. About 30 minutes from the cabin near Murphys on Hwy-4.
Outdoor recreation
The best family-friendly ski resort in the Sierra, and you don't have to drive to Tahoe. Lower prices, smaller crowds, more fun!
67 locals recommend
Bear Valley
The best family-friendly ski resort in the Sierra, and you don't have to drive to Tahoe. Lower prices, smaller crowds, more fun!
A great way to spend the day. During the summer it's a great place to swim or fish. Fall and Spring offer excellent and beautiful hiking trails around the lake.
52 locals recommend
Lake Alpine Lodge
4000 CA-4A great way to spend the day. During the summer it's a great place to swim or fish. Fall and Spring offer excellent and beautiful hiking trails around the lake.
Such a dramatic and beautiful setting for a picnic or a day of swimming. The water is basically melted mountain snow, so it is refreshingly chilly on a hot day. The water can move pretty fast, so it's better for experienced swimmers ... but probably not a great swimming spot for small kids.
9 locals recommend
Stanislaus River
Such a dramatic and beautiful setting for a picnic or a day of swimming. The water is basically melted mountain snow, so it is refreshingly chilly on a hot day. The water can move pretty fast, so it's better for experienced swimmers ... but probably not a great swimming spot for small kids.
Beautiful hikes through the woods, just minutes from our cabin.
24 locals recommend
Stanislaus National Forest
19777 Greenley RoadBeautiful hikes through the woods, just minutes from our cabin.
The museum is a fun trip for kids, and you can park here and enter the Arnold Rim Trail ... a beautiful walk through the forest for as long or short as you want to go. The first 3/4 of a mile are paved, and after that it's a well-groomed trail.
28 locals recommend
Arnold Rim Trailhead And Logging Museum
2158 Dunbar RdThe museum is a fun trip for kids, and you can park here and enter the Arnold Rim Trail ... a beautiful walk through the forest for as long or short as you want to go. The first 3/4 of a mile are paved, and after that it's a well-groomed trail.
Great place to pick up fishing supplies and advice, or any other outdoor supplies.
13 locals recommend
Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods
925 CA-4Great place to pick up fishing supplies and advice, or any other outdoor supplies.
City/town information
Camp Connell is on Hwy-4, a route used by gold miners and California settlers in the 1800s.
Camp Connell
Camp Connell is on Hwy-4, a route used by gold miners and California settlers in the 1800s.
Neighbourhoods
This is a quiet residential area. Some year-round residents, and some vacation homes.
Big Trees Village
This is a quiet residential area. Some year-round residents, and some vacation homes.