Brown Creek Trail

Brown Creek Trail is a short, quiet hike in the Sierra National Forest just outside Oakhurst — the kind of trail locals use to stretch their legs without driving all the way into Yosemite itself. Officially trail #23E07 on Forest Service maps, it covers 2.3 miles between two forest roads through mixed-conifer woods managed by the Bass Lake Ranger District. It's hiking-only and sees a fraction of the traffic Yosemite's marquee trails do, which makes it a solid pick if you want tree cover and quiet over a postcard view.

What to expect

The route runs between forest roads 7S83 and 7S09a, following Brown Creek through Sierra foothill forest typical of the terrain south of Yosemite's south entrance near Oakhurst. The Forest Service doesn't publish an official elevation gain or difficulty rating for this trail, so plan for a moderate outing, wear real hiking shoes, and check current conditions before heading out — foothill trails like this can have downed trees or overgrowth between maintenance cycles.

Good to know

• Managed by the Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest.
• Hiking only — no mountain bikes or motorized use permitted.
• Call the ranger district at (559) 877-2218 for current trail and access conditions.