Main Tuolumne Ditch Trail

I had a wonderful hike with the family on Friday after Thanksgiving to work off all the eating while feeding our other senses. The Fall foliage colors were in full splendor as we breathed in the fresh air at 5000 ft elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountain, and we smiled to ourselves as we heard sounds on crunchy leaves below our feet.   The Main Tuolumne Canal was originally built to supply water to the gold miners many years ago. Now is still used to supply water to local communities around the area.   Copied from sonoracentral website - The first section of the Main Tuolumne Ditch Trail, Twain Harte to Lyons, is very scenic. It is a five mile one-way hike with a 300-foot elevation gain overall. The trail is mostly dirt single track with eight or so wooden flumes ranging from several yards to one mile in length. These flumes have 2 x 12″ planks in place for maintenance workers so you can use these planks to traverse the flumes but if you are the least bit afraid of heights I would recommend you walk around them. The best way to do this hike is to park at the old Sierra Pines Golf Course parking area and head northeast towards Lyons. In this direction the last mile or so before you get to the dam is all flume so, if you are squeamish with heights do not do this section.

One of the easiest nature walks in the county. Flat east walking dirt path along the old ditches dung during the mining boom to supply water throughout the county. There are some areas walking across raised platforms or up/down stairs may be required to continue (none I have had issue). Leashed dogs are welcome as is fishing, local codes are applicable. The ditch is stocked regularly from Moccasin, Fish hatchery on a weekly schedule (see website for details. This is just one of the many places to walk the ditch in Tuolumne County!

We hiked from Mi-Wuk to Sonora using this trail the most. It was a 20.3 miles hike and, like I said, most of it was on the plume or Tuolumne Canal or Ditch. It was so beautiful and the terrain was superb.