Please follow our directions! Our site is located off the beaten path, so web-based directions and GPS are consistently unreliable. Plus, we know some great shortcuts...
Our campus is located in the Stanislaus National Forest at an elevation of approximately 4,100 feet. We are in the mountains just above the town of Sonora, which is 1 1/2 hours east of Modesto, 3 hours east of San Francisco, and 3 hours north of Fresno by car. Below are specific directions on how to find us.
Link to Google Maps
From Sacramento
- From Highway 99, go south until you get to Stockton or Manteca.
- Follow the instructions listed From Stockton or From Manteca.
- Follow Hwy 16 for 30.5 miles.
- Turn right onto Hwy 49 (50.5 miles). Follow Hwy 49 through Angels Camp toward Sonora.
- Turn left on Parrott's Ferry Road (0.25 miles) toward Columbia State Park.
- Take the first right on Sawmill Flat Rd. where you will see a large Columbia College sign. Go 2 miles, passing Columbia College on your left.
- Turn right on Big Hill Road. Be careful! This turn comes suddenly, and it's a right-hand only intersection.
- Go 4.7 miles up Big Hill Road.
- Veer left on Old Oak Ranch Road, where you see the large "Sierra Outdoor School" sign. This is a narrow, paved, 2-way road and you may encounter buses!
- Continue 2 miles to SOS. You will pass the Old Oak Ranch Conference Center (brown buildings), to SOS (green buildings) on your left.
- You made it! Cars should park in the lined spaces on the road. The office is on the left with the flag pole in front.
From the Bay Area
- Take Hwy 580 east toward Tracy.
- Take Hwy 205 through Tracy, then north on Hwy 5 for one exit (0.8 miles).
- Go east on Hwy 120, the Manteca Bypass (6.4 miles).
- Hwy 120 will temporarily take you north on Hwy 99 (1.7 miles), but you will quickly exit Hwy 99.
- Continue to follow Hwy 120 (20 miles) east toward Oakdale and Sonora.
- At Oakdale, go east on Hwy 120/108 toward Sonora (30.5 miles).
- Turn left on 5th Ave
- Then follow Directions from Jamestown
From Stockton
- From Hwy. 99, go east on Hwy. 4 (39 miles).
- Turn right onto O'Byrnes Ferry Rd. (11 miles).
- Turn left onto Hwy. 120/108 toward Sonora (6.8 miles).
- Turn left on 5th Ave
- Then follow directions from Jamestown.
From Jamestown
- Turn left on 5th Ave
- Turn right on Jamestown Rd. for 3.5 miles.
- Veer left on Shaws Flat Rd.
- Turn right on Hwy 49 (0.25 miles).
- Turn left on Parrott's Ferry Road (0.25 miles) toward Columbia State Park.
- Take the first right on Sawmill Flat Rd. where you will see a large Columbia College. Go 2 miles, passing Columbia College on your left.
- Turn right on Big Hill Road. Be careful! This turn comes suddenly, and it's a right-hand only intersection.
- Go 4.7 miles up Big Hill Road.
- Veer left on Old Oak Ranch Road, where you see the large "Sierra Outdoor School" sign. This is a narrow, paved, 2-way road and you may encounter buses!
- Continue 2 miles to SOS. You will pass the Old Oak Ranch Conference Center (brown buildings), to SOS (green buildings) on your left.
- You made it! Cars should park in the lined spaces on the road. The office is on the left with the flag pole in front.
From Fresno
- Travel north on Hwy 99 towards Merced.
- Turn right on G Street in Merced (6.6 miles).
- G Street becomes Snelling Rd. (9.4 miles).
- Turn right at the "T" intersection onto Hwy 59 (1.5 miles). Hwy 59 curves through the city of Snelling.
- Turn left on J-59 on the outside of Snelling. J-59 becomes La Grange Rd (26 miles). Continue straight through the stop light.
- Turn right (east) at "T" intersection onto Hwy. 108 (9.5 miles). Follow to Jamestown.
- Turn left on 5th Ave
- Then Follow Directions from Jamestown.
From Manteca
- From Hwy 120, merge left onto Hwy 99 (1.7 miles).
- Hwy 120 will temporarily take you north on Hwy 99 (1.7 miles), but you will quickly exit Hwy 99.
- Continue to follow Hwy 120 (20 miles) east toward Oakdale and Sonora.
- At Oakdale, go east on Hwy 120/108 toward Sonora (30.5 miles).
- Take a slight left onto Jamestown Rd. (3.9 miles).
- See Directions from Jamestown.
Unfortunately, cell phone reception is unreliable on the drive, so be sure to take screenshots and/or print the directions before heading our way. Please note that Old Oak Ranch Road is narrow with blind corners. Keep to your side of the road as much as possible and HONK before blind corners. Thanks!
If you need further directions or get lost, feel free to call us at (209) 532-3691
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