Kennedy Meadows Fishing
Tuolumne County

Heading Up to Kennedy Meadows

To reach Kennedy Meadows, drive east from Sonora 57 miles on Highway 108. A clear sign shows the turnoff from the highway to Kennedy Meadows. Follow a narrow, paved road about a mile to the Kennedy Meadows Resort. You can park at the resort for the day. There is a long-term parking area back along the road across from Deadman Campground. Parking can be found along the road in places. Watch the signs to find legal parking areas because some areas are designated No Parking.

Fishing near the Resort

Fishing is good all along the river, but during the summer and fall you'll have plenty of company along the river close to the resort. I usually head up the trail on the dirt road leading toward the Emigrant Wilderness. The road crosses a small hill and then descends toward Kennedy Meadow.

Favorite Fishing Spot #1

One of my favorite spots is along the river between the meadow and the resort. Once you have crossed the hill and are approaching the meadow, watch for an opportunity to cut off the road and down to the river. Follow a fairly easy use trail downstream. You will pass an old concrete diversion tunnel on the far side of the river. Just below that are a cluster of boulders in the river and a deep pool with great fishing (see the title photo above).

Favorite Fishing Spot #2

Fishing the river at Kennedy Meadow, a mile upstream from the resort, is always rewarding. You'll likely find a number of fly fishermen there in the summer and fall. I quickly work my way upstream past the meadow, heading toward the gauging station. You'll find several good fishing places along that section of the river, rarely visited by other anglers. Along the way you'll pass a cable tram used for crossing the river (not for public use) and then the gauging station.

Just upstream from the gauging station, the river makes a horseshoe bend. Some of my favorite fishing spots are near the bend and just upstream from it. If you want to fish from the far shore, you'll find a bridge along the hiking trail about a half mile upstream from the bend by the gauging station.

Lodging and Camping

Accommodations can be found at the Kennedy Meadow Resort, which has a number of cabins for rent, and a short distance back down the highway at Dardanelle Resort (once they re-open for business).

Backpackers will have to hike several miles upstream into the Emigrant Wilderness before they find suitable camping spots. Pick up at wilderness permit at the Summit Ranger Station near Pinecrest. Good campsites are found along the river below Relief Reservoir, at Relief Reservoir, and along Kennedy Creek below Kennedy Lake.

Numerous campgrounds are located around Kennedy Meadows. Among the best is Baker Campground with many excellent sites along the river. Nearby Deadman Campground is smaller, but also has good sites. Neither campground takes reservations. Back along the river are more campgrounds.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds along Highway 108, see

Fishing Supplies

On your way to Kennedy Meadows, you can pick up fishing supplies at the following places:

• Kennedy Meadows Resort Store
• Strawberry Store, Strawberry
• Rich and Sal's Sport Shop, Pinecrest
• The Sportsman, 90 S. Washington, Sonora
• Mountain Liquors, 18711 Tiffeni Dr., Twain Harte
• Ken's Sporting Goods, Bridgeport