Cedar Ridge offers wooded seclusion along with nearby dining and shops
In Cedar Ridge, narrow, lane-less roads cut through the Sierra Nevada foothills’ rolling landscape. This Tuolumne County community offers a feeling of seclusion under a canopy of towering trees. “You feel like you’re away in the woods,” says Edward Rector, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Segerstrom, who has 20 years of industry experience. A wide variety of homes poke out from the greenery, and the area’s rustic setting is ripe with places to go hiking and other outdoor activities. The nearby communities of Twain Harte and Sonora are also home to an assortment of restaurants and shops.
Outdoor recreation ranges from hiking trails to golf
Cedar Ridge is on the edge of the Stanislaus National Forest, which stretches over 900,000 acres. “You can be in the national forest immediately,” Rector says. In turn, hiking, hunting and fishing are popular pastimes among people who live in the area. Stanislaus features over 1,000 miles of trails and dozens of lakes. The Ditch Trail, one of the hiking paths near Cedar Ridge, traces along a 19th-century ditch network. The 184-mile Lyons Reservoir, 13 miles northeast of Cedar Ridge, is an option for fishing. Hunters can find wildlife like deer and turkey in the forest, too. Other types of recreation include Eproson Park, which is just over 6 miles away in Twain Harte and has a playground and a baseball diamond. The park is next to Twain Harte Skate Park and the nine-hole Twain Harte Golf Course, which is open to the public.
Established homes offer a getaway for some
Most of the houses in Cedar Ridge date from 1955 to 2000, including a variety of ranch- and cabin-style properties. Lots stretch anywhere from one-fifth of an acre to over an acre and are at least partially shrouded from view by the community’s dense trees. The area’s Comstock Ranch development has particularly spacious lots of over 2 acres. Rector says there are many vacation homes in Cedar Ridge, making the community busier during the summer. Still, he says it's also relatively affordable in relation to the wider county. Homes in Cedar Ridge that are under 2,000 square feet typically sell for $160,000 to $415,000, while larger options, including those in Comstock Ranch, can go for $430,000 to $1 million. The community of Cedar Ridge faces extreme wildfire and air quality risks, according to FirstStreet.
Seasonal parades and rodeo traditions near Cedar Ridge
Although Cedar Ridge is fairly secluded, residents can find community events in places like Twain Harte, including a Fourth of July parade 6 miles away along Joaquin Gully Road. The parade is free for people to enter and show-off their classic cars, golf carts and bikes. There’s also a Winter Wonderland Parade in Twain Harte in December, with a tree lighting and the chance to visit with Santa at Eproson Park. The city of Sonora hosts the Mother Lode Round-Up each May, a tradition that dates back about 70 years. Mother Lode Round-Up has a rodeo and a parade that draws thousands to see horses, marching bands and more. The rodeo spans two days and includes competitions ranging from bull riding to calf roping.
Area eateries serve up burgers, burritos and local wine
Hungry locals can head into the heart of Twain Harte, about 6 miles south, for multiple locally owned restaurants. The list of options includes The Rock of Twain Harte, which has been open since 1982. “It’s a good place for burgers,” Rector says. “They have outdoor dining in the summer and the winter.” Across the street, Local Press is a draw for breakfast and lunch, including breakfast burritos. China House of Twain Harte is known in part for its healthy portions, and wine lovers can sip locally produced drinks at Sierra Cellars. Locally owned Twain Harte Market is a go-to for groceries. Residents can head a bit farther to Sonora for big-box stores like Walmart, Safeway and Lowe’s, all about 11 miles away.
Cedar Ridge schools provide academic support and creative outlets
Students in Cedar Ridge may begin their academic paths at Belleview Elementary, which offers kindergarten through eighth grade and receives a C-plus grade from Niche. Belleview is part of the unrated Belleview Elementary School District and provides an after-school program with academic help and activities like art and sports. Students can then move on to B-rated Sonora High in the B-plus-rated Sonora Union High School District. Sonora High has clubs in topics like robotics and creative writing.
Rustic roads help residents reach other communities
Winding, single-lane stretches like Kewin Mill Road and Longeway Road lead to downtown Twain Harte. Kewin Mill Road also connects to Phoenix Lake Road for trips to Sonora. The closest hospital is Adventist Health Sonora, 11 miles away. Merced Regional Airport, which is about 70 miles south, has flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles through Advanced Air.
![Wayne Epps Jr.]()
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
