seasons

Sugar Pine Ranch is located at 3200 feet above sea level, due east of San Francisco, above the west-side foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is a perfect elevation to enjoy all four seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. Equally special is our location. Not only is Highway 120 open all year to Yosemite Valley from the west, and within the temperate zone of central California, which means very short periods of high and low temperatures, light snow loads in winter, and great weather most all year, but we are also located in the range of color, evergreens, and bio-diversity.

Guests and visitors experience the best seasonal climate, and the best in seasonal changes. From snow covered winter vistas to fall colors in golden yellow and crimson red, nestled amongst a wild range of green shades. And with cooler nights and crystal clear fresh air, night skies come alive with sparkling abundance. The Milky Way pops to life, satellites drift through the sea of stars on lamp black moonless nights. When the moon is big, full and bright white, you can see through the forest, you can see the deer grazing, and silhouettes of giant evergreens and tangled oaks. It is so clear on many nights you can almost count craters visible amongst the gray shadows of moon mountains

Spring (and early summer) is of course a painter’s pallet of colors and art forms. From miniature Sierra flowers, of all shapes and sizes, to pink Red Bud and white Dogwood blossoms, green fields of wild grass, and flowing streams, you can feel the flow of nature’s renewal throughout your senses.

The summer is hot during the day, but cools down in late afternoon. Day trips to the high country are cool and pleasant. River wading, rafting and swimming bring welcome relief. All sorts of animals are at play and at work, enjoying the warmer climate, eating, and storing food for winter. Birds seem to be everywhere, and signing their hearts out. Some are cruising high in the sky looking for food below, and others emerging as hungry young chicks. At night, the bats come out to sweep clean the air of insects, and the nightshift of hungry mammals sneak quietly out to eat. All summer, beautiful butterflies drift about from place to place, aeoodessent dragonflies glide around looking for water, and by summer’s end and early fall praying mantises’ show off their prehistoric form and peculiar posture.

Fall is for most, the most breath taking. Fall colors completely change to light up the landscape. Oaks turn yellow, Aspens golden, and other trees bright red. Toad stools and mushrooms of all sorts, colors, sizes and shapes sprout up through the forest floor. The smell of fresh cut wood signals the onset of winter, and the gathering of fire wood for winter’s chill. Winter usually comes with a dusting of snow during December. Temperatures drop into the low 30s or 20s. And the forest life cycle moves into its next episode of seasonal life with the shedding of oak leaves and casting of pine needles.

During winter, it seems unusually quite awaking from a good night’s sleep. Odd as it seems, you can here silence — the sound of falling snow flakes, or perhaps a muffled world under a blanket of crystal white snow. Outside your cozy cottage, patches of snow let loose from towering tree branches, and cascade down into smoky veils of mist on gentle breezes. The scene outside seems surreal, like being inside a snow globe – a gentle, delicate, romantic and beautiful place to be – inside your own little comfortable world of warm thoughts and loving memories.

WECOME TO OUR WORLD. Welcome to seasonal views of Sugar Pine Ranch and our area