Summary 
| Difficulty | 1 Beginner |
| Length | 1.0 mile round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6550 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
Nil |
| Navigation | Adjacent to plowed road, road and marked trail. |
| Time | Short |
| Season | Mid-December through early-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Tamarack |
| Start | Highway 4, 1.2 miles east of the Cabbage Patch Highway Maintenance Station. Park in the U-shaped pullout on the south side of the highway. |
Description
The Big Meadow Campground is a perfect place to experience the joys of cross-country skiing off groomed tracks for the first time. The land is flat and you are never more than 500 feet from the highway. Along the way you meander through the snow-covered woods of the campground. You can extend this tour to the Stanislaus River Overlook if you feel up to a little more challenge. There you will be treated to amazing vistas.
Be aware that the roads that the "blue diamond" marked trail follows through the campground are not always obvious and the trail marking is not great. However, a little patience will get you from one end of the campground to the other and back. Just remember that the route parallels the highway, look for clear paths through the trees, and remember that the route you want is very level.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.3
Elevation change: Nil
From the trailhead (1) ski east and parallel to the highway, pick up the marked road after a short distance, and continue east for a total of 0.3 mile until you reach a road junction (2). In all likelihood, you will have skied on the north road through this part of the campground.
Don't worry if you don't actually see the road junction. But if you do see the junction, then you will also be able to find the marked road on the south side of the campground and you can ski it back on your return.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.3 - 0.5
Elevation change: Nil
Continue east and parallel to the highway on the marked road for 0.2 mile until you reach the east end of the campground (3). This section forms a lollipop and you can ski either direction around the loop.
You will know you are at the east end of the campground because the marked road ends; if you go farther you will intersect another road and a creek. You proceed beyond the creek on the road if you are continuing onto the Stanislaus River Overlook tour.
Return to trailhead
Miles: 0.5 - 1.0
Elevation change: Nil
Retrace the route for 0.5 mile back to the trailhead (1) following either of the two loops in the campground.
