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Sonora, California is a city located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California. It is known for its historic downtown, which features a variety of shops, restaurants, and antique stores. Sonora is also home to numerous outdoor activities and attractions including hiking trails, camping spots, and riverside parks. The nearby Yosemite National Park offers breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and its vast wilderness areas. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the many recreational activities available in Sonora such as fishing, rafting, horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, snowmobiling and more!
The reviews for Sonora are overwhelmingly positive with numerous visitors praising this charming mountain town for its friendly locals and wonderful natural beauty. Many people come to experience the unique sights and sounds of downtown while others come to take part in exciting outdoor activities such as river rafting or mountain biking. Other reviews mention how much they enjoyed visiting local wineries or sampling Sierra Nevada craft beers. There's something for everyone in Sonora so it's no wonder that this small city has become one of California’s most popular destinations!
based on 15 ReviewsGet to know Sonora with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Sonora
Sonora A Rural Haven in California - 3/30/2024
I have lived in Sonora for two and a half years and love it. Some of the earlier reviews I read scared me before coming. Here is what we have found. We live in a community where it is safe to walk even at night. We have not had issues with crime. The people are friendly. On average, we go down to the grocery store and meet three families we know before leaving. While you can find all the basics here, this is not big city life. The restaurant and shopping options are limited. Primary healthcare needs are met here locally. Sonora has the sense of a rural town, with incredible nature to enjoy all around. If you like bird watching, hiking, biking, snow skiing, boating, swimming, and camping, what a great place. It is a fine place to raise a family; we have a church community, and private Christian schools provide high-quality education. I would give this a five star if it were not for the cost of living. The cost of living is high compared to some mid-western towns but low compared to
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No bueno - 5/7/2021
I have lived here for 8 years and I absolutely hate it. This town is not built for all the people it has to accommodate. Everyone from the ENTIRE county comes here to do their shopping, dining, health appointments, get gas, etc. Sonora is now so congested that at times it takes three times as long to get across town than it normally would/should. Then you add in all the tourists, and this place is just absolutely chaotic. People from the bay area come up every summer and trash the place, leaving their litter and filth all over the highways and roads. This is also a horrid place to raise babies and young children, as activities for them are severely limited. This town has 2 playgrounds, and one of them always has junkies hanging out. Oh, and on top of the overwhelming hear in the summer, this is one of the worst areas in the state for power outages and getting ALL the driftsmoke from all the fires that rage every year. You will come out to ashes on your vehicles and thick smoke that
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Avoid it if you're starting a family - 1/14/2021
Lived here for 21 years since my family moved up from the valley (to get away from gang violence and other crime). Traffic doesn't pay attention constantly running lights and even bolting in front of oncoming traffic, kids walk in the middle of the road with NO parental supervision and staring at incoming cars, costs over $800 to live in 1bd apartments around drug dealers and thieves that break in under broad daylight, full-time jobs to pay the bills are scarce as is education, the only real nightlife is bars and casinos, mail not getting delivered (not sure if postal problem or theft) or getting thrown at your door, reporting problems or even calling stupid crap out results in getting laughed at. No one takes anything seriously here, including work or even their own safety. The only positive I can say is the landscape is pretty, but that's all this area has going on. That's still a positive.
This is NOT a place I want to raise my kids and have been trying to save up
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Better places in Motherlode - 5/20/2018
While there are mostly good, nice people here, there is a very strong contingency of unwelcoming, closed-minded, "clan mentality" (clan with a C, not Klan that I know of) people as well that influence the climate. Seems like some people are proud of being ignorant and backwards. The political tendency is mostly very conservative, but there are some liberal people here, too, or those that don't fall into one camp or another. Most people here are fine and don't have weird issues with race, but you can run into overt racism here more than some other places. From what I've observed, more people would have a problem with openly gay or trans folks. Not a lot for teens to do, not a lot of good restaurants, and no night life. If you feel like you can live with all of that, then you will be in beautiful country with lots of things within driving distance - lakes, mountains, camping, skiing/snowshoeing, fishing, wineries/breweries, the occasional concert or public event, etc.
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Costly - 6/26/2016
Sonora is more for those who are ready to retire and dont want to live in a big city. We have beautiful mountains lakes and rivers lots of places to hike and camp. The problem living here is that for the good jobs you need at least 6 months to a year experience. There isnt much for teenagers except going to the movies or our local casino where they have a arcade room. The cost of living here is extremely high a pound of hamburger can cost you around $12.00 at Safeway. We have our crime just like anywhere else and a lot of it is due to the increase of drug use and population growth with jobs lacking. There isnt any affordable housing your utilities and enemeties will be more then your rent. Due to the fact that Sonora is located in California everything is more costly.
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Meth, Thieves, Gangs - 5/15/2015
This used to be a quiet great place to live until overrun with people trying to hide. Meth/gangs/theft are all a way of life now. Tuolumne City has become a meth gang area capital. Anyone arrested is released in 24-72 hours which sickens law enforcement. There are places which are known to strip copper and sell metal. Other places meth houses that keep felons on the down low. Crime will get worst and worst. Not to mention the murders and missing. Sadly Gods country became Devils
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Wonderful place to live. - 1/30/2012
I have lived in Sonora my entire life and love it. It is a small town with enough stores and conveniences to make it easy. Lots of things to do outdoors year round. Close to Yosemite and other fabulous
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Sonora - 9/8/2009
I have lived here for almost 10 years...It works for me as a resident as I run a successful business here and teach at the college.
I am frustrated at times becasue we are so far from the airport and culturally the area is a bit weak...and the economy has of course affected everything...but that is true for most smaller cities in cal.
I will write more when i
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Friendly and Laid Back Small Town - 5/30/2009
I moved back to Sonora 3 years ago after living in the Bay Area for over 20 years and I am very happy with the friendliness and small town feel that makes me feel welcome. I recently read other comments that were very critical of Sonora. Sonora does have some issues, as does any other area. The meth users are depressing to see and there is a lot of low income and poor looking housing. However, I saw this to a much higher extent in the Bay Area. What I love about the Sonora area is that everyone cares about their fellow man. When I drive down a street, strangers will wave and smile at me. When I go to the bank, I hear friendly chatting, laughter and see people greeting each other with hugs and welcoming handshakes. In the Bay Area when I go to a bank, it is silent and serious. There is a very diverse type of people here, and many are of the "good ole boy" attitude. But I also see that almost all people are very open minded here and very easy to talk to. The old timers are
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Not so pristine - 11/23/2008
Everyone will tell you how beautiful, wonderful, and safe this area is. I finally read a few paragraphs on here where someone hit the nail on the head. There is a ton of crime, drugs, and unemployment. Houseing costs and cost of living are through the roof leaving the working class in low income housing and barely able to feed their
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