Donnell Vista

Donnell Vista is a USDA Forest Service overlook sitting on the Highway 108 corridor in Stanislaus National Forest, about 18 miles east of Pinecrest. The pull-off is roadside, so parking the bike and getting to the view takes almost no effort — from there, a quarter-mile paved trail with interpretive signs along the way leads out to the cliff edge above the Middle Fork Stanislaus River Canyon and Donnell Reservoir below.

The overlook sits at 6,300 feet, and the canyon it peers into is the product of both granite and volcanic geology — the Dardanelles formation rises distinctly in the distance across the reservoir. The railed viewing platform puts you directly above that deep cut in the rock, with the water a long way down. Restrooms are available at the site, the paved trail and accessible parking make this one of the more inclusive stops on the pass, and there is no fee to stop.

Highway 108 closes seasonally due to weather, so this stop is a warm-season proposition — generally late spring through mid-fall, depending on conditions. Plan the timing around the pass itself rather than the overlook specifically.