Fresno Explorer: 2017

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Stevensons Falls Walk

Elevation: 2000'
Length: 6 miles round trip to waterfall

Season: Early season (Feb-April), try to time the wildflowers

Road type: Paved

Driving time: 1.5hrs

Description: Park at the fire road and hike along the edison road about 3 miles to a large waterfall. Water amount is variable as Stevensons Creek is dammed by the Shaver Dam. Hike is hilly but paved. Can take bikes instead of walking if so desired. Hot, so go early season.

Directions:

Boulder creek swimming hole near confluence with King's River

Elevation: 3400'

Season: Peak (June-October), but more likely to be able to cross the King's River in August - October

Road type: Paved

Driving time: 2.5+hrs

Description:Park on the side of the road and cross the kings river to where boulder creek enters. NOTE: There is no bridge. Be very careful crossing the king's river. Do not cross if the water is high. Likely unsafe during most years in June and July due to high water. Head up river to a beautiful, deep, emerald green pool with a waterfall.

Directions:

Kings Canyon / Muir Rock Swimming Hole

Elevation: 5100'
Length: Unlimited hiking in King's Canyon National Park

Season: Peak (June-October)

Road type: Paved

Driving time: 2.5+hrs

Description: Park at Lands End parking lot and a short few hundred foot walk to a nice swimming hole in beautiful clear water. Jump off the small rock for a refreshing thrill. Unlimited hiking options into King's Canyon if you desire. Drive over is breathtaking into the canyon! Unfortunately, no dogs allowed, otherwise it would be one of our favorites!

Directions:

Evans Grove of Sequoias

Elevation: 7800'
Length: About a 4-5 mile out and back to the grove.

Season: Peak (June-October)

Road type: Dirt for last few miles, may require high clearance and/or 4x4

Driving time: 2+hrs

Description: Nice large sequoia grove away from the crowds. After your hike consider a picnic along Boulder Creek or at Hume Lake for a refreshing swim.

Directions:

Boulder Creek Dispersed Camping

Elevation: 6400'

Season: Peak (June-October)

Road type: Dirt for about last half mile, sedans okay.

Driving time: 2+hrs

Description: Nice dispersed camping along a moderate size creek. Follow the creek down stream to find some granite pools deep enough for swimming (no trail to these). See the nearby sequoias at Little Boulder Creek Grove.

Directions:

Little Boulder Creek Grove

Elevation: 6600'
Length: About a 2 mile out and back to the grove.

Season: Peak (June-October)

Road type: Dirt for last 1/2 mile

Driving time: 2hrs

Description: Small sequoia grove away from the crowds. Easy hike, good for beginning hikers. Pack a picnic and head over to nearby Boulder Creek or Hume Lake afterwards! Note: requires entrance to sequoia / kings canyon NP ($ fee).

Directions:

Friday, June 23, 2017

Hike along Vincent Fire Rd

Elevation: 1000'
Length: leisurely stroll, as far as you'd like

Season: Early season (Feb-April), try to time the wildflowers

Road type: Paved

Driving time: 1hr

Description: Stroll along a fire road the borders a creek. No significant elevation changes. Nice in early spring when the foothills are green. Note: this might(?) be private property, nobody bothered us!

Directions:

Epic Drive along Blackrock Road

Length: an ALL DAY drive

Season: Peak (June-Sept) check for road conditions.

Road type: Paved with potholes

Driving time: ALL DAY

Description: An amazing loop of a drive along an amazing road (blackrock road) that skirts the edge of a deep canyon that houses the North Fork of the Kings River. Some nice places to stop along the way: Dinkey Creek for a swim. McKinley grove of giant sequoias. Drive over the Wishon Reservoir dam. Take a dip in the King's River near Balch camp. Remember this is an all day driving event so pack appropriately!

Directions:

Low elevation Dinkey Creek hike / swimming holes / river adventure!

Elevation: 1600'
Length: about 2.5 miles round trip

Season: April - October. Water is cold in spring. Be careful for heavy runoff in early summer. Water is warm in late summer / early fall.

Road type: Paved

Driving time: 2 hrs

Description: This hike is an ADVENTURE. It is not on a marked trail. Not for people who want a casual stroll. Park on the side of the road and start along a path heading north. Follow a moderately marked path with some overgrown spots heading north. You will eventually get closer to the river but the trail starts to become hard to find and you have to do a little bushwhacking to finally make it to the river. Once there you are rewarded! Multiple large, deep swimming holes with cascading waterfalls. Wear water shoes and head up the river for even more amazing pools. One of my FAVORITE spots near Fresno. Remember that the weather is similar to Fresno so don't go when it's triple digits temperature. Best time is probably in September.

Directions:

Muley Hole Short Hike / Swimming Hole

Elevation: 5000'
Length: about 2 miles round trip

Season: June - October

Road type: Paved with potholes (sedan okay)

Driving time: 2 hrs

Description: Short hike to a couple nice swimming holes along Dinkey Creek. The trailhead is easy to miss, make sure to put the map in your phone and have it running before you run out of cell reception: your GPS and google maps will still work out of cell reception if it has already started running. Hike is north east down the hill to the creek. Great spot for a picnic!

Directions:

Dinkey Creek Swimming Hole

Elevation: 5600'
Length: Short scramble from the road down to the creek.

Season: End of June - September for swimming. Check for road closure.

Road type: Paved, no restrictions

Driving time: 1.5 hrs

Description: Nice swimming hole along Dinkey Creek away from the crowded area near the campground. Also some dispersed camping just east of this swimming hole. No obvious trail, you'll have to find your way!

Directions:

Bear Creek Hike

Elevation: 7400'
Length: as long or as short as you wish, hike along bear creek and turn around when you want. Also a wonderful backpacking starting point into the John Muir Wilderness.

Season: Peak (July-September), road generally opens in June - July depending on snow

Road type: 4WD only from mono hot springs to bear diversion dam.

Driving time: 3+ hrs

Description: Short but somewhat difficult 4wd road up to bear creek diversion dam. Park on the rocks and there is a well maintained trail along bear creek. Meander along or use this as a starting point for a long out and back day hike to some alpine lakes or to start a multi-day backpacking trip. The water is CLEAR and cold, very refreshing!

Directions:

Doris Lake Hike

Elevation: 6800'
Length: 2 miles out and back

Season: Peak (July-September), road generally opens in June - July depending on snow

Road type: Small, windy paved road

Driving time: 3 hrs

Description: Short hike starting at Mono Hot Springs to Doris Lake. Doris Lake is hot spring fed so is generally warmer than the surrounding lakes, although this makes it have less clear water. Some nice rocks to jump off into the lake. Long drive for a day trip but you can camp at mono hot springs or disperse camp nearby.

Directions:

"Skinny Dip" Swimming Hole

Elevation: 5500'
Length: Short scramble from the road down to the creek.

Season: End of June - September for swimming. Check for road closure.

Road type: Well maintained dirt. Closes in winter.

Driving time: 1.5 hrs

Description: Nice deep granite swimming hole along Lewis Creek. About 20-25' jump from the waterfall. Short but steep trail down to the swimming hole. Not much in the way of beaches etc for small children. Nice spot to cool off!

Directions:

Lewis Creek Trail

Elevation: 4000'
Length: 3 miles out and back to red falls (up river)

Season: Year round, check for low elevation snow

Road type: Hwy, paved parking lot

Driving time: 1 hr

Description: Nice hike, very short distance from Fresno. Relatively popular due to easy location and paved roads. Hike along Lewis creek upriver about 1.5 miles to get to red falls.

Directions:

Shadow of the Giants Trail

Shadow of the Giant's Trail

Elevation: 5100'
Length: 1.1 mile easy loop

Season: Extended peak (May-November), check if road is open

Road type: Dirt road but okay for sedans.

Driving time: 1.5 hrs

Description: Short hike along a small creek with giant sequoias. Moderately popular. Relatively close drive, good for beginning hikers.

Directions:

California Creek Dispersed Camping (Near Nelder Sequoia Grove)

California Creek Dispersed Camping (Near Nelder Grove Sequoias)

Elevation: 5000'

Season: Slightly extended peak (May-November)

Road type: Well maintained dirt

Toilets: None

Driving time: 1h30m

Description: Dispersed camping along a small creek near Nelder Grove of sequoias. Also close to the "Shadow of the Giants" hike. Relatively close to Fresno, nice spot for a quick weekend camp trip. No toilets.

Directions:

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Dinkey Lakes Hike

Elevation: 8600-9300'
Length: 6 miles round trip as an out and back, 7 miles round trip as a loop

Season: Peak (July-October), check if road is open

Road type: Dirt road, will require high clearance, 4wd may be required in early season if snow is still on portions of the road

Driving time: 2.5+hrs

Description: 6-7 mile round trip hike with very gentle elevation gain to a series of beautiful, shallow alpine lakes. Good for swimming. Mosquitos can be bad depending on the time of season.

Jackass Lake Hike

Elevation: 7500-8700'
Length: 5.3 miles round trip

Season: Peak (end of June-October), check if road is open

Road type: Mostly paved with small portion of dirt road to trailhead at end of trip. No 4wd needed.

Driving time: 2.5+hrs

Description: Little over 5 mile round trip hike with moderate elevation gain (steeper than Weaver Lake or Dinkey Lakes). Beautiful deep lake. Can continue to additional lakes in the area.

Twin Lakes Hike

Elevation: 8200-9000'
Length: 6.8 miles round trip

Season: Peak (end of June-October), check if road is open

Road type: Paved road to main trail. Dirt road to alternative trail near Sample Meadow Campground.

Driving time: 2h.

Description: An almost 7 mile round trip hike to a beautiful lake. Can continue farther for additional lakes. Little over 1000' elevation gain due to need to hike over potter pass. Dogs are allowed. Relatively busy due to easy trail access (no dirt road at main trailhead).

Main Trailhead Alternative trailhead:

Weaver Lake Hike

Elevation: 7900'-8700'
Length: 6.4 miles round trip

Season: Peak (end of June-October), check if road is open

Road type: Paved except for short (1 mile or so) dirt section. High clearance beneficial but no need for 4wd.

Driving time: 2h. Does require entrance into Sequoia / Kings Canyon NP entrance ($ fee)

Description: A 6+ mile round trip hike, relatively easy elevation gain to a beautiful alpine lake. Dogs are allowed as this is in Sequoia National FOREST not the national park. Lake is relatively shallow so warms up quickly in the summer and is nice for swimming. One of our favorites for a day trip.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Fresno Adventure Map

Welcome! The following are some of our favorite locations around the Fresno area. It is by no means an exhaustive list, just places we went that we wanted to share!

What would you like to do?

Is it early season? This limits your options.

Getting to the locations:

I have put google maps to the locations. In some cases these are very hard to find. My suggestion is that you use your map program on your phone and start it WHILE YOU HAVE CELL SERVICE. If it is already running it will continue to guide you even if your cell service is no longer available (and most places do not have cell service on the map).

Note:
There are some locations on the map below that have a question mark (?) on their name. This means I never got a chance to go there. Go at your own risk!

Jackass Dike Dispersed Camping

Elevation: 7100'

Season: Peak (June-September), check if road is open

Road type: Well maintained dirt but there is a river crossing. High clearance 4x2 suggested. 4x4 needed to go to Hooper Diversion water slide nearby.

Toilets: None

Driving time: 3h+

Description: Our favorite place to camp in the Fresno area! Beautiful dispersed camping along the origin of the San Joaquin River. Multiple areas of dispersed camping, you can find a place all to yourself. There is a hike or short drive to some fun water slides above the Hooper diversion dam. Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and nature

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Sample Meadow Campground

Elevation: 7500'

Season: Peak (June-September), check if road is open

Road type: Well maintained dirt

Toilets: Pit

Driving time: 2h15m

Description: Campground along year round stream. Developed but not popular. Short driving distance to two nice lake hikes (Twin Lakes and Pryor Lake).

Bear Creek Dispersed Camping

Elevation: 7000'

Season: Peak (June-September)

Road type: Well maintained dirt

Toilets: None

Driving time: 1h45m

Description: Dispersed camping along a small, creek that runs directly over bed rock. Can wade but no swimming, creek is safe for small children. Nice flat camping areas. No toilets.
Directions:

Green Cabin Flat Campground

Elevation: 1200'

Season: Early (March-May) or Late (September-November)

Road type: Mostly paved, short well maintained dirt section

Toilets: Pit toilets

Driving time: 1h45m

Description: Open space campground along the King's River. Lots of space for bigger group if need be. Nice swimming area in King's River which is relatively warm in late season. No automatic alt text available.

Bretz Mill Campground

Bretz Mill Campground
Elevation: 3100'
Season: Early (March-June)
Road type: Paved
Toilets: Pit toilets
Driving time (Fresno): 1.5hrs
Description: Developed campground at lower elevation below shaver lake. Sits along Big Creek with small wading pools.

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