Fresno Explorer: Hiking

Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.