Where do I start ? ... I have never gone backpacking before my my husband insisted we try dinkey…read morebecause he's done it before and loved it. It's a 4plus mile hike all up hill and you feel like half way your going to die (at least I did) but the views are well worth it! The way back is a breeze. There is different lakes you can camp at we choose the further one. Great experience and no we did not see any bears. Hiking back two nights later was a lot easier packs are lighter and its downhill for the most part.

My experience at Dinkey Lakes has been limited to the natural water slides and one of the…read morecampgrounds. It's totally worth going just for those two destinations. I can't wait to explore more!

This is a peaceful spot that was not too crowded when we went…read more - The views are stunning and we blew up a raft and went out into the lake. - I also explored around the edge and took photos. There is an area where people build rock towers. I suggest making time to visit this spot.

Two ways to get there : one from near Huntington Lake and take the Kaiser Pass Road and the other…read moreis from Sample Meadows. Shorter hike from Sample Meadows which is why we picked this route when we carried the Red Dragon ( kayak ) with us cuz it's hella heavy. But the road to get to Sample Meadows is winding as heck , unpaved so be ready to get your vehicles dusty and dirty ( narrow winding roads at the edge of the cliff sometimes). Also , the reason why we were wearing our bright yellow safety vests is because it was in middle of the hunting seasons lol. Very safe .. yea lol. So obviously there's no road access to the lakes therefore we carried the kayak with us but this was the kind that you can assemble so we each carried some parts in our packs . Was heavier than our usual backpacks but wasn't too bad. There were five of us. From Huntington Lake is about 8 mile round trip hike not real steep so I'd say moderate. You get to the Lower lake first and it's only about 1/4 mile to Upper , it's definitely worth it to go to Upper because it's prettier. My friend Mike jumped into the Upper and went swimming but it was summer time. Some people were fishing. There were reminiscent of campfire on boulders around the lake. I think I've done this hike about four times , I must really like this place.

Good for family outings, clean air, very relaxing, so quiet and very nice environment!. We came…read morehere to celebrate Father's Day with my husband brother and his family!

Fun lake experience which makes for a great "beach day" when you're camping in the local area…read more There are many coves and areas to park and setup camp next to the water. On the north side of the lake are three pay parking lots. All three are viable and you don't need a 4x4. We set up around lot 3 one day and had a great time. Secret place. There's a free small parking lot in front of the Lake Watersports Marina. However if you drive south less than a mile from this marina you'll see a nondescript gravel road. Drive down this road then take the first left road and you'll see a small parking lot. This lot is right above the secluded beaches. Parking here will put your car much closer to your perfect beach spot. Tips - There are a few marinas on thia lake but I would NOT recommend the Sierra Marina. Their equipment, specifically their Kayaks are old and broken down. Also, they're not located in a good Kayak spot. I'd much rather recommend Shaver Lake Watersports for Kayaking.

As the temperatures heat up in the Central Valley, the dangers of flooding due to the rapid snow…read moremelt may have temporarily halted travel into both Yosemite and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. HWY 168 remains open, however, and there are still plenty of snow parks packed with snow along the highway once you get up to the 6000 feet elevation level. If you travel a little further northeast, about an hour's drive from Clovis, you will find Huntington Lake. Much of the lake was still frozen solid when I visited there last weekend and the temperature up there was mild with only a hint of a breeze. There was also plenty of snow along the roads and on the marina and lakebeds, which made it a perfect place to visit to see the snow, take photos of the lake and snow-capped mountains, and escape the heat. Perhaps best of all, there were not too many people who appear to visit the lake since it is mostly frozen and with Shaver Lake, China Peak Mountain Resort, and the aforementioned snow parks all still open for some fun in the snow and outdoor enjoyment. Considered one of the cleanest and most pristine lakes in the Central Valley and in the Sierras. I cannot wait to come up again in another month as the snow is melted down to fish and swim in the lake and hike on its trails. For the first time in over a decade, the water levels will be at full capacity. It is known to get a bit breezy during the summer months, which makes it ideal for sail boating. There are probably another two or three weeks to see and play in the snow. Huntington Lake is my recommended spot to go for those in Fresno County that do not want to travel too far to find a lot of it.

We are so grateful to have a new place to eat at Lakeshore. The new chef did amazing.. love all the…read morefood. We were members of the clean plate club.

A nice, short hike for those who want to have something to do before or after checking into the…read morehotel for your Yosemite trip. The trail is uphill for about 20-25 minutes at a moderate pace, before going downhill slightly. There you will find "Glass Rock" where there is a lot of natural rock seating for you to enjoy the lake view. If you time it right, you can enjoy the sunset here, but make sure to bring a headlamp to assist with the return trip since it will be pretty dark by then. The hike uphill is grueling enough to make you squirm a little bit, but rewarding with a great view and seating. This area is really remote, with only a few road-side parking spots. To spot the "trailhead" look for the trail right next to the cut up logs. The trail is in average condition. Hopefully people can take better care of it by carrying out their own trash and adhere to "no trace" exploring. It seems someone also built a fire pit here too (not sure if that is legal).

Prep for the trip: Plan for plenty of water to take with you! Wear good shoes. Plan something for…read moreusing the restroom, we took wet wipes and bags. We planned small healthy snacks. We planned to leave early in the day knowing there was not a lot of shade. We used GPS and advised everyone to leave GPS open because cell service goes out up there, if you leave it open you can follow the road backwards. Take sunscreen and water. Roads are paved. GPS takes you directly to the large metal gate that was closed and locked. Find parking along the road. LEAVE GPS OPEN. There is a large beige colored metal gate. This is the beginning of the trail. Cave: About one mile in there is a cave on the right hand side. Yesterday (June 21,2025) there was a front loader on the right side and then two large piles of white rock and that's where the cave entrance was. This gave us a nice cool break and a spot to take beautiful pictures. Walk to the falls: paved the entire way. There is a cattle grate in the beginning and at the falls. The one at the falls is damaged near the middle and is a tripping hazard. The trail is slightly uphill and downhill. The falls are located directly on the path. At the Falls: there isn't a safe area to swim. The falls consist of a bridge in the middle with steep drop offs on both sides. The side past the falls has a rocky area that makes for a nice backdrop for pictures and to sit have a snack and rest your feet. 2nd cave. Just on the other side of the bridge from the fall is a second smaller cave. Walk back to gate: same uphill downhill path that is paved. Things to note.. no restrooms, no utilities, mostly no shade, start early bring water and snacks. I recommend arriving early and having sunscreen. This was my first official hike. I do have lots of medical issues. I kept a slow and steady pace and was able to complete the course.

This was an experience. You have to walk 7 miles. 3.50 going up and 3.5 coming back. Plan…read moreaccordingly. Don't forget your water and some healthy snacks. There is no shade it's mainly walking on cement the whole time up and down. Try to be early as it gets hot because the sun is on you the whole trip. If you are looking for some tan and exercise this is the place for you. The waterfall is beautiful!! Once you are there in front of it you forget the walk you just did. Also to get to the point that you need to start walking you have to drive an hour from Fresno. There are single roads so be aware of Other cars coming your way. Be very careful. Would I go back again maybe if I go in March and at earliest time of the day. We didn't take enough water and we were Dying lol! Please don't make the same mistake. There is a little man made cave in the side of the waterfall. You can stay there covering your self from the sun and refresh a little. We made it!! So proud of myself.

It is an arduous, lengthy and exhausting climb to the top of Mount Chipotle! At least when you are…read moredone, you can stop next door at the namesake restaurant or pop into Raleys for a beverage. Make sure to wear shoes with traction, bring sunscreen and pace yourself. It takes a while. (Please note that Mount Chipotle as of Christmas 2024 is open, but this is a bit of a community joke. We do hike up it, we do take a lot of photos, but in the end, this is an enormous sloped pile of dirt in the supermarket parking lot). So please come for other hikes to Oakhurst and stop here on the way.)

We rented a pontoon boat and had a very disappointing experience. The first employee who gave us…read morethe instructions was unprofessional and did not properly explain how to operate the boat. We were never told that the motor had an issue with lowering, which left us stranded trying to figure it out ourselves. At approximately 1:08 p.m. on July 11, we had to call for assistance because we couldn't lower the motor. It wasn't until we called that someone finally explained how to lower it. We also requested a different boat, but were told that this was "the best out of their broken boats" and that it was all they had available. That information should have been disclosed before we rented the boat. We requested a refund due to receiving a boat with known issues, but were told the manager was unavailable and no one could help us. Renting out equipment with known problems without informing customers, then refusing to resolve the issue, is unacceptable. We expected a safe, fully functional boat and honest communication, but received neither.

Solid crew here to gas up the boat and grab the basics before heading out on the lake. They usually…read morehave the fishing essentials, snacks, drinks, ice, and other last-minute items you forgot to pack. If you keep a boat at the marina or spend a lot of time on the water, it's a convenient stop and the staff is always helpful. For anyone mooring a boat here, the marina is well maintained and makes getting on and off the lake easy. Several boaters I've talked to have had positive experiences with the docks and marina services, and it's a great home base for weekends on the water. One tip: get to the Edison parking area early on busy days because it fills up fast, often by 10:00 AM. Such a fun lake only about an hour from Fresno. Love coming here to fish, relax, and spend the day on the water.