Lakes Near Fresno

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🏔️ San Joaquin River Chain

  1. Lake Edison — A high-elevation reservoir on Mono Creek deep in the Sierra National Forest, legendary among John Muir Trail hikers as a resupply stop and known for excellent trout fishing.
  2. Florence Lake — A remote alpine reservoir in the John Muir Wilderness accessible by ferry, offering fishing, camping, and a direct connection to the John Muir Trail.
  3. Huntington Lake — A scenic high-Sierra reservoir famous for sailing regattas, consistent winds, and stunning mountain views about 70 miles northeast of Fresno.
  4. Shaver Lake — A full-service mountain lake 50 miles from Fresno with water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, swimming, and a lakeside village with shops and restaurants.
  5. Millerton Lake — A large reservoir 20 miles from Fresno at Friant Dam, popular for boating, fishing, bald eagle watching, and revealing a Gold Rush-era courthouse at low water levels.

🏞️ Kings River System

  1. Pine Flat Lake — A massive 67-mile shoreline reservoir on the Kings River about 35 miles east of Fresno, offering boating, fishing, camping, and two full-service marinas.
  2. Courtright Reservoir — A stunning high-Sierra granite reservoir often called California’s prettiest, with fishing, boating, hiking, and access to the John Muir Wilderness.
  3. Wishon Reservoir — A quiet, uncrowded high-Sierra lake offering fishing, boating, camping, and horseback riding in a scenic granite landscape near Courtright.
  4. Avocado Lake — A beloved 210-acre Fresno County park on the Kings River near Fowler, perfect for swimming, fishing, picnicking, and family day trips.
  5. Hume Lake — An 85-acre historic reservoir in Sequoia National Forest at 5,200 feet, ideal for kayaking, fishing, and camping with no motorboats allowed.

💧 Madera County Reservoirs

  1. Bass Lake — A popular resort lake near Oakhurst about 1.5 hours from Fresno, offering water skiing, paddleboarding, marinas, dining, and easy access to Yosemite.
  2. Hensley Lake — A lesser-known hidden gem reservoir less than an hour from Fresno on the Fresno River, great for fishing, hiking, swimming, and uncrowded summer visits.
  3. Eastman Lake — A spacious man-made reservoir on the Chowchilla River near Chowchilla with campgrounds, boat ramps, sailing, water skiing, and scenic lakeside hiking trails.
  4. Mammoth Pool Reservoir — A remote reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River tucked deep in the Sierra Nevada, popular with anglers and campers seeking solitude.
  5. Redinger Lake — A narrow, canyon-carved reservoir on the San Joaquin River between Shaver Lake and Millerton, best accessed by boat or trail and known for fishing.

🌲 High Sierra Backcountry / Hike-In

  1. Rae Lakes — A stunning chain of alpine lakes in Kings Canyon National Park along the famous Rae Lakes Loop, known for crystal-clear water and dramatic granite scenery.
  2. Charlotte Lake — A serene backcountry lake in Kings Canyon National Park accessible via the Kearsarge Pass trail, popular with JMT hikers for camping and fishing.
  3. Lake Italy — A remote high-elevation alpine lake in the John Muir Wilderness surrounded by dramatic peaks, reached by multi-day backpacking from Florence Lake or North Lake.
  4. Lake Virginia — A stunning alpine lake at 10,344 feet along the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, offering excellent trout fishing and breathtaking Sierra panoramas.
  5. Evolution Lake — A breathtaking high-Sierra lake in Evolution Valley along the John Muir Trail, surrounded by peaks named after famous scientists and considered one of the trail’s most iconic spots.
  6. Hell for Sure Lake — A remote alpine lake at 10,768 feet in the John Muir Wilderness accessed from Courtright Reservoir, set in a dramatic granite basin with nearby peaks and pristine fishing.
  7. Dollar Lake — A picturesque alpine lake along the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon, framed by Fin Dome and known for its crystal water and excellent trout fishing.
  8. Silver Lake — A legendary high-Sierra fishing lake in Fresno County where the California record golden trout of 9 lbs. 8 oz. was caught in 1952.
  9. Blackrock Lake — A quiet backcountry lake in the John Muir Wilderness offering solitude, fishing, and stunning Sierra scenery away from the more trafficked JMT corridors.
  10. Dinkey Creek Lakes — A series of alpine lakes fed by Dinkey Creek in the Sierra National Forest, surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks and offering hiking, fishing, and rock climbing.
  11. Weaver Lake — An easy-to-reach alpine lake in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness near Hume Lake, popular for a short family hike with swimming and fishing at the base of Shell Mountain.

🏙️ Valley / Local

  1. Lost Lake — A 70-acre recreation area just 19 miles north of Fresno below Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River, offering swimming, fishing, picnicking, camping, and a beach volleyball court.
  2. Woodward Park Ponds — A network of peaceful ponds inside Fresno’s largest city park, surrounded by walking paths, a Japanese garden, wildlife, and shaded picnic areas.
  3. San Luis Reservoir — California’s fifth-largest reservoir about two hours west of Fresno near Los Banos, offering world-class fishing, boating, and windsurfing on 12,700 acres of open water.