Courtright Reservoir is located about an hour southeast of Shaver Lake at 7,900' elevation. It is part of PG&E's Helms hydroelectric power system. You quickly realize that you are visiting a High Sierra lake, with massive granite all around you, wind worn cedar trees and of course the pure, thin, high elevation air. The temperatures are on the cool side, so bring a sweatshirt and windbreaker. The trout fishing is great and the scenery will have you setting a date with yourself for a return visit next year.
Take Dinkey Creek Road to McKinley Grove Road, go right and follow the signs. You will turn left in about 25 minutes. Maps & Directions
Edison Lake is another 1½ hours past Huntington Lake, via a primitive road, at the 7,700' elevation. You drive over Kaiser Pass (elevation 9,200') and near the John Muir Wilderness, where you will be astounded by the distant views and incredible terrain. It's like backpacking in your car. Edison Lake is one of the most scenic lakes you can experience. Known for fishing and relaxing, this lake will have you coming back again and again. Edison Lake is a well-known stop along the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail. Packers can catch a ferry into the Vermilion Valley Resort for a fresh pack, a shower, hot meal, supplies and shelter. You can visit VVR's website at is part of Edison's Big Creek hydroelectric power project.
Huntington Lake is a scenic High Sierra reservoir 1.5 hours northeast of Fresno, CA., and approximately 30 minutes beyond Shaver Lake on Highway 168. Located at the 7,000' elevation, Huntington Lake is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each summer who swim, camp, fish, sail, wind surf, jet ski, water ski (bring a wet suit!) or just relax. Huntington Lake is widely known for its perfect sailing conditions and has been rated the number two sailing lake in California. The average summer temperature is about 20 degrees cooler than the nearby San Joaquin Valley.
Huntington Lake is a great place to relax and enjoy the crisp, clean air and cool, pure water of the Sierra high country. If you haven't been to Huntington Lake, make plans to. You will be back again and again. Sierra Summit ski area is just across the lake and receives abundant snow each year, so winter fun is convenient and plentiful, too. Snow skiing, snow boarding, sledding, cross country skiing and snowmobiling keep the winter enthusiasts busy.The lake is approximately seven miles long and one-half mile wide and has three dams. Huntington Lake is a part Southern California Edison's Big Creek hydroelectric power project.
More about Huntington Lake:
Boat Launch There is a public boat launch with modern parking and restroom facilities. There is a $3 per day fee for use of the facilities. The launch entrance is located across from Lakeshore Resort on the left (south side of road, about a half mile past the bridge as you first arrive at the lake.)
Cabins There are 420 privately owned cabins around the lake. They are built on U.S. Forest Service land and are designated as recreational, meaning they cannot be used as a primary residence. Each cabin owner pays the USFS an annual "special use permit" fee for the use of the land on which the cabin is built. The rate changes over time as do the regulations governing the use of the land. There are lake front and lake view cabins, and cabins with quiet, wooded settings. All are sold on the open market subject to the terms of the Forest Service permit. A few of the tracts have snow removed all winter, while most are accessible only by snowmobile. Some tracts offer their owners slips in group docks. The docks are usually sold with the cabin as part of the sale. For more information, contact your Coldwell Banker Shaver Lake Real Estate
agent.
Campgrounds Huntington Lake has eight campgrounds in the immediate vicinity, six of which are lake front. Many of the sites were recently upgraded, so the facilities are generally quite nice. There are also several more campgrounds once you drive or hike over Kaiser Pass at the 9,200' elevation. These campgrounds are located at Edison, Florence and Ward Lakes, Mono Hot Springs, Sample Meadow and Portal Foray. There is a seasonal Visitor's Center at Highway 168 and Kaiser Pass Road on the right just past the bridge as you first arrive at the lake.
Click here for the Community Directory for contact and reservation information.
Condominiums The Huntington condominiums include 108 condos, each individually owned. Approximately 25% are rented to seasonal vacationers. The units were built in the late seventies to late eighties and are well maintained. Most units have use of the recreation center facilities including swimming pool, spa, sauna, pool table, washers and dryers, tennis courts, volleyball, fire pit and b-b-q area. Coincidentally, the units without recreation center privileges are located at the top of the hill and have spectacular lake and ski area views. The condo project is self-contained with its own water, sewer and cable t.v. system on-site. Exterior maintenance, water, sewer, garbage, cable t.v., road and walkway snow removal are all included in the quarterly assessments. The condos are fee simple deeded real estate, and are not a part of USFS owned land. Call your Coldwell Banker Shaver Lake Real Estate
agent for more details.
Fishing The fishing is great at Huntington Lake! The Rainbow and German Brown trout are plentiful. Whether fishing from the shore or trolling in your boat, the odds are good at Huntington. Fishing supplies and licenses are available at the general stores on the lake.
Historical Information Huntington Lake has a rich history. From the construction of the Ward tunnel and the dams that created the lake, to the abundant Indian history, there is a lot to learn about the area. During your visit here, be sure to stop by the new museum recently opened by the Huntington Lake-Big Creek Historical Conservancy. The museum is located near the west end of the lake on the lake side of Huntington Lake Road. For more historical information, visit the Central
Sierra Historical Society or our
Community Directory.
Local Businesses Huntington Lake is a remote lake at the end of a highway so the commercial enterprises are limited. However, there are several businesses ready to serve you at the lake; one gas station and garage, one bar, three restaurants/grills (one is open year 'round), three general stores and a R.V. park. There is also a pack station for those who want to take a trip to the backcountry on horseback. When planning a trip to the area, be sure to verify your dates with those you plan on doing business with. Several of the businesses are only open during the summer months, typically from Memorial Day into late September or early October. Visit our community directory and search by category for details, phone numbers and websites of area businesses.
Vacation rental accommodations Rentals are available in Huntington Lake or Shaver Lake for the weekend or extended vacations. There is a full range of rental properties available, from rustic cabins to condos to luxury homes. Visit the area's largest vacation rental company,
ShaverLake.com for lodging information.
Youth Camps There are six youth and family camps at Huntington Lake:
Boy Scout: Camps Oljato, Kern and Silver Fir
Christian: Camp Keola
Catholic: Camp La Salle
Private: Gold Arrow Camp
Florence Lake Florence Lake is located in the same general area as Edison Lake. Visitors to the area should plan on seeing Florence Lake. There is a resort providing food, supplies and rental boats. Seeing the french-style multiple arch dam is worth the trip. The fishing is great. The scenery is breathtaking. Florence Lake is also part of Edison's Big Creek hydroelectric power project. Click here for the
Lost Valley Pack Station.
Dinkey CreekLooking at a Sierra National Forest Map, Dinkey Creek is centrally located between Shaver Lake and Wishon Reservoir, approximately 65 northeast of Fresno, California, in the Sierra National Forest. Activities include river rafting (unguided, at your own risk), fly fishing in early spring, and stream fishing for rainbows as well as native brook trout and german browns. If fishing is a little too tame for your taste, try a number of four-wheel drive trails which are rated from Class A to Class C depending on your expertise, available for use by vehicles, dirt bikes, bicycles, or hikers. If you prefer to hike, there are many options to explore -- the Dinkey Lakes chain in the wilderness area where you can visit numerous lakes depending upon your energy level, Granite pools for a perfect day trip to a gorgeous hide away on upper Dinkey Creek, and much more.
