Bass Lake
Bass Lake is one of California’s great family vacation lakes, complete with all kinds of boating and water sports, beaches. Well maintained National Forest campgrounds attract visitors every summer, and a variety of resorts offer lodging from simple cabins to luxury accommodations. It’s big enough for water skiing and personal watercraft and yet small enough to feel like a single community.
Bass Lake is located less than 20 miles south of Yosemite National Park and directly east of Merced. The lake is owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Information from californiasgreatestlakes.com
Millerton Lake
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area offers great boating, camping, and fishing. Visitors to the lake enjoy swimming and water skiing, hiking, and other outdoor recreation, including Bald Eagle Boat Tours in the winter.
Millerton Lake is located only 20 miles northeast of Fresno. The reservoir was built by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Central Valley Project. Access to the lake is via the Millerton Lake State Recreation Area.
Information from californiasgreatestlakes.com
Huntington Lake
At an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, Huntington Lake draws many summer visitors who want to escape the scorching valley temperatures and enjoy the temperate, mountain air along with all the pleasures of a large, recreational lake. Some water skiers and wake boarders don wetsuits while others thrive in the 60-degree water. Steady winds make Huntington Lake a popular place for sailors, while good fishing attracts anglers. Quieter than its neighbor, Shaver Lake, Huntington makes a restful destination for a relaxing summer vacation.
Huntington Lake is located 60 miles northeast of Fresno, midway between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks. It is owned by the Southern California Edison Company, which operates a number of large reservoirs in the area.
Information from californiasgreatestlakes.com
Pine Flat Lake
Pine Flat Lake is a popular boating and recreation destination for the southern San Joaquin Valley area. Less than 35 miles east of Fresno, the lake offers all kinds of water sports, boating, fishing, and camping. The lake has three main recreation areas, Deer Creek, Lakeview, and Trimmer.
Pine Flat Lake is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is fed by the waters of the Kings River. It provides irrigation and flood control as well as hydroelectricity. During the late summer and fall, lake levels drop significantly.
Information from californiasgreatestlakes.com
Shaver Lake
Resting at an elevation of 5,300 feet, Shaver Lake offers relief from oppressive summer heat of the San Joaquin Valley. Shaver Lake’s balmy 78-degree average high temperatures are perfect for swimming, lounging on the beach, and a myriad of water sports.
The Shaver Lake community is just large enough to offer a great selection of restaurants and services without suffering from congestion and tacky overdevelopment. For a family summer vacation destination, you couldn’t ask for anything better.
Information from californiasgreatestlakes.com