As the temperatures heat up in the Central Valley, the dangers of flooding due to the rapid snow melt 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. read more

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

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One of the true gems in California. Located 90 minutes above Fresno it's a high mountain lake that is clear and great for recreation. There are two primary marinas and public launches and it's a great fishing and recreation lake. My only hope is the current fire doesn't damage too much of the area or the lake it's one of my favorite in the state read more

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My family has stayed at Camp Edison in Shaver Lake every summer for the past 9 years. For the first time, we took a drive to go check out Huntington Lake this week. With the rains returning and the water level back to a reasonable level, we were promised gorgeous views. Yeah....it was gorgeous, all right. We did not camp here, but paid $5 to hang out in a day use area on the lake's edge. We let our new puppy run around, got some sun, took some pictures and just enjoyed the different feeling compared to Shaver Lake. This lake offers far fewer options than Shaver, which is fabulous. No water skiing and no Jet Skis means no wakes and no noise. Lots of canoes, kayaks and sail boats made things much more picturesque and calm. Few, if any, flush toilets, pizza joints, markets and traffic. Higher elevation means lower temperatures in both water and air. Less houses and more lake edge trees make for better sights, too. Just beautiful. read more

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Very cool place lots of fun and more you for sure will have fun there because Shaver is by there Big creek to so there's a lot of places to go. read more

The lake is situated at a high elevation with an average summer daytime temperature around 80 degrees and night time temps around 55 degrees. There is plenty of camping around the lake and cabin rentals. During summer, you can take a Horseback ride around the lake, mountain bike, rent a pontoon, ski boat or jet ski. There are a large number of hiking trails throughout the area. There is also a sailing regatta. In the winter, there's China Peak ski resort, snowmobiling and snowmobile competitions once the lake freezes over. This year, the lake was extremely low due to drought, but most years, it is a beautiful lake with plenty of recreation. It is a beautiful place to visit. read more

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Small little community. We stated at a family owned condo. It was cute. There was only one place to buy your "forgotten" items. It is very limited in items. Next to it was a restaurant and a saloon. The restaurant was closed because they we serving food in the bar. Winter time, they don't get a lot of people, so its understandable. The bartender and the ops manager for town were really cool peoples. Heard that its way busier during the spring summer season for camping, so I will be back. read more

The lake in December develops snow. Snowmobiles are cool for a ride around Lakeshore. This is the best area to hangout at and enjoy the snow. Small community with stores are also around and also cabins. read more

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Located in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 6955 feet above sea level, it simply is a gorgeous lake. This lake was originally constructed in 1912 as part of Big Creek Hydroelectric Project in order to provide power for a growing Southern California. This lake has four damns and feeds into Shaver Lake to the southwest. Each year the lake has the High Sierra Regatta, but due to the extreme drought, 2014 was cancelled due to the lowest water levels in the lake's history. So there was no sailing event this year, my friends. But never fear, it still is a beautiful place to visit, and now you may visit without the crowds. Huntington Lake is also famous for camping, but as I always say "I love not to camp" since I enjoy random things like showers, bathrooms, kitchens and comfortable beds with 1000 thread count sheets. Fortunately my husband has a family cabin, which will ensure my ability to enjoy the great outdoors without having to stay in it 24/7. So with the beautiful scenery, and the amenities of a resort, what's not to love!?! read more

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April 2019 Still has snow.. Nothing much here; just beautiful views of Mother Nature... read more

Huntington Lake - Lakes Near Me - Lakeshore, California

Lake Huntington!!!! Your reward for making it up that horrible steep mountain is this beautiful lake. I went here for a friend's wedding, and I'm so happy that we made it. Our campsite was at Kinnickinick, just across the road from Deer Creek campgrounds. The lake was so much fun! It is cold but possible to get some splashing time in. We got to kayak. But it can get choppy out in the lake because of jet skiers and speed boats. However this place is cheap, down to earth and fun. If you are camping keep in mind that there are not any showers! So you should invest in a solar shower. Bathrooms are cleaned every morning by the hosts. No bug bites. Oh and they do allow for you to bring dogs here. Huntington Lake is open year around, so best to get a cabin that has a heater inside and a shower. Nice. read more

Still lots of snow left (4/22/2017). The lake was so beautiful partially covered in snow. We usually go up there in the summer so , it was our first time seeing the lake covered in snow like this. 1/4 mile into the road to lake , the road was covered in snow so we turned around. ( we drove my VW Passat and not the all- wheel drive ). Their post office along the shoreline is the cutest post office I've ever seen. :) I always like this place , so peaceful and relaxing. I can't wait till coming back in summer . read more

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I have been bringing my family and friends to Huntington Lake for the past 25 years. This was the best kept secret, known only to the locals from Fresno but recently I have met campers from all over. I guess sharing is caring. Just make sure you make reservation waaaay early if you want the best sites. All of the campgrounds around HL are great and well maintained. Not showers though. The first few years there were no bear boxes and we would get frequent visitations from Yogi and his friends but with the advent of bear boxes we have not had any bear trouble. So much to do here for those that want to fish, hike, horseback ride or swim. For those who just want to relax and do nothing, lounging in the shade by the lakeshore is heavenly. Due to breezes from the lake bugs are not much of a problem. If you go up higher to Edison Lake or to the higher meadows....watch out for swarms of hungry mosquitos. If you stay at Huntington Lake and use some repellent you should be just fine. There are usually ranger talks on Saturday evenings. The last topic I recall were about bats native to the Sierras. The camps are dog friendly and the fishing has recently been excellent. The water levels were disappointedly low in the last few years due to the drought, but when I was there 2 months ago, the lake was back to full. For the average hiker, Rancheria Falls and Indian Pool hiking trail is a must. For the advanced hiker, try the more difficult hike up to one of the peaks. The trail begins next to the horseback riding stables. Make sure you take enough water and a hiking stick as the hike can take half day. For the best fishing, try the sliding sinker with a 3 foot line with small single hook with either garlic Powerbait or a nightcrawler which covers your hook completely . Shore fishing was great and I caught limit and released quite a few. Have a great time and remember to greet everyone you meet with a smile and clean up when you leave your campsite. read more

Beautiful area in the Sierra Nevada National Forest. Just a few miles from Shaver Lakes, love camping at Deer Creek Campgrounds!! A little cold in the mornings and in the evenings, so bring a good sleeping bag. Can't wait to go back next year! read more

Shhh, dont tell any more people! Absulutely beautiful. Period. We camped at the Rancheria campground. Recently rehabbed, the place was really nice and restrooms quite clean. We used both a group site and also a regular site. Kiddos had a blast. Decent water access. The campground hosts were quite nice as well. The lake itself is quite beautiful. Mountain lake full of sailboats. Clear but chilly water and also some ok fishing. read more

Went back for some more fun. And it was great. We also spent some time at Lake Shaver, about 20 minutes own the hill. The lake there is a couple degrees warmer, especially by the rocks and you can get some nice swimming in. We also went for a ride up to Mono Hot Springs Resort. That was... another story. Perhaps another world. I wouldn't encourage you not to go, but I wouldn't want to stay for too long. The drive is something to be experienced. That is all I have to say about that. Make sure your car and tiers are in good condition because the road is not. And don't believe google maps when they say it's 40 min, hour and a half more like it. But you should go, it was an adventure. read more

Pretty but just like most other lakes. The lake is used mostly for boating, fishing and motorcycle rides around the lake.

At 7,000 feet up the mountain, it's the most beautiful place I've seen. We've been camping at Rancheria for the past 15 yrs, it's just breathtaking. The water level this year was very low due to the draught but it's still beautiful. There are plenty of things to do, you can also go to Rancheria Falls and the Indian Pools, 5 minutes away for more beautiful fun read more

Huntington Lake - At Rancheria Falls, beautiful place to visit - Lakes Near Me - Lakeshore, California

One of my favorite spots on the planet! Beautiful and while it is a busy place, it is still quiet. Great camping, cabins and a lake that is placid and gorgeous. We have been coming for many years and will for many more. One of the great places to relax and enjoy the 'old' sierra. read more

Well stated as California's best kept secret! Just 80 miles up from Fresno, at 7000 ft. Great place in summer, can be brutal and beautiful in winter. True High Sierra, but cold lake and sailing! High Sierra Regatta every year! read more

About 1.5 hours from Fresno. Huntington Lake is a great getaway for avid fisherman looking to catch brown and rainbow trout, or kokanne salmon. . The lake is about five miles long and boat launching, mooring and rentals are available at several of the marinas. Tackle and gear is limited so bring your own...order it today from pulloutfishing.com for great deals.... read more

At 7,000' elevation in the Central SIerra, Huntington Lake is a wonderful mountain getaway. If you want fine cuisine and shopping, go to Aspen or Sun Valley. But if you want an unspoiled and beautiful mountain setting, for camping or renting a cabin, Huntington is truly wonderful. Huntington and Fallen Leaf Lake near Tahoe are similar, and both amazing places to recharge and connect to nature. read more

My family camped at rancherias group camp site in July...restrooms & camp site was clean...had electricity for us to plug in our electronics. The lake is beautiful...it got really cold at night. read more

Love the patio to sit and eat ice cream while looking out over the lake. Even though they had just closed, George got our ice cream, with extra large scoops! read more

Lower Billy Creek Campground is a wonderful place to camp. We even found a sweet fairy house near our tent site that a gentle soul had built into the base of a pine tree. All sites have a lake front view. We stayed in site #6 for three nights this week 7/22-7/25/13, during the Aspen Fire that is still burning above the Kaiser Wilderness. The smoke from the fire limited visibility but still we had a great family camping trip. Very glad we hiked the 10 mile trail to Nellie Lake on Tue. because on Wed all the Kaiser Wilderness trails were closed by fire crews. This campground only has pit toilets but I always walked across the road to Upper Billy Campground to use the flush toilets/sink there. No showers but if you need to clean off there is the beautiful lake to take a cold swim. Nicest campground host, Thom Cedra, lent us a canopy to cover our picnic table and a couple of chairs (during the week our cheap Walmart camp chairs broke). This campground is very quiet and not the place for rowdy campers. If you want to enjoy the mtns. and beautiful lake sort of experience- this is the place for you. read more

Huntington Lake - Fairy House in base of Pine: Lower Billy Campground, Huntington Lake, CA - Lakes Near Me - Lakeshore, California

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Rancheria Campsites are very clean and nice. Weather was perfect there for our stay. Our campsite was 40 and it was walking distance to the lake. Although the lake was low we all had a good time. Walking trails to the Indian pools was nice..and plenty of room to take the kids for a swim. The hike is mostly flat but a few places if you have a bad knee to take a hiking pole. The pools are only a mile in from the trailhead. We did some fishing from the lake..not great but my grandson was able to catch his first fish. The campsites host are very good about cleaning the bathrooms every few hours. The little mini mart in town is small but the lady was very nice and stocked enough to get you by if you forget something. We gathered our own firewood after purchasing a bundle for the first nights stay. Plenty of fire wood as the poor forest needs some rain. Very peaceful stay and we will be back! read more

We stayed here July 2 and 3rd and LOVED it!!! It has very convenient pull-through sites where you can just pull your camper in and un-load. The views are beautiful, the whole place is very clean and well taken care of and it's very quiet. We had no complaints at all! Lots of bathrooms, which are the pit kind but still are very clean. We will definitely be back! The host, Tom is really friendly and helpful too! read more

Cabin in the woods serene. Staying at a dear friends Family Cabin. Love the Regatta!

I have lived in Huntington Lakes for several years. Even it is a pricey complex However, the property managers are changed and this year the quality of services provided was just tremendously decreased, including incredibly slow response time to maintenance issues and unprofessional and disrespectful behavior of the staff people. You call one person, explain the problem; then they do nothing, so you have to call again, then you get the different person to talk to who does not have idea about the problem, so you have to start all over again. Until you become extremely firm with them, they will do nothing to help. Again I must say that the staff too is disrespectful and unprofessional. I paid for an extra service that was never done. When I asked an explanation, they told me that didn't have one but they would have called me back. They never did. I really think this is totally unprofessional and dishonest behavior. The price/quality ratio is absurd, the apartment are very expensive compared to the services, and the deposit was more than $1,200. read more

I've been tent camping here yearly as a kid until about 2008 at Upper Billy Creek campgrounds. It is one of my most favorite places to get away & I was so happy to make my way back last summer. A lot of the campgrounds were under construction due to bark beetles destroying the trees (save the trees!) but there are still other campgrounds to enjoy. This time we stayed at Kinnikinnick Campground. One of the main things we love about this area is that there don't seem to be as many bugs as in other areas we have camped. Another luxury they provide are clean restrooms that are constantly maintained & not difficult to find! There are boat, canoe, & kayak rentals down by the lake as well as ice cream & light meals at the rental office. There's plenty of room for fishing. There is a museum with history about the lake as well as a bunch of collected vintage items. Nearby is a general store & a bar. This is also a close drive to the Mono Hot Springs. Not quite the rugged camping experience but a nice compromise to enjoy nature contentedly! read more

I've camped at Rancheria and Deer Creek, which are beautiful and have great lake access, but no hot showers or electricity. This year, we tried a private camp ground, Cedar Crest. The closest lake access is very steep with no beach. We went there for the electricity and hot showers, but the hot showers ran out of hot water 1/3 of the time. My husband was upset by the trash in the men's bathroom and showers. The ladies' was clean, but not the men's! We were also upset by the roaming dogs who would sometimes fight with visiting dogs. No one wants to wake up in the morning to a dog fight! read more

We camped at jackass meadows which is at Florence lake.. Once we turned on kaiser pass rd it took us about 2 hrs on a one lane road.. There are areas where you can pull to the side so another car can pass but you are on the edge of the cliff and its scary!! We were very secluded on our campsites. Vault toilets were very clean.. I took my 3 young girls thinking it was going to be hard but they didn't mind the toilets, no bugs.. It's beautiful here.. I didn't like the fact that there were no showers!! I ended up filling 2 of the food bins I took with water, I let them warm up naturally with the sun and washed my hair that way.. If you like seclusion and privacy this is the place to be.. I don't think I will go back only because I have kids and if anything happened your a 2 hr drive from anything... My daughter stepped on a bee hive during a hike and was bit 6 times.. I treated her with the stuff in my 1st aid kit and Benadryl.. I was very lucky she was not allergic.. Horses/donkeys and deer visited out campsite every day.. There are so many good things about this place.. It's very clean and beautiful.. A ranger is onsite. Make reservations.. read more

We had a wonderful weekend at Rancherie camp site. The site was clean. Bathroom was cleaned frequently during our stay. Weather was BEAUTIFUL. Cold during the late and early morning. People were very friendly. Will return next summer. read more

Huntington lake is the most special place to me in the Sierra's. I have had more fun and great times with friends and family. A part of me lives there. I heard they dug up my favorite campground many years a go and ruined the layout craming site on top of site clearing out all the wonderful forest that gave privacy to sites back in the 80's. If Some one could comment on Catavee and Kinnikinick I would appreciate it.. I will get back before I die. I will spend time there again. And as far as Kaiser Pass road to mono hot springs, go all the way and then keep going to Edison Lake. it is phenomenal. The whole area is just majic. It gives you so much and so much to choose from. Worth the windy roads. Rob read more

Went up to Shaver Lake on a whim and spent a day/night at Lakeshore Resort at Huntington Lake. It was quaint and beautiful. We were there in late November and it snowed a lot! We decided to try snowmobiling and it was awesome. We were not prepared for the snow and the gm of the resort let us borrow bibs and all. They were very nice and helpful. read more