San Joaquin River Gorge

(5 reviews)

4.1 mi

Amazing hike on the Discovery Trail! Cool and knowledgeable volunteer guides. About three and a…read morehalf miles over the course of a few hours.

Had a blast hiking on the McKenzie preserve. It will have a few days open to the public so check…read morethe website. Learned a lot about nature. The flat mountains are called basalt. There's tons of stink bugs and Jerusalem crickets and water striders to look and catch. Perfect place for bird watching. The docents were very fun and knowledgeable.

Jack o lantern mushrooms glow a bit in the dark!

Maybe false turkey tail, maybe real at Larrick Ranch

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Vacated trap door spider holes on the Discovery Trail

Shaver Lake

(34 reviews)

14.0 mi

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.

Salud!!!

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Yosemite Family Adventures

4.7

(13 reviews)

42.2 mi

We had an excellent day with David. We booked a private tour for my wife and me. We are not so…read moreyoung so David tailored it to our pace and abilities (still made it to the top of Sentinel Dome- well worth the effort!). Literally went from the valley floor to the peak of sentinel dome. His knowledge of the park is outstanding. He picked us up at our lodge and dropped us there at the end of the day- even gave us the picnic we couldn't eat during the trip because clouds blocked the astrophotography portion. He even apologized for the clouds! An all day adventure; we were happily exhausted when we got back to Evergreen Lodge. Highly recommend.

Dave is AMAZING! We had the best day with him on our private tour of Yosemite. He is so fun,…read moreknowledgeable, a great conversationalist and made the day fabulous. I had the best time and felt like we got to really see Yosemite and get to know the park. I would 100% recommend booking with him and his company. Hands down the BEST!!

Peak of Sentinel dome

El Capitan

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Fresno Discovery Center

3.9

(113 reviews)

24.3 mi

We met family from Sacramento here today, we're from Bakersfield. We have never been here before…read more It was a great deal at $3/person, since it's the 1st sat of the month. We spent about 3 or so hours playing & exploring. It's really meant for younger ages,probably up until about 10-11. My son is going to be 11 next week & loved it because he loves dinosaurs, digging & science. Not sure i would go out of my way to go back, only because we don't live locally but if we lived in fresno I would consider getting a membership. They have a lot of great programs throughout the week which would be great for school field trips or homeschooling co-ops.

Awesome place for the kids to learn and run around. Was looking for a place for the kiddos to play…read moreand I came across this. Came here once for my nephews birthday and haven't been back since, so it's been a while and I kind of forgot this place exists. You can get your tickets online, I happen to check at the right time because their prices and affordable on every first Saturdays of the month! The lady working was super friendly and helpful, she even told me they do music classes and that the kids are more than welcome to join. Around 11am they have a person doing a science presentation but unfortunately she was running late on her project and I overheard her being kind of rude and not in a good mood so we decided to move on to the next room. They were also selling boba and eggrolls outside, sorry I forget the name of the seller that had their booth there. The kids enjoyed the front area where they can dress up, draw and play with toys. There was also someone selling their 3D printed animals, which the kids loved so I caved and bought them all one plus help support small businesses. Overall it was a nice experience for the kids to enjoy.

A really pretty tree in their Cactus Garden

California Desert Tortoise basking in the sun

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Red-Eared sliders basking in the Walden Pond

Pincushion Mountain

(37 reviews)

7.2 mi

Have been doing this hike for YEARS! At least once a year and I have 3 young boys who love it as…read morewell. It gets a little intense but go at your own pace and all will be good. If you have asthma def bring your inhaler! Lol Also, came across a POISON OAK plant near the top/edge so BE CAREFUL!

I hiked Pincushion on New Year's Day. I start the hike at the Finegold recreation area, I recently…read morelearned this is the true trail head. It's about 3 miles round trip. It's not too hard, I would rate it moderate, but you should be in decent shape to attempt this hike. It is all uphill, it's moderate uphill. The last section right before you get to the peak is more of an intense uphill climb. The intense part doesn't last too long though. This hike offers beautiful views of the lake and Table mountains. Hiking the peak can be a bit tricky. Rocks are slippery, so wear good shoes with grip and ankle protection. This hike is unbearable in the summer, it's too hot. Winter months and early spring are my fave times to hike it. Parking is free if you park along the road. If you park in the parking lot day use area, I think it's $5. There is a public restroom, sometimes it's closed and a portopotty is available.

Pincushion Peak

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Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

(82 reviews)

10.2 mi

I enjoyed my time, just sitting down and enjoying God's scenery. It was a very busy weekend here…read more Couldn't really get any good fishing in because there was too many boats and jet skis in the water. Plus, this is my first time here driving out, trying out new places to go fishing. It was a hot day so it brought out everyone grills were going. People were in the water. This is when everybody was about to pack up where we were sitting at so that's why you don't see anything in the picture but I enjoyed myself my husband got nibbles and bites, but nothing hooked on his head line a lot of little fish in the water.. but the scenery is what made it so wonderful

Every year Varys on water level this year it is full to the max it's always a great time any time…read morewe go plenty of spaces for bbq plenty of bathrooms I always bring my family here

Nice open areas to enjoy the lakeview

So serene during weekdays

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San Joaquin River Parkway & Conservation Trust

4.7

(13 reviews)

16.9 mi

An excellent place to volunteer!…read more This is a review of Coexist with Wildlife Day, which was awesome: a bio blitz, some volunteer work and tacos from a food truck with a band. Also free Otter Pops!

I really enjoyed visiting the River Pky. We gathered for a meeting and for some attendees, it was…read moretheir first visit and the atmosphere was amazing for all. I have been back just to enjoy the grounds. So pretty!

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Shaver Lake Marina

(56 reviews)

13.8 mi

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.

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.

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YExplore Yosemite Adventures

4.8

(37 reviews)

53.7 mi

Our tour guides were absolutely amazing (John and Mia) and they were very knowledgeable and helped…read moreanswer all of our questions (about Yosemite in general, specific famous features on our hike, and even random questions about birds and plant life). The hike is as advertised (in terms of ratings and what features you will see). They always put safety first and even offered to help carry our back packs when we got tired or were crossing a small stream! They treated us like close family/friends, were encouraging us along the way, and adapted to our pace and schedule. Our group ranged from age 6 to adult and we couldn't have made it to the end of the hike without them! Book them for your tours and have fun on your Yosemite Vacation!

Will definitely be booking again with John and Y Explore!!! Honestly when we booked the guided half…read moredome hike I went into it thinking we were just utilizing the purchased permits as hadn't won the lottery ourselves but as the day progressed I became more and more grateful for the wisdom and knowledge of our guide. From breathing techniques and tips for ascending and descending the cables to the order of of our group and perfectly timed rest breaks this was worth every penny as we had not only a successful summit but an overwhelming positive experience! Hubby and I are excited to travel again to more destination with Y Explore in the near future!

Yosemite North Dome Adventure

Half Dome

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Sun on Half Dome

Yosemite Fly Fishing Guide

4.4

(7 reviews)

42.2 mi

Had a great experience with David, caught some fish, learned a lot and had interesting talks.read more

David took my husband and I on a wonderful fishing and hiking excursion! He is knowledgeable, kind…read moreand professional. We learned a lot about fishing techniques, and saw some amazing views!

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Island Waterpark

3.2

(162 reviews)

26.9 mi

My family and I spent a day at the waterpark and I had a blast! I would recommend going as soon as…read morethe park opens which is 11am or even like 30min before because the line does get long to park and as well as the line to get inside! Park closes at 6pm, extended summer hours is 7pm. We went on a Tuesday and Tuesdays are the days they offer their deals. It's buy one get one free basically for $49.99 which I think it's a fair price since individual tickets are from I believe $30-$40. Parking is $5 and if you want to park upfront it's $10. We waited in line for almost an hour to get inside so be mindful if you have a lot of things to carry. Bring a cooler with wheels and a wagon! If you also have a baby stroller that is also allowed inside. The only thing they won't allow you to bring inside is anything glass, alcohol or knives so please precut your fruits and sandwiches beforehand. They do check coolers and bags upfront. We bought Costco pizzas, made pasta salad, charcuterie boards and other knick knack snacks for the kids as well to give you guys ideas on what to bring! Most of the time everyone's gonna be out swimming and on rides and not paying attention on eating lol If you have kids, please take them I recommend and apply sunscreen at all times!

What a beautiful water park filled with so many different rides, and lots of splash excitement. My…read morefamily usually attend during events tickets run pretty high considering it is always busy and packed so make sure you go on a slow day. Tuesdays are always a good deal because they're food menu is more affordable and worth it other than that what a great place to celebrate with anyone who is looking for a good time.

The Tsunami: A ride that there imbecile employees will unbalance to your death's desire. My child and his friend ALMOST went over the side!

Ohana family area

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Season pass rates 2025

Rainbow Pools

4.1

(39 reviews)

54.5 mi

I am disabled stopped at the gate said I wanted to drive through and look at the place if it was…read moreable to stop and take a picture from the window of my car the lady at the gate said yes, but I must continue to drive through. I could not stop and get out of my vehicle as I am disabled she said sorry no can do. I went to the end of the parking lot I stopped was taking a picture through my window, and a elderly gentleman walked up to me who obviously works there told me if I didn't get off the property. He was going to call the sheriff and had me physically removed. I said I was driving through and stopped to take a photo. He said that was illegal and he was gonna write me up with the ticket. He wrote down my license plate number and told me he was banning me from ever coming back to this place very disrespectful and rude.

We had so much fun here very close to our campsite and drop in payment per car. People jumped from…read morethe top where around the parking site. It's perfect for cooling off in this heat wave.

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Part Chihuahua dog

Todd Beamer Park

(35 reviews)

18.1 mi

This park we really love cause of the water park , skate park, basketball court and much more …read more It's definitely showing age and is in need of repairs to the point I almost gave it 3 stars . I also wish they posted time and days the water park would be on. They used to if you looked at the city website but I can't find it now. This park has a lot to offer, it has an inclosed area for dogs to play and a big field to play soccer or tag football. The play ground needs to be updated and better thought out. Yet, still nice to have for those hot summer days .

It's great for kids playground has a nice water park . A good dog park but it's not a business…read more this park has very limited areas where you can sit and have a possible little picnic while the kids are playing at the waterpark.

There were a lot of these holes and little hard black pebbles would still to the kids feet and hurt them

Love they fixed the playground padding and slide!!

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Figarden Loop Park

3.5

(27 reviews)

25.1 mi

Small park but has a little of everything and still seems in good condition. There is only one…read morecovered picnic table area but a free tables are sprinkled around. A small simple splash pad . Two small play grounds that are covered and a really nice baseball field! Loved that they had bleachers that had a shad cover. Decent amount of parking and one bathroom area. All in all if we happen to be in the area we would stop by but definitely not go out of our to go play at.

Deceptively large park with off-street parking for dozens of vehicles. Almost unattended during the…read moreweekdays. Children's play area with equipment. Pergola-covered picnic tables & BBQ areas. Separately fenced off sports areas & dog area with poop bags. Large ponding basin where a couple were throwing sticks for their large dogs as I walked mine along the perimeter. Seems well-maintained, relatively litter-free.

Bin for hot coals off the bbq

Swings

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Small playground

San Joaquin River Gorge - parks - Updated July 2026

People who viewed San Joaquin River Gorge also viewed

Pincushion Mountain

(37 reviews)

Have been doing this hike for YEARS! At least once a year and I have 3 young boys who love it as…read morewell. It gets a little intense but go at your own pace and all will be good. If you have asthma def bring your inhaler! Lol Also, came across a POISON OAK plant near the top/edge so BE CAREFUL!

I hiked Pincushion on New Year's Day. I start the hike at the Finegold recreation area, I recently…read morelearned this is the true trail head. It's about 3 miles round trip. It's not too hard, I would rate it moderate, but you should be in decent shape to attempt this hike. It is all uphill, it's moderate uphill. The last section right before you get to the peak is more of an intense uphill climb. The intense part doesn't last too long though. This hike offers beautiful views of the lake and Table mountains. Hiking the peak can be a bit tricky. Rocks are slippery, so wear good shoes with grip and ankle protection. This hike is unbearable in the summer, it's too hot. Winter months and early spring are my fave times to hike it. Parking is free if you park along the road. If you park in the parking lot day use area, I think it's $5. There is a public restroom, sometimes it's closed and a portopotty is available.

Sugar Pine Trail

(1 review)

Great trail! I had no clue about this until we saw part of it driving home from the Woodward park…read morelibrary! It's safe and quiet. Super easy but long walking trail. I have not done the whole trail yet. My kids love it!

Dry Creek Trailhead

(4 reviews)

February 25, 2020 Tuesday…read more Dry creek trailhead is at the southwest corner of Shepherd and Sunnyside. There's a parking lot ( free ) that can fit about 50 cars , clean restrooms , a windmill and a metal horse statue. Cross the street heading east and you'll find a trail. It's along a canal that's home to Canada Goose, ducks , mallards , coots , etc. I saw at least a dozen Canada Goose gracefully floating , ducking their heads under, chasing each other , taking naps under the warm sunlight. When I first got to the trail, I heard loud screeching sounds that sounded like eagles or owls. I had seen an owl here before but when I looked up with my binoculars , there was this huge beautiful Red-tailed hawk . He was screeching so loud and when I looked up at the sky , there was another red-tailed. I think he was trying to mate her. Ahhhh those raptor were so gorgeous. They were too far and couldn't get good pics but filmed their calling sounds. There was a construction going on after about half a mile and there was so much noise and dust , plus most likely there won't be any critters with all that's going on , so I turned around. The trail takes you all the way to the water basin where you can spot the migratory birds . There's huge mansions along the trail , pretty flowers and blossoms , you might spot an own or two or hawks along the way. From the parking lot , if you head south , there's another section of the trail and this one takes you all the way to the Dry Creek Park and there's a botanical gardens next to the park ( Clovis Botanical Gardens ) free admission. I like both sections of the trail . If you wanna see lots of birds go East from the parking lot.

Very nice walk. Mostly shaded. Benches along the way. Feels like being out in nature until you get…read moreto the main roads. Alot of interesting things to see. Start of trail has restrooms, tables, bike racks, and plenty of parking.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

(82 reviews)

I enjoyed my time, just sitting down and enjoying God's scenery. It was a very busy weekend here…read more Couldn't really get any good fishing in because there was too many boats and jet skis in the water. Plus, this is my first time here driving out, trying out new places to go fishing. It was a hot day so it brought out everyone grills were going. People were in the water. This is when everybody was about to pack up where we were sitting at so that's why you don't see anything in the picture but I enjoyed myself my husband got nibbles and bites, but nothing hooked on his head line a lot of little fish in the water.. but the scenery is what made it so wonderful

Every year Varys on water level this year it is full to the max it's always a great time any time…read morewe go plenty of spaces for bbq plenty of bathrooms I always bring my family here

Upper Twin Lake

(3 reviews)

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.

Sycamore Island

4.4

(8 reviews)

Peaceful, this State Park was very, very quiet. No one else really talking to other people we…read morewould jump up whenever someone caught a fish we clapped or they clapped when it was us. We didn't do good at all over here. We only caught one catfish. But for us just to get away we had a nice time again. I was able to let my husband fish and I sat back and read a book. But there was one part of this state park that I was able to see a few young fawns. And he or she was so beautiful. I dared not to get closer for a fear of seeing the doe somewhere close. I wish the state of California would get it together we have state parks that need to be cleaned. Just dead trees everywhere that needs to be cleaned up.

Amazing spot to fish with the kids! Lots of shade, and peaceful. It's also a great spot to take…read moreyour kayaks out where the water is not moving swiftly. During the week the entry fee is usually free, weekends about $9 for the day pass.

Shaver Lake

(34 reviews)

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.

Adventure Park

(1 review)

Amazing park and playground just north of Valley Children's Hospital. Our daughter and son both…read morelove playing here; they have so many cool attractions that are different than any other playground in the Fresno area. Our son loves the swings and small toddler structure, and our daughter loves the rock structure, the bigger structure, and the climbing hill. It's definitely worth the drive here from Fresno for this cool park!

U.s. Army Corps of Engineers- Hensley Lake