Beautiful Lakes To Visit In Fresno

Fresno might be a great place to live, work, vacation and play – but it’s less known for its waterfront views. In the middle of a Central Californian summer, sometimes all you want to do is dive into a cool, clear lake. Watersports, hiking and fishing are popular at these locations – and, of course, they’re all extra-beautiful.

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Lost Lake

The name of this lake is misleading, because it’s very much one of the best lakes in Fresno. Found 19 miles (31km) north of the city, Lost Lake Recreation Area comprises more than 70 acres (28ha) of beautiful land just waiting for you to enjoy. Swimming and fishing are popular here, plus there are picnic facilities, playgrounds and a beach volleyball court for those who want to make a day of it. There are even campgrounds if you’d like to enjoy Lost Lake for several days at a time.

90 miles (146km) northeast of the city you’ll find Florence Lake – one of the gems of the area. A lake that possesses a secluded beauty, with stunning views across California. It’s very quiet here, so it’s ideal for spending relaxed, peaceful days with family and friends. There are plenty of facilities, including campgrounds, a picnic area, a store, boat rentals, horseback-riding, and a passenger ferry service to locations around the lake. It’s also very close to the mid-point of the John Muir Trail, one of the most popular hiking trails in the US.

Courtright Reservoir

The landscape surrounding this lake is truly breathtaking, with bare granite domes rising from the shoreline and a deep canyon at the northern end of the lake. To the east rises the impressive 13,568 foot (1,436m) high Mount Goddard. If you’re not floating in the water enjoying the view, you can camp, hike, fish, horse ride and drive off-highway vehicles in the facilities and nearby trails. The Courtright Reservoir is truly is one of the most beautiful stretches of water in Fresno.

Millerton Lake

This lake is artificial – it was formed from the construction of Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River – but you wouldn’t know it from how natural it looks. Camping, boating, fishing and classic water recreation are on the menu here. And it’s just 20 miles (32km) northeast of Fresno. The wildlife at this lake is one of the main attractions, with bald eagles often visible and vernal pools (temporary, seasonal pools of after that serve the local wildlife) nearby. Tours of both these attractions are available for some of the year.

Dinkey Creek

A series of alpine lakes feed into the small stream known as Dinkey Creek in Fresno. At 27 miles (43km) long, it runs through forests, canyons and plenty of wildlife, eventually meeting the North Fork Kings River in Sierra Nevada. This water body offers kayaking, hiking, rock-climbing, horseback-riding, fishing and birdwatching in some of the most beautiful surroundings known to mankind. From mountains to water, Dinkey Creek has it all.

Shaver Lake

If you’re looking for the quintessential summer lake experience, look no further than Shaver Lake. An hour away from Fresno, it offers all the watersports your heart could desire and scenery you could gaze at all day. Jet-skiing, canoeing, water-skiing, wakeboarding or relaxing on a boat with your loved ones is all on offer here. You can rent any equipment you don’t have. Definitely bring your camera when you go to Shaver Lake, you’ll want to remember the memories you make there.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.