Biking
Riding your bicycle is one of the best ways to feel nature
all around you while at the same the enjoying a rush of healthy exercise.
There are more than 12 miles of paved bike paths in Yosemite
Valley. You can also ride along the regular roads (while obeying traffic laws).
In Yosemite Valley, you can rent bikes at Yosemite Lodge at
the Falls, and Curry Village.
You can also enjoy riding your bike all around Bass Lake and
throughout the many camp grounds and housing areas.
Bike Rentals:
Yosemite Bicycle & Sport
40680 Hwy 41, Suite C, Oakhurst
550-641-2453
yosemitebicycle.com
We sell and service bicycles, with all the parts,
accessories, clothing, helmets etc. to go with them.
We have a custom map
of all the roads and trails in Eastern Madera county.
Join in: We lead mountain bike rides on Sunday mornings.
Hours: 11-6 M-F, 10-5 Saturdays.
BASS LAKE
Bass Lake’s sparkling waters are surrounded by the Sierra National Forest. It’s a beautiful vacation spot year round.
Bass Lake’s sparkling waters are surrounded by the Sierra National Forest. It’s a beautiful vacation spot year round.
The lake is a tree-trimmed reservoir about a half-hour’s drive south of Yosemite National Park’s south entrance.
Bass Lake’s elevation is almost 3,400 feet, and it’s surface water temperature is comfortably warm in summer at about around 75°F/24°C.
The lake is nearly 5 miles long.
Popular activities include water skiing, wake-boarding, and riding wave runners.
There are also sheltered coves for swimming, sailing, kayaking, and pedal boating.
Boat rentals are available on the lake.
On land, there are also plenty of trails leading into the Sierra National Forest, ready for hiking and mountain biking.
Bass Lake was made when the electric company dammed Willow Creek in 1901.
• Location — Sierra National Forest, 14 miles from Yosemite’s south gate entrance.
• Elevation — 3,369 feet
• Length — 4-5 miles
• Width — ½ mile
• Depth — 98 feet
• Shoreline — 18 miles
• Speed limit: None.
Bass Lake’s elevation is almost 3,400 feet, and it’s surface water temperature is comfortably warm in summer at about around 75°F/24°C.
The lake is nearly 5 miles long.
Popular activities include water skiing, wake-boarding, and riding wave runners.
There are also sheltered coves for swimming, sailing, kayaking, and pedal boating.
Boat rentals are available on the lake.
On land, there are also plenty of trails leading into the Sierra National Forest, ready for hiking and mountain biking.
Bass Lake was made when the electric company dammed Willow Creek in 1901.
• Location — Sierra National Forest, 14 miles from Yosemite’s south gate entrance.
• Elevation — 3,369 feet
• Length — 4-5 miles
• Width — ½ mile
• Depth — 98 feet
• Shoreline — 18 miles
• Speed limit: None.
Boating & Rafting
Of course the best way to enjoy Bass Lake is to be on it —
in a boat, kayak, raft, or waverunner.
If you didn’t bring a boat of your own, there are rental
options available:
Bass Lake Watersports
54406 Marina Drive
559-642-3200
basslakeboatrentals.com
This company rents Pontoon boats with slides, ski boats, patio boats,
jet skis, fishing boats, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, canoes, and more —
including the Bass Lake Queen pontoon party rental boats. It has a full
service marina on Bass Lake, with a store, fuel , boat rentals, mechanic, and
launch ramp right in the middle of Bass Lake.
Miller's Landing Resort
37976 Road 222
559-642-3633
millerslanding.com
Boat docks, rentals, and sales.
(Also: a general store, and a hamburger grill restaurant.)
Zephyr Whitewater River Expeditions
209-532-6249, 800-431-3636
zrafting.com
Take a half-day up to a 3-day rafting trip, on the Merced, Tuolumne, and Kings
rivers.
Zephyr has been in operation since 1973, and is the largest
outfitter on the Merced river near Yosemite, and one of the original outfitters
on the Kings river near Sequoia/Kings Canyon.
One the Merced river, Zephyr offers both morning and
afternoon 1/2 day trips covering 11 miles, and full day trips covering 16 miles
— including a great deli lunch served on the river!
Rafting in Yosemite
One of the best excursions around is a beautiful and
relaxing cruise down the Merced River through Yosemite Valley.
The length of the Yosemite rafting season changes from year
to year and depends on river depth, water temperature and climate.
Rafts can be rented at the Curry Village Recreation Center.
Fishing
Bass Lake is known for rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth
bass, and more.
You can cast off from the beach, or drag a line from a boat…
just make sure you have your license first!
Fish & Game Department: 559-658-7142
Children Fishing info: 559-642-3201
And there are even more fishing opportunities throughout
Yosemite National Park.
Want some guidance? Here are two tour companies:
Yosemite Bass Lake Fishing Tours
559-642-3200
Sierra Fly Fisher
559-683-7664
Golf
Sierra Meadows Country Club
46516 Opah Drive, Oakhurst
559-642-1343
sierrameadows.com
River Creek Golf Course & Restaurant
41709 Road 600, Oakhurst
559-683-5600
rivercreekgolfcourse.com
Golf Cart Rides And
Rentals
Pines Village Golf Cart Rentals
54362 Rd 432
559-641-5550
Cruise around the lake in comfort and style — without having
to worry about parking! It's the economical way to get around the lake — and
the most fun!
Hikes And Tours
In Bass Lake, there are four primary hikes to enjoy.
Willow Creek Trail & Angel Falls
This is the primary water source for the lake, and it makes
for a wonderful walk upstream, with plentiful swimming holes and waterfalls.
There are nearby parking areas from North Shore Road and off of Road 274.
Be prepared: the full hike is almost three miles, and can be
a steep climb at times. But it’s worth it. (But stay on the trail: some people
have died leaving it. Really.)
Goat Mountain
On the south side of Bass Lake, the Goat Mountain Trail
begins in the Forks Campground, and takes you up to the lookout station. Along
the way are great views of the lake.
Spring Cove Trails
The Spring Cove Trail begins east of the Spring Cove
Campground entrance, and also goes up for good look-outs.
Way-of-the-Mono
This “Interpretive Trail” features signs along the way that
highlight the history and lifestyle of the Mono tribe that once lived there.
The loop trail is about a half mile long, and starts across from the Little
Denver Church day use picnic area.
Other hikes in the area include:
Lewis Creek National Recreational Trail
North past Oakhurst
on Hwy 41 is a great hike to two falls: Red Rock, and Corlieu, which is
80 feet high. It’s all along the historical Sugar Pine Lumber flume route.
yosemitehikes.com/hikes
Nelder Grove — Shadow Of The Giants Trail
Giant sequoias await you in Nelder Grove, a peaceful and
relatively undiscovered hike, located above Oakhurst, off Sky Ranch Road.
redwoodhikes.com/YosemiteNP/Nelder.html
One of our favorite ways to enjoy Yosemite is taking a hike.
Some of the best hikes in the Park include:
• Yosemite Valley
• Glacier Point Road
• Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
• Tuolumne Meadows
Here’s the park service’s guide to Valley hikes by difficulty
and distance.
Remember to stay on the trails. Straying off the path, even
in search of a shortcut, is dangerous and illegal.
Want a guide on your hike?
Check out these businesses:
Yosemite Trails Pack Station
559-683-7611
yosemitetrails.com
Mountain Area Ski School (MASS)
559-658-8794
m-a-s-s.org
Crossroad Tours & Limousine
559-790-5929
xroadstours.com
Skytime Helicopter Tours
321-247-8687
visitmammoth.com/listings/
Discover Yosemite
559-642-4400
discoveryosemite.com
Photo Safari Yosemite
559-760-6124
photosafariyosemite.com
Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides
symg.com
Yosemite Hiking
Guides
YosemiteHikingGuides.com
Central California Explorations & Majestic Mountain Loop
Tours
559 298 8528, 877-581-0745
Info@CentralCalWow.com; CentralCalWow.com
Your adventure starts here, whether you are looking for the
thrill of the National Parks, caves, caverns, trails, the history of the taming
of the West, exploring the culinary offerings of the agriculture capital of the
world, or experiencing the crashing waves of the mighty Pacific Ocean against
the craggy cliffs on the Pacific Coastal Highway!
Central California Explorations offers packages for the
young and young at heart to explore Central California. They come complete with car rentals, accommodations,
sightseeing activities, and both self-drive and guided tours.
The Majestic Mountain Loop Tour takes you to 3 Parks in 3
Days, with meals, accommodations, and more.
Railroad Rides
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
56001 Highway 41, Fish Camp
559-683-7273
ymsprr.com
Travel back in time on an exciting 4-mile railroad
excursion, on a powerful steam train. Gold panning, Thornberry Museum, gift
store and deli lunch. Moonlight Special with entertainment, dinner &
barbecue. Open seasonally.
In season, the Logger Steam Train runs seven days a week.
Your best bet? The Moonlight Train Ride & BBQ. “Along
the way you will recall the days of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company’s
logging operations, and discover the trees of the Sierra National Forest. At
the stopover at Lewis Creek Canyon, you’ll have fun and entertainment featuring
live music or theatre.
Hear the whistle blow and see the Shay’s firebox glow under
the night sky on your trip back to the station.
Zip Line Rides
Zip Yosemite
45800 Calvin Crest Rd., Oakhurst
zipyosemite.com
559-642-6688
Experience a family friendly adventure at Zip Yosemite!
Located off Hwy 41, minutes from Yosemite south entrance,
Zip Yosemite the closest zipline tour to Bass Lake, Tenaya Lodge, Oakhurst, and
Yosemite!
Signature tours are available daily, and offer spectacular
views of Sierra National Forest — while enjoying the cool mountain breeze at
5,000 feet elevation.
The state-of-the-art experience are fully guided, and
require no hand braking — creating a perfect experience for all ability levels.
Tours average 1.5 hours.
Yosemite Ziplines & Adventure Ranch
4808 Highway 140, Mariposa
yosemiteziptours.com
