Millerton Lake State Park

Again, we were blocked from heading up to Yosemite National Park, some of the roads are still closed due to ice and snow.  Instead we headed to a state park called Millerton where back in 1944 California built a dam on the San Joaquin River to reclaim the land that gets flooded every spring due to the river running wild.  Once the dam was constructed, water backed up in a small canyon and Lake Millerton was created.  Its about 15 miles south of where we are in Coarsegold. It is a bigger lake than Bass Lake, but it is so tucked back in the rolling hills that you had no idea it was there.

Very hilly type country, about 30 miles west of Sierra Nevadas

First glimpse of the lake

Today there is boating, fishing, any kind of water sport (unlimited horsepower), swimming, hiking, horseback riding, day use picnicking, and camping. We followed the trail (once we found it) for a couple miles.  Nice walk, leisurely.  When we decided to turn back and get back down to the roadway, we followed it back to the boat launch area where our car was parked.

Nice little picnic areas set up along the lake

We walked passed the campground and was surprised that a number of sights were full-hookup.  And paved lots, and big enough to have 3 vehicles on your spot.  We will definitely have to keep state parks in our radar in the future.

These smelled like lavender

Love this deep purple color

Nice little walk.  Nothing to brag about, but very peaceful.  Very little flowers were out, it looked like the area had no rain for some time, very very dry conditions.  But the lake was at 95% full, must have been a good snow winter in the Sierra Nevadas, the San Joaquin River has it's origin somewhere up in the high Sierras. The lake gets drained off during the summer months in the San Joaquin Valley for agriculture and for generating power usage.

Had to step around this area, hiked up way to left to avoid water

And then 2 girls in this black jeep wanted to cross that water -
they chickened out

2 guys up on top (campground area) were yelling at them to 'go for it!'

We briefly spoke to the ranger and she said if we were planning on camping this weekend there, forget it.  Everything is booked up.  I could see why.  Seemed to be a very nice park, seeing the sailboats gently moving on the water made me nostalgic for our sailing days on Lake Erie.

So peaceful looking, sailboat in distance

Could see a storm coming so we ended our walk after 2 1/2 miles and headed back to campground.

Path meandered around lake

Did you know horses have the right-of-way?

Evening primrose - about 3 inches wide

Trail was definitely used but needed some TLC

Boat ramp - very steep incline down to water

Just a pretty serene lake - and storm coming - heading back to campground