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Spring has officially sprung in Fresno, and along with the allergies and pollen-covered cars comes the beauty of fields covered in wild flowers, budding leaves on trees and the type of weather that makes you grateful for more hours of sunlight, even if it means you have to lose an hour of sleep.
Spring and warmer weather also brings forth the start of a new season of hiking! Last fall, my family and I discovered a shared love of hiking (well, hubby and I did, kiddo argues he doesn’t want to go each time, but immediately expresses how much fun he had after we go on each hike, but we think it’s mainly because there are no screens when we’re hiking. *Insert “evil” parent laughter here*). Now that it’s less likely to be cold and snowy on many of the hiking trails we’re interested in seeing this Spring, we’re eager to pack our backpacks and hit the road.
For those of you who’ve yet to discover the joy of hiking beautiful trails just outside of Fresno, I wanted to offer you three fantastic trails to try out this Spring. If you do, I think you just may find yourself addicted like we are!
Trail #1: The Bridge Trail @ River Gorge
Who’s the trail best for?
People of all ages, cyclists and anyone capable of walking about 2 miles on mostly flat ground.
What’s to see?
Wildflowers, the beautiful San Joaquin River from the San Joaquin River Trail Bridge, Big Sandy Creek, oak forest and if you’re lucky, grazing cattle. (In the fall, we also saw tarantulas! But, they are not out in the Spring, and we only saw one or two each time and they wanted to get far away from us – so fear not if you’re an arachnaphobe. I too, have a healthy fear of spiders, but tarantulas are so large and move so slowly they are surprisingly less alarming than other spiders when you see them in the wild.)
How to get there:
Take 168 North until it ends and becomes Auberry Road. Remain on Auberry Road for about 18 miles until you can make a left on Powerhouse Road. From Powerhouse, you’ll make another left onto Smalley at the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreational Management Area entrance. Remain on Smalley until you see a parking lot on your right for camping or day use and signs for the Wuh-ki’o/Pa’san Ridge Trails.
Special Notes & Tips:
Unlike most trails, there are bathrooms at the trailhead (the type that are essentially permanent outhouses, but not incredibly dirty or awful, thankfully) and running water. There is a $5 per vehicle day use fee, so bring $5 cash with you. The final stretch of Smalley Road is fairly windy, so plan to take your time, especially if you’re traveling with someone who becomes car sick easily. The total trip from Fresno takes just under an hour. The Shell Station at the end of 168 where the road becomes just Auberry Road has great hand scooped ice cream and mojo potatoes among other goodies, if you work up quite an appetite hiking! Also, the walk to the Bridge along the trail is a short walk. The other two trails are significantly longer and more uphill, so don’t feel like you need to go much further than the Bridge if you’re just looking for a leisurely day-hike or if you have young children in tow.
Trail #2: Lewis Creek Trail
Who’s the trail best for?
People of all ages capable of walking about 4 miles with some considerable uphill walking on the return trip.
What’s to see?
Wildflowers, pine trees, a bubbling, babbling creek, waterfalls and possibly large groups of butterflies, sunning near the water.
How to get there:
Take 41 North toward Bass Lake. Continue past Coarsegold and Oakhurst, and into the area just after the Bass Lake turnoffs. Watch for the large Lewis Creek Trailhead parking area, which will be on your right hand side about 50 minutes from Fresno.
Special Notes & Tips:
This trail is well-travelled and you’re unlikely to be the only group hiking in the area. The trail is beautiful and offers a spectacular view of a waterfall that you can enjoy watching from a redwood observation deck and bench built into the trail. This trail can get a bit tricky in a few places if it’s muddy or if tree limbs are hanging low, and sometimes these tricky places can be in a narrower or steeper spot, so you’ll definitely want to keep a close eye on young children to ensure they have steady footing. The return hike can be steep for someone who doesn’t get regular cardio exercise, so prepare to return more slowly than you hiked out and take breaks if needed.
This is one of the most beautiful trails I’ve experienced and I’ve gone back multiple times already and taken others with me each time so they could experience it. For a tasty bite after your hike, swing by Robert’s Frosty Restaurant – a great, old-fashioned shake and burger place with delicious onion rings, soft serve cones, and thick milkshakes with all the best mix-ins.
Trail #3: Willow Creek Trail
Who’s the trail best for?
Adults and older children/teens capable of walking 4+ miles with some mildly tricky footwork.
What’s to see?
Beautiful wooded mountains, Manzanita trees, a flowing creek and best of all, gorgeous waterfalls pooling in a multitude of places.
How to get there:
Take 41 North to Road 222/Bake Lake Turnoff and stay on 222 until it becomes 274. Look for the Willow Creek/Angel Falls Trailhead Parking area on your left hand side. It will seem like you can turn either left or right to park – you want to go to the right.
Special Notes & Tips:
This trail offers beautiful sights and waterfalls that are absolutely breathtaking. This trail also can be a little tricky, as there are a few places where the trail itself is less than obvious and you may find yourself wondering if you’re still on it. You’ll have a good sense of where you are regardless, thanks to the creek running alongside you. It’s very important to note that the rock where the creek flows is much, much more slippery that it may appear – even in areas where no water is flowing, as the water has smoothed the stone face significantly, making it difficult to keep steady footing unless you have VERY grippy shoes. At one point, our dog slid several feet down the rock face and gave us a good little scare – so this is not a good trail for young children or children who are unlikely to stay on the trail or near adults. After visiting this trail, my appreciation for the beauty that is practically in our own backyard (this trail is less than one hour from Fresno) grew immensely. Robert’s Frosty Restaurant is also on your way back home from this trail – hint, hint. 😉
General Tips:
- Check out the All Trails app or website for additional information and reviews from other hikers on these trails and others. I use this app all the time to help me plan hikes!
- Always assume the hikes and drives will take longer than you think. Give yourself plenty of time before sunset to complete your hikes.
- All three of these hikes allow dogs on leashes. Many trails do not, like those in National Park, so be cognizant of that.
- Pack plenty of snacks and more water than you think you’ll need and dress in layers. Be sure your backpack has padded straps.
- As dorky as they may seem, bring a selfie-stick – the sights can be amazing and capturing them with just your arm and the reverse camera mode can be tricky, and you’ll likely want a photo of yourself and your crew in front of the beautiful sites on these trails!
- Respect the trails – never leave trash behind, take it all back with you and throw it out properly and teach children to do the same.
- Due to uneven terrain and/or narrow pathways, none of the trails above are suitable for strollers or wheelchairs (sorry).
- None of the trails mentioned require special 4×4 or SUVs to get to. All can be driven to by regular vehicles. These locations should not require snow chains either.
