Location: County: Fresno & Madera. Nearest
City: Friant.
Campsites, facilities: There are 138 sites for tents
or RVs up to 31 feet long and two group sites available. Fire
grills and picnic tables are provided. Piped water, showers,
flush toilets, a sanitary disposal station, and boat ramps are
available. Some facilities are wheelchair accessible. Supplies
can be purchased in Friant. Leashed pets are permitted.
Reservations, fees: From March 10 through September
10, reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275 ($7.50 reservation
fee); $12-$16 per night, $1 pet fee.
Contact: Phone the park at 1-209-822-2225, 1-209-822-2332
or FAX 1-209-822-2319.
Millerton Lake SRA
5290 Millerton Road
Friant CA 93626
Operating hours, seasons: Call the park for information;
open all year round.
Park Kiosk Hours:
Directions: From Highway 99 in Madera, drive 22 miles
east on Highway 145 (six miles past the intersection with Highway
41) to the campground on the right.
Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Millerton Lake State Recreation Area has
over 43 miles of shore land for water sports. Recreation includes
swimming, fishing, and boating. The lake was created by construction
of the Friant Dam across the San Joaquin River in 1944. The hills
surrounding the lake provide good hiking opportunities. Wildlife
in the park includes ground squirrels, cottontails, mule deer,
badgers, and bald and golden eagles. During winter, the park
has special boa tours that view the bald eagles. The park contains
the original Millerton County Courthouse, built in 1867. The
park's camping facilities include boat camping. As the temperature
gauge goes up in the summer, the value of Millerton Lake increases
at the same rate. The lake is set at 578 feet elevation in the
foothills of the San Joaquin Valley, and the water is like gold
here. The campground and recreation area are set on a peninsula
along the north shore of the lake; there are sandy beach areas
on both sides of the lake with boat ramps available near the
campgrounds. It's a big lake, from a narrow lake inlet extending
to an expansive main lake body. One of the ironies at Millerton
is that when the lake is filled to the brim, the beaches are
covered, so ideal conditions are actually when the lake level
is down a bit, typically from early summer on.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
