Beautiful Bass Lake

Bass Lake puts you in the heart of the famed Sierra Nevadas, at the doorstep of Yosemite National Park. Bass Lake offers hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, boating, and lots of sun. In the winter, there is snow-skiing less than an hour away at Badger Pass.

Quick Tips:

If you plan to make the 45-minute drive into Yosemite Valley during the summer months, try to get an early start from Bass Lake in order to avoid the crowds and traffic inside the park. We usually left the Lake by 8am and managed to hit the hiking trails before the congestion set in. Also, if crowds and traffic aren't your idea of vacation, consider taking your trips into Yosemite Valley on weekdays, and enjoy the many amenities at Bass Lake on the weekend. The majority of Yosemite's day-trippers are there on Saturdays and Sundays, so weekdays provide more peace and quiet (and much more parking)!

Best Way To Get Around:

The majority of the available activities at Bass Lake are all within walking distance of each other, but a car is necessary for travel to most eating establishments, as well as to Yosemite. Biking is another fun option of getting around once you're at the Lake.

Best Things Nearby:
The resort is about an hour from the Fresno airport. The southern entrance to Yosemite National Park is only 15 minutes away, and it's only 45 minutes to Yosemite Valley, where you can get up-close views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the giant sequoias.

Best Things About the Resort:
This was our first time to stay at a Worldmark resort, and we were thoroughly impressed. We arrived to a courteous staff and a spotless condominium! We had everything we could possibly need on a relaxing vacation, including a gas fireplace, private patio with gas grill, cable TV, VCR (with current movies for rent in the office), stereo with CD player, fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and much more. There were also tennis courts, outdoor pools, outdoor spas, a pool table, and arcade games. The office offers a computer with internet access for use 24 hours per day.

Resort Experience:
The Worldmark is nestled right on recreational Bass Lake. We could step outside the door of our condominium and a two-minute stroll down a path led us straight to the lake. There you can rent jet skis and boats, or opt for a horseback ride along the trails. If you enjoy fishing, the lake is stocked with trout, bass, salmon, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Another option is to simply relax lakeside and soak up the sun.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Excellent

After trying several local restaurants in the Bass Lake/Oakhurst area during our week stay, we decided to try lunch at the Mountain House one afternoon. Needless to say, we were back for dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. We were hooked! They are located just past Oakhurst at the Highway 41 turnoff to Bass Lake.

The restaurant's claim is family dining in a historic Sierra setting. The servers were friendly and efficient, and our food always arrived promptly, even at the busiest dinner hour. The french dip was great for lunch and the chicken and mushroom fettuccine was some of the best I've ever had! I also recommend the raspberry tea.

They're open at 6am for those early birds. You can view their menu online.

What better way to enjoy Bass Lake than to be right on the water! At the Bass Lake Water Sports & Marina, you can rent a fishing boat that seats four people for $29/hr, $69/5 hrs, or $89/all day. Fishing pole rentals are also available.

If you're looking for something larger, they also have patio boats in various sizes, seating from 6 up to 15 passengers. The prices vary from $195 to $335 for the entire day, depending on the size and luxuries of the boat. Jet skis and speed boats are also available.

Canoes, paddle boats, and kayaks are available for $19/hr, $45/5 hrs, or $65/all day.

If you prefer dry land, they also have mountain bikes for $20/5 hrs, or $30/all day.

They do have several different package deals, which include everything you could possibly need to enjoy Bass Lake.

Life vests are provided for renters, and they do offer lessons. A deposit is required, and they recommend reservations during the busy season. Keep in mind that fuel is not included with the cost of the rental. Check out their website.

During our week-long stay at Bass Lake, we took a day trip to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It only takes about two hours to get to the entrance of Kings Canyon, where you will pay a $10 fee that gives you access to both parks for 7 days. These two parks can provide an escape from the crowds and traffic that are typical on summer weekends in Yosemite. Most of these parks are made up of high-alpine wilderness, with beautiful caverns lying beneath the surface. The Generals Highway will take you to the sequoia groves, which are absolutely magnificent to view!

A side trip to Crystal Cave (tickets must be purchased at the Foothills Visitor Center) is a must. You should also consider a quick stop at the Giant Forest Museum, located just inside Sequoia Park's entrance. If you are in the mood for an outstanding burger at lunchtime, try the restaurant at Wuksachi Village. The village is also a great place to stay, should you decide to make it a two-day trip.

By all means, keep your eyes out for bears while in these parks! After driving through the Tunnel Tree, we rounded a corner and saw a cub walking down the road directly in front of us. As we carefully took pictures from our car, we noticed the mother keeping a close eye on us about 30 yards away, so we quickly moved on!

You can also enjoy cooler temperatures in these two parks as well. We actually had to pull out the fleece jackets, which was a nice break from the 85-degree temps at Bass Lake. We were able to hike a couple of trails, which were much less travelled than most trails in Yosemite. Although nothing can beat the view of Yosemite Valley, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon are definitely worth checking out.