Beautiful Bass Lake and Yosemite

I hadn't been to Oakhurst for 30 years, but I wasn't surprised to see how it had grown, since I had read other reviews of the area. Oakhurst has almost any store you could want, including Raleys, Gottschalks, Vons, Longs, and RiteAid. We won't have any problem getting everything I need to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

I visited on Labor Day Weekend and they were having the Oakhurst Mountain Peddler's Fair. The Fair, which is held over the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, is a nearly 25-year tradition that typically draws about 10,000 people into this mountain town. Needless to say, all motels and hotels were booked well in advance.

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Since I was so close to Yosemite National Park, I couldn't resist visiting the park. Oakhurst is about 10 miles from the south entrance to the park. I also wanted to purchase a Golden Pass, which is .00 for persons over 62 years of age and can be used forever at any National Park and many other National Historic Places. I have been to Yosemite several times, but had never entered from the South Entrance (Highway 41).

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Bass Lake and surrounding areas are very beautiful. I didn't drive all around the lake but intend to do that when we are staying at the Worldmark at Bass Lake in November.

There are many attractions in the surrounding area including: Narrow Gauge Railroad, Historic Park and Museum, horseback riding, fishing, golf, hiking trails, melodrama theatre, and Yosemite tours.

This property was the first cattle ranch in the area, supplying food and sometimes lodging to nearby logging camps. Since it was converted to a guest ranch in 1946, visitors from around the world have enjoyed the peaceful, laid-back atmosphere and beautiful natural setting the ranch affords.

It is located about 40 miles east of Fresno, California, and about 10 miles from the south entrance to Yosemite National Park. The lodge and rooms are rustic and show a little wear, but are clean and adequate. My room contained a twin bed and a very comfortable queen-size bed.

The bathroom had a shower, but no tub. No fancy lotions here, or shampoos either--only small bars of Pure & Natural Complexion Soap--and no glass tumblers, only small Dixie cups.

There are no TV's or telephones in the rooms, which was not a problem for me. There is a huge TV in the lobby and many chairs and sofas of all kinds. The lobby also has a piano for the guests to use, and a gorgeous fireplace. Some of the rooms have fireplaces, but mine didn't. The lodge has a large dining area, but I was informed upon checkin that it wasn't opened at all this season. There is a small bar, which is advertised as "The most peaceful bar in the mountains." It has 8 bar stools, 2 of which have actual horse saddles upon which to "straddle". Pool and ping pong tables and dart boards are in the area between the bar and the lobby. The resort also advertises that horseshoes, volleyball, and basketball are available for play. The bar (saloon) currently has ladies night Friday and Saturday - $3.00 margaritas and well drinks - and was almost full both times I was there. One couple in the bar said they lived "up the hill" and just came down because they liked the place. Maybe it was the "ambience" or maybe they were there for the ladies night prices. There was no ice bucket in the room, but the bartender gave me a large bucket of crushed ice to take back to the room. There is a pool on the premises and people were swimming, but I didn't check to see if it was heated or not. Several swings are on the grounds, including bench swings and a tire swing. There are also several benches throughout the property where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. The weather was very warm when I was there (Labor Day weekend) until the sun went down, then cooled off nicely for sleeping. There was no air conditioner in my room. The price of the room includes a continental breakfast in the lobby the following morning, which consisted of coffee, regular and decaf, and huge muffins of all sorts, which were Yummy!

This is a beautiful mountain lake community (3,500 ft. elev.) located on Bass Lake, which is near Oakhurst, California. (Oakhurst is about 40 miles east of Fresno on Highway 41.) Camping is popular in four area campgrounds (total of 239 camping units) in the Sierra National Forest, and there are 43 sites with picnic tables and fireplaces for day users (Call 1-800-280-CAMP). Bass Lake has cabin and home rentals, motels, hotels, and resorts. There is a spectacular fireworks disply on the 4th of July, which attracts thousands.

Bass Lake is a 4-mile-long lake on the north fork of Willow Creek, which is a tributary of the San Joaquin River. Its waters turn powerful, electricity-producing turbine engines for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The water level in the lake was down about 30% when I visited.

The reservoir is drawn down by PG&E at various times of the year, but there is always plenty of water for water activities. You can rent any equipment you need (including jet skis, wave runners, fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, mountain bikes, paddle boats, houseboats, and speed boats) from the Bass Lake Water Sports & Marina located at Ducey's at The Pines Village. They also have boat launch facilities, overnight rental slips, seasonal slips, and boat drivers and lessons. (Contact www.BassLakeBoatRentals.com or 1-800-585-9283.) You may also enjoy a narrated 1-hour cruise on Bass Lake on a 50-seat tour boat, the Bass Lake Queen. Prices are: adults $12, seniors $6, children (4-16) $4. The cruises are available daily, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, and Saturdays, only in April, May, September, and October.

The Pines Resort and Conference Center is a 50-acre resort located on the north shore of the lake and is across from the Bass Lake Post Office. (Contact www.basslake.com or 1-800-350-7463.) The Resort features 84 condo-like chalets with kitchens and fireplaces, 20 luxury suits at Ducey's On The Lake, 12 suites with in-room spa tubs, and 2 honeymoon suites. Ducey's has a fine dining restaurant with reasonable prices and a bar and grill, both overlooking the lake. There is also a full service market, gift shops, and a pizza place in the resort. There is an internet station in the lobby for public use (10 minutes for $1, 20 minutes for $2, etc.) It accepts bills. I put $2 in before I realized there was no external mouse, but I was able to get into my mail and one other site before the 20 minutes were up. It was very slow-going - definitely not high-speed internet.

Bass Lake's natural beauty has been used in major motion pictures and television commercials since the early 1930's. Some examples are: "Leave Her to Heaven" (1945); "Hiawatha" (1957); and "The Great Outdoors" (1987). Auto commercials have been produced in and around Bass Lake for Cadillac, Honda, Chrysler, and Isuzu; a Wells Fargo Bank Commercial was filmed just above Bass Lake, and Mark Harmon made two Coors commercials at Bass Lake. One in the popular series of Bud Light "I Love Ya Man" beer commercials was also shot at the lake.

The first time I visited this beautiful park was in the 1960's, when my children were young. One of the most beautiful and amazing things we experienced was the fire fall, which has since been discontinued. (I assume because of the fire hazard.) The bonfire was built in a rail-surrounded enclosure on Glacier Point and "pushed" over the mountain ledge and cascaded down the mountain, landing in a designated spot near Curry Village on the valley floor. It was such a spectacular event. We watched it both from Glacier Point and from Curry Village.

This trip was the first time I have entered the park from the south entrance (about 50 miles east of Fresno on Highway 41). It is exciting to be inside the park, but it is actually another 25 miles (approximately 1 hour at 25 miles per hour) before you reach Wawona Tunnel and Yosemite Valley. I stopped at the parking lot on the valley side of the tunnel and walked back into the tunnel to photograph this picturesque site--the mountains framed by the tunnel opening. There are elevated sidewalks on both sides of the tunnel so you won't get hit by the cars coming and going. The next stop I made was to see Bridal Veil Falls. I had never "hiked" up to the lookout point before (actually several hundred yards and all uphill). At that elevation with the "thin" air, some people wouldn't fare so well, but I didn't have any problem. There wasn't a lot of water falling, but enough to photograph. I didn't see any of the other waterfalls running (Labor Day weekend).

I made the mistake of "driving" up to see Mirror Lake. I didn't see any signs prohibiting cars, but about half-way up I realized everyone else was either walking or on a bicycle. There was no way to turn around so I went all the way up (about a half mile), parked, took some pictures, and then drove back down. I shared my embarrassment with some of the people hiking up there; they were very friendly and thought it was "funny" and said they were wondering how I got to drive up there. (Absent-minded older ladies can be excused, I guess.)

I drove to nearby Curry Village and tried to find a parking place so I could go to the snack bar and get something to eat. After circling the parking lot several times, I dismissed that idea, and went to Yosemite Lodge, where I did find a place to park. I had stayed in the Lodge a year ago in January and they have a lovely, expansive bar and lounge (with sumptuous drinks, I might add), and a fine dining room. This trip, however, I went to the cafeteria there and got a Philly cheesesteak sandwich with french fries to take out. It was the best I have eaten, and I have had them from many, many places. I was hoping to get to a point where I could take pictures of the sunset from the valley floor, but I wasn't able to stop anywhere on the 25-mile drive from the valley to the south entrance, and it was dark by the time I got back to the park entrance.