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The following central California lakes are within easy reach from Shaver Lake: Huntington Lake, Florence Lake, Edison lake, Wishon Lake & Courtright Lake. There is also a stand of giant sequoias ( McKinley Grove ) located 18 miles fronm Shaver Lake. Just follow Dinkey Creek road until the giants materialize right in front of you. Continue on your way to Courtright and Wishon lakes. You will pass Camp Fresno and excellent trout fishing in Dinkey Creek. We are located between Kings Canyon to ther south and Yosemite park to the north. If you were a crow it would be an easy flight to either park. Mount Whitney can be seen on most days from the Shaver Lake area.
It is sometimes hard to imagine our mountain paradise can be reached from most places in California in less than four hours, yet most Californians still haven't heard of us or visited our central California paradise. When walking through our forested communitiy at Shaver Lake periodically look at the ground and you may spot an old nail or piece of the flume that once carried our giant trees to valley mills. Shaver Lake is much more than real estate, though there aren't many places better to own real estate than here.
It is still harder to imagine being able to reach Huntington Lake in less than thirty minutes from down town Shaver Lake. Literally five minutes from Huntington Lake located above 7000 feet sits Sierra Summit. This Ski resort offers excellent skiing and is rarely crowded. There is hardly a time when there are long lines. Once known as Eagles Nest and then China Peak there is skiing for any level of skier. When you drop off chair one look up and China Peak will be looking down at you. There is still a remnant of a summer cabin where cattle once graised. They say the bears in the area waited for the cattle tender to check on his stock each day. Once he was on his way the bears plundered the little cabin for food and anything of interest. The bears were so good at breaking in the door was eventually left open so there wouldn't be so much destruction.
You can imagine the delight on a school childs face when told they would be spending the summer at Shaver Lake. The family packed up and made the four hour trip it took from Fresno in the early 1900's. Once the family settled in dad would return to the scorching heat of the valley to work and periodically returned to vist the family. Have you heard the story going around Shaver Lake on how one of our most noted communities was started. The story goes that when word came the dam was soon to be built, Mrs. Shaver had her one room cabin taken down board by board and assembled again over looking its original location. If she had not moved the cabin it would now be sitting at the bottom of Shaver Lake. The community where the cabin still stands is know as Rock Haven.
Have you heard the story of the world war two bomber that disappeard after taking off from the airfield in Fresno. I have ben told a couple versions be the most prominent story is the plane crash landed in Huntington Lake. Many years later when the lake was being drained to rejuvenate the bottom soil the plane was there for all to see. Apparently it will always be part of Huntington Lake as the decision was made to let it remain in its resting place at the bottom of the lake Not sure what happened to the crew or even if Huntington was the same lake at the time of the crash.
Take the road to Big Creek sometime. You will see the sign as you leave Shaver Lake going up the mountain Big Creek is an Edison town. It reminds me of a small New England town. In good weather you can take the back way to Huntington Lake. It winds and not for the faint of heart. You will pass the turn off to Kaiser Wilderness and Mushroom Rock.
