Bass Lake

Bass Lake sits at 3,400 feet in the Sierra National Forest, about a 30-minute drive from Yosemite's south entrance on Highway 41. At roughly 1,200 acres, it's one of the warmest swimmable lakes in the Sierra Nevada — water temperatures climb into the mid-70s by July — which makes it a favorite base for families and boaters who want mountain scenery without a glacier-fed chill.

On the Water

Five recreation areas ring the shoreline, each with its own character. The Pines has family-friendly beaches for swimming and paddling, while Wishon Point draws the wakeboarding and water-ski crowd. Fishing is a year-round draw too — the lake holds more than a dozen species, including trout, bass, kokanee salmon, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Boat rentals, marinas, and campgrounds are spread around the lake, managed through the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest.

Hiking Nearby

The Lewis Creek Trail, a designated National Recreation Trail, runs 3.7 miles along the lake's eastern edge and passes Red Rock Falls and Corlieu Falls — a good stretch-your-legs option between days on the water.

Because Bass Lake sits outside the park boundary, it also works as a practical overflow base when Yosemite Valley lodging is booked solid, with Oakhurst's restaurants and shops just down the road.