Sierra2023Archive

Community Information

Lakes and Streams in Madera County Bass Lake (continued) : The lake was created in 1899 when a small earthen dam was built in Crane Valley. A larger reservoir was built in 1905 and work on the present dam commenced in 1909. Camping, picnicking and boating are among the many popular outdoor recreational activities found at Bass Lake due to its enjoyable summer climate. Located 14 miles from the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park, the region around the lake has been designated by the USDA Forest Service as an official Recreation Area. Back Country Lakes: Iron, Bare Island, Grizzly and Chiquito Lakes are less than an hour’s walk from nearby trailheads. These lakes are stocked annually by air, with very good fishing during late September and early October. Willow Creek , above Bass Lake is popular, but use caution on wet granite near the falls area which can be treacherous. Lewis Creek is stocked from the Yosemite Forks estate bridge upstream to Sugar Pine at suitable roadside locations and offers good fishing. A U.S. Forest Service National Recreation Trail extends along the creek from Cedar Valley to Sugar Pine. Less accessible creeks such as Fish, Rock, Chiquito and Granite Creeks are all stocked with rainbow trout during the summer months. Veteran fishermen recommend anglers move away from roads for 20 minutes or more for better fishing on less crowded streams. Most streams are steep, rocky and slippery so care should be used.

Historic Raymond Family Day Parade Raymond is a small community best known for the Knowles Quarry, a granite producer established in 1888 and still in operation today. Many mementos of early Raymond are housed in a local museum open the first Sunday of the month. To commemorate the town’s historic past, Raymond celebrates with a Family Day Parade, Children’s Carnival and Craft Fair. Food and entertainment enhance the festivities. Coarsegold Coarsegold is one of the fastest-growing communities in Eastern Madera County. It is located 7 miles south of Oakhurst on Highway 41. Placer mining brought early prosperity and mining flourished from 1849 to 1865. By 1850, Coarsegold Gulch had 10,000 residents. While the town was named for the type of gold found in the area, coal and quartz were also mined there in early years. In the Coarsegold Historic Village across from the market on the corner of Highway 41 and Road 415, grows one of the oldest grapevines in California. Points of interest include the Coarsegold Historic Museum (south of Lucky Lane), the Historic Village at Hwy 41 and Raymond Road/Road 415, and the Coarsegold Market that has been in business in various locations since 1848. There are many oldmines in the hills, but they are on private property.

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