I'll be going up Thursday after work, I expect to get there by 8:00 pm. The place we're camping is in the trees next to the road, and NOT in the Dinkey Creek Campground. I'll repost directions below. We'll need some firewood, so bring a little if you can, and don't forget your bathing suit because we always go for a swim in the lake.
Here are directions to where we'll camp Thursday night. From the north, go south on Hwy 99 and just as you come to Fresno take the Herndon exit, going east. Keep on Herndon all the way across town, then turn left onto Hwy 168 heading to Shaver Lake. From the south, take Hwy 99 to Kingsburg and exit on Mendocino Ave, going north. Continue north through Kingsburg and Sanger until the road dead ends at Hwy 168, then make a right towards Shaver Lake. Stay on Hwy 168, through Prather, then up a very long and steep grade until you come into the town of Shaver Lake. Make a right turn on Dinkey Creek Rd, with signs to Dinkey Creek and Wishon and Courtright Lakes. Stay on Dinkey Creek Rd until you get near the Dinkey Creek Campground, then look closely for a right turn with signs to Wishon and Courtright. This right turn can be easy to miss, especially in the dark, so if you come to the Dinkey ranger station or Dinkey Creek store, or end up in the Dinkey Creek Campground, turn around because you missed the turn. Immediately after making the right turn, you'll cross the Dinkey Creek bridge, then continue about a 1/4 mile to an intersection with a sign that says Camp Fresno. This is a three way intersection, and there are two roads that go to the left, the first road goes to Camp Fresno and the second road is marked 10S36. Turn left on 10S36 and immediately turn right into the trees, where we'll be camping. The campsite is a large area in the tress at the far side of the intersection of the hwy and road 10S36.
There are outhouses close by at the fisherman's picnic area next to Dinkey Creek, at the ranger station, and at the store. There are also showers at the store, plus food, ice and even gas. I always gas up at the station in Prather, but there is also a Texaco at the top of the steep climb, but it doesn't stay open very late. There is gas in Shaver Lake, but again, I don't know how late they stay open. I wouldn't count on the gas at Dinkey, it's very expensive but would work in an emergency. We will head to the Dinkey Creek store on Friday morning to top off any ice chests that need it, then group together at the ranger station. We'll leave for the trail from the ranger station at 8:30 am.
Richard G
