WElcome to shaver lake
Welcome to Shaver Lake California! The town of Shaver Lake is located on the western side of the Sierra National Forrest within Fresno County. The town is on State Highway 168 east of Fresno. Highway 168 can be picked up on highway 41 North in Fresno just off the 99. For those of you coming from the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley or Northern California, you can take the east bound Highway 180 to the Highway 168 interchange.
The current town of Shaver lake has evolved from a lumber mill community to its present mix of businesses and restaurants serving the local and tourist population. The town is home to about 2000 permanent residents, but during the summer season that population increases to around 6000 people. To learn more about the history and the area please go to The Central Sierra Historical Society website or visit them inside Camp Edison and get a tour of some of our history.
Shaver Lake is a 135,000 acre foot reservoir that is part of a large hydro- electric chain of lakes, that is managed by Southern California Edison. The Lake has about 17 miles of shore line, 2,000 surface acres, and most portions of the lake shore can be accessed by either car or by a short walk. The function of Shaver Lake is to provide flood control for the valley, water for the Friant Kern Canal, hydro-electric power for California and recreation for boaters and campers. The majority of the water we get comes from Huntington Lake, which is higher in the Sierra’s. The water that enters the lake, generates power through the John S. Eastwood Powerhouse. For the most part very little water is dropped out of Shaver during the summer months because the Eastwood powerhouse is a pump-storage facility. During the night the water is pumped back up hill to Balsam Forebay. When water is dropped from Shaver, it reenters the flow of water heading for Millerton Lake and the Friant Kern Canal.
Shaver lake is a great spot for both skiing and wakeboarding. The far North opening of the lake right in front of the dam is the largest pooled area of the lake, and is the best spot for water sports. If you're looking for the perfect glass across the top of the lake, the best times are early in the morning around 6:30 am, and late evening around 7:00 pm.
A wide variety of species live in the lake, including small mouth bass, trout and kokanne. The lake is open year round for fishing, although in recent years the water level has dropped substantially in the winter months. This has prevented many fishermen from being able to launch their boats November through April. Once water refills the lake the fishing is hot since they've been untouched over the winter. A fishing license is required in California, and they are availible for purchase inside the store at Sierra Marina.
The Creek Fire was the 5th largest fire ever recorded in California, consuming 379,895 acres of land. Among these acres, over 800 homes, residential structures, and buildings were destroyed. This fire caused the largest pyrocumulonimbus cloud ever documented in the United States, spewing ash and smoke over hundreds of miles. The physical and emotional damage of the Creek Fire continues to take its toll on the residents of Shaver Lake and surrounding areas. To learn more about the California Creek Fire, Visit our page using the link above.
