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Dinkey Creek/Swamp Lake Rating Trail Photos  Return to Trail List   
Fresno, CA Trail End: N 37?07.703', W 119?04.294'
Nearby Trails: Coming Soon.


Access: The trail is part of the OHV route system located the the Sierra National Forest in Central Calif. approximatly 55 miles east of Fresno in the Sierra Nevada Mtn Range. You can access the area via State Route 168 . The area has several large multipurpose lakes such as Shaver, Huntington and Edison. The Trail is accessed from the Dinkey Creek road which is just before entering the town of Shaver Lake. Gas, Food, Hotels and campgrounds are scattered throughout the area. The gas can get a little steep. This trip we found Reg. unleaded at $1.99 in Shaver Lake and the store at the Dinkey Creek camprground does have gas which is alittle higher. The Dinkey Creek Ranger station is approximatley 13 miles in from Hwy 168 and is a good place to start your excursion. There are maps and bathrooms and water at the station. Just up the road is the campground store with very nice public showers at $1.00 for 4 minutes to wash the trail dust off. You get to the start of the Trail by turning onto Rock Creek Road from Dinkey Creek Road just North of the ranger station approx 1.5 miles. The roads are numbered. You are on 9S09 for approx 4.0 miles where you will go right on 9S10. follow 9S10 for approx 2 miles to a T road intersection. Here you will turn right thru a gate onto route 9S62. up to this point you have been on pavement and graded road. You'll start up the route and it will progresively become more difficult. You are on the Swamp Lake Route after entering the gate.




Trail: This is a typical Eastern Sierra Mountain Range trail. It is granite rock of various sizes with various degrees of difficulty. I would rate the trail to the ridge between Swamp Lake and Grouse Lake a 7. Both of these lakes have primitive camping areas and can accomodate a fairly large group of up to 15 vehicles comfortably. The lakes have rainbow trout and fishing is pretty good. Swimming in the lakes can be refreshing. You can find wood along the route if you have a way to haul it. A fire permit is required and can be acquired at the ranger station before starting out. The trail continues past Grouse Lake down. This section past the lakes is more open with granite slab type 4 wheeling with large steps and more rocks. This section has a few more difficult sections that would rate an 8+. The views are very nice and wheeling can get alittle more exciting. You'll reach the end of the trail thru another gate.The gates are closed during winter months. You'll be on graded road 10S31. You have a few turns to get back down to the ranger station, but the best rule of thumb here is to make all right hand turns going down. 10S31 to 10S66 to10S13(Big Fir Road) to Mckinley Grove Road. If you make all right turns this will bring you back to Dinkey Creek Road just 1/4 mile south of the Ranger station. The Forest Service also has an OHV map of the area routes and is free for the asking. The standard Sierra Forrest map is $6.95 but has alot more on it of the entire area.
Enjoy but don't destroy or trash it.

Thanks to Mil Thornton (GRNT) for the great review, directions and photos!
GRNT's Photo Album


G.P.S. Coordinate List:
No Extended G.P.S. data for this trail is available.