Dale Matson
Click On Photographs To Enlarge
The Portion Of the Trail We Traveled Today
The Blue Oak Trail begins about a quarter mile past the
entrance booths to Millerton Lake State Park off Friant Road on the Fresno County
side of the lake. The first two miles of the trail run parallel to the road as
the road travels north. There is a small parking area and potty at the
trailhead. It is a popular trail for horseback riders, mountain bikers, runners
and hikers and consists of gentle ‘rollers’ for the most part. This time of
year there are no mosquitos but beware of Poison Oak in some places alongside
the trail and rattle snakes. If you begin at the trailhead and go all the way
to Winchell Cove, the total distance is about 8 miles round trip (out and back).
We chose to begin at the end of the road where there is also
parking and potties. There is no potable water at the trailhead or where the
road ends and trail continues. Our hike took us about 3 miles round trip. We
had a very casual pace while looking for wildlife and taking photographs.
I recommend an early start since the sun quickly warms the
exposed trail that runs along the rim of the lake. There are also fewer
travelers early. At some places the trail is at the very edge of the drop-off.
There is one place as you are approaching Winchell Cove where the trail
requires a bit of scrambling and all but the best mountain bikes dismount and
walk their bikes through this area. There is a nice big rock just past Winchell
Point that provides a nice resting place. Also, if you have binoculars or a spotting
scope, you can see the Bald Eagle sitting in a tree across the cove to the east
by the white rectangular home (north side of house) at the tip of the
peninsula. There is a nest nearby.
I would have to say that every time I’ve traveled this route
I have seen at least a Red Tailed Hawk. You may also see an eagle perched on
one of the trees overlooking the lake or have one fly overhead as we did this
morning. I have seen some folks pass unaware underneath eagles on the trail, as
the eagles remain perched above them. I have never seen deer but I have seen
their tracks. I assume they go down to the lake for a drink from the woods
above. There are also possible sightings of coyotes, bobcats and a rare
sighting of a mountain lion. There is also an occasional home above and the
area above the trail is all private land.
Today I used a Sony RX1R 35mm camera with a fixed f2 lens
and my Sony A7R2 camera with an adapted telephoto Canon 400mm f4 D.O. lens. My
wife took photos of wildflowers. If you are fortunate, you may get close enough
for cell phone eagle photographs. My wildlife photographs were taken with the
Canon lens. The photograph of the historic Millerton Courthouse from the trail
is also a telephoto shot. You can also see snow covered mountains to the northeast
but that view was hazy because of the stale air today. If the lake level looks low, it is because it has been lowered intentionally in anticipation of a large snow melt this year. It is currently only about 50% of capacity.
Millerton Courthouse From Trail (Telephoto)
Kayakers
Crow In Nest Hidden By Leaves
Tree Trunk With Hole
Winchell Cove Marina
Poison Oak Along Trail
Bald Eagle Across Cove
Young Bald Eagle In Flight
Large Flock Of Seagulls Near Dam (Telephoto From Trail)
Hawk
Hawk In Flight
Close By Red Tailed Hawk
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