Millerton Lake: Pincushion Mountain Day Hike From Finegold Day Use Area

Dale Matson

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Hike Route From Suunto Ambit 2 Upload To Movescount

This is about a 2.7 mile round trip out and back trail with about 1,112’ of elevation gain outbound. Pincushion Mountain is 1,582’ in elevation with the trailhead elevation around 580’. The trailhead is at the end of Sky Harbor Road off Friant Road next to the Table Mountain Casino. The trail is initially the same trail as the San Joaquin River Trail but departs toward Pincushion Mountain at about 950’ of elevation. The climb is steep at times.

 We were out over 4 hours traveling at a slow pace with frequent stops for photographs and “sit downs” on boulders. This is a good time of year for this hike while things are still green, cool and relatively bug free. I have one cautionary note. There is poison oak along the trail. Watch where you put your hands in the few places you need to scramble! Also watch out for mountain bikers who also use this trail.

As you climb Millerton Lake looks less like a lake and more like a river, which it is, the San Joaquin River. There several bends and twists up stream as the river trends northeast. Boats can be seen traveling below. When the water is higher (Millerton is intentionally being lowered to make room for snow melt runoff), boats can travel beyond the wider Temperance Flat area.

When you reach the top, there is a 360-degree view with the main body of Millerton Lake to the southwest. Finegold Creek can be seen entering from the north. My photographs were taken with the Sony A7R2, Batis 18mm, adapted Leica 28mm and adapted Canon 400mm lenses. I was hoping for Eagle Photographs. That lens is heavy!

 Buzzards Warming Themselves In The Morning Sun

 Sharon Standing By Trailhead Sign

 Now You Know What Poison Oak Looks Like

 Telephoto Shot Of Table Area Accessible From Sky Harbor Road 

 Finegold Creek

 Sharon Preparing For The Final Climb

 Millerton Lake

 Telephoto Shot Of Mountains

 Telephoto Of Dam

 San Joaquin River Trail

 Telephoto Of Black Mountain Above Prather

 Vernal Pool On Distant Table Top

Telephoto Of Historic Millerton Courthouse