Bass Lake Webcam – Marina Views 14 Miles From Yosemite

The Bass Lake Webcam looks out over a marina on Bass Lake, a mountain reservoir in California’s Sierra National Forest about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of Yosemite National Park. Rows of floating docks fill the foreground, with pontoon boats and personal watercraft tied up in their slips, a small fuel dock building in the middle and a launch ramp on the right. Beyond them the lake opens up to a steep, forested ridge on the far shore, its pines running right down to a band of pale sand along the waterline. The camera stamps the date and time in the top-left corner, which makes it easy to judge how current the view is. In winter, snow can dust the far shore while the slips stand empty.

About Bass Lake

Bass Lake is not a natural lake. It is a reservoir held back by the Crane Valley Dam, completed in 1910, a hydraulic-fill dam 44 meters (145 feet) high with a crest about 580 meters (1,900 feet) long. The dam is owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and forms part of the Crane Valley Hydroelectric Project, which can generate 28.7 megawatts.

When full, the lake stretches about 6.7 kilometers (4.2 miles) and covers 472 hectares (1,170 acres) at an elevation of 1,027 meters (3,369 feet), with a maximum depth of 30 meters (98 feet). The small communities of Bass Lake and Wishon sit along its shoreline in Madera County. Water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking and swimming fill the summer months, and the fishing covers rainbow trout, which the state stocks regularly, along with kokanee salmon and bass.

Weather and Climate at Bass Lake

Summers are hot and almost completely dry. July afternoons average about 33 C (91 F) and August about 32 C (89 F), with nights near 17 C (63 F), and July sees only a couple of millimeters of rain in a typical year. June and September are only a little cooler, with highs around 28 C (82 to 83 F).

About four fifths of the year’s precipitation comes between November and March, with 140 to 180 millimeters (5.5 to 7.1 inches) in each of the wettest months. January highs average about 11 C (52 F) with nights close to freezing, and at this elevation winter storms can leave snow along the shore, as the Bass Lake Webcam shows in its colder months. April and October are the mild shoulder months, with highs of about 17 C (63 F) and 22 C (72 F).

Things to Do Near Bass Lake

The Way of the Mono Trail is a short 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) loop close to the lake. For a bigger day, the Goat Mountain Trail climbs 497 meters (1,630 feet) to the Goat Mountain Fire Lookout, a round trip of 15.9 kilometers (9.9 miles); the lookout can also be reached on the Spring Cove Trail. Dozens of other trails lead into the surrounding Sierra National Forest for hiking and mountain biking.

On the water, boat and gear rentals cover pontoons, kayaks and pedal boats, and the lake draws water skiers and wakeboarders all summer. Yosemite National Park is close enough for a day trip, including the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More mountain lake and Sierra Nevada cameras in California:

• South Lake Tahoe Webcam
• Graeagle Webcam
• Bear Valley Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Bass Lake Webcam?

The camera looks over a marina: floating docks with pontoon boats and personal watercraft, a fuel dock and a launch ramp, then open water to the forested ridge on the far shore.

Where is Bass Lake, California?

Bass Lake is in Madera County, inside the Sierra National Forest, about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of Yosemite National Park.

How far is Bass Lake from Yosemite?

About 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of the national park, which makes the lake a popular base for day trips into Yosemite.

Is Bass Lake a natural lake?

No. It is a reservoir formed by the Crane Valley Dam, completed in 1910 and now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

How deep is Bass Lake?

Its maximum depth is 30 meters (98 feet). The lake is about 6.7 kilometers (4.2 miles) long and covers 472 hectares (1,170 acres) when full.

What fish are in Bass Lake?

Rainbow trout, which California stocks regularly, kokanee salmon and bass are the main catches.

Does the Bass Lake Webcam show snow in winter?

Sometimes. After winter storms, snow can settle on the forested far shore and along the docks, and the camera’s winter images show the marina white and empty with the slips cleared of boats.

What is the weather like at Bass Lake?

Hot and dry in summer, with July highs around 33 C (91 F). Winters are cool and wet, with January highs near 11 C (52 F), and most of the year’s rain and snow arrives between November and March.

Source: Bass Lake CA