Hume Lake
Near Hume Station, California · on Hume Lake · Sequoia National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $8/night
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Hume Lake
Hume Lake is an 87-acre reservoir in the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest, California, formed by a historic 1908-09 concrete multiple-arch dam on Tenmile Creek. It is a popular, officially designated swimming hole and non-motorized boating destination, a forest-ringed lake to swim in among incense cedar and ponderosa pine at about 5,250 feet elevation.
The lake sits at roughly 5,250 feet in the northern Sierra Nevada within Sequoia National Forest, ringed by incense cedar and ponderosa pine forest. It is an artificial reservoir created by damming Tenmile Creek, originally built to support an early-1900s logging operation; today the shoreline holds a campground, day-use areas, fishing piers, and the Hume Lake Christian Camps conference center.
Swimming at Hume Lake
Recreation.gov (the official USFS booking/info page) states swimming is available in the lake during the warmer months, with foot trails leading from the campground and day-use areas down to the lakeshore for water access. Only non-motorized craft (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, small sailboats) are permitted on the water, which keeps the swimming areas free of motorboat traffic. No first-hand trip-report detail on water clarity, depth, or temperature was found in this research pass.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Fresno, take Highway 180 east past Grant Grove approximately 12.25 miles, turn right onto Hume Road and continue about 3 miles to a Y intersection, then bear left about 0.5 mile to the lake entrance.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- A few minutes' walk from adjacent parking/campground areas to the shoreline (based on 'foot trails lead to the lakeshore' language; exact minutes not stated).
Recreation.gov states that short foot trails lead directly from the campground and day-use areas to the lakeshore -- this is a drive-up/short-walk swimming spot, not a backcountry hike destination. No named hiking trail to the water was identified in this pass.
Plan your visit
Parking
Paid
Developed day-use areas (Hume Lake Day Use Area, Sandy Cove Day Use Area) and a campground exist at the lakeshore, implying designated parking, but Recreation.gov does not specify lot type (paved lot vs. roadside pullout). A National Forest day-use/park entrance fee applies per the official listing, but the exact dollar amount was not published in any source found this pass.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided at the Hume Lake campground/day-use facilities, per the official Recreation.gov listing; exact restroom locations relative to the swim area (e.g., at Sandy Cove Day Use Area specifically) were not specified.
On the water
Restrictions: Only non-motorized watercraft are permitted on Hume Lake -- no motorboats or jet skis, per the official Recreation.gov campground listing.
No no-wake or electric-only exceptions were mentioned; the rule found is a blanket non-motorized-only policy.
Backstory
The lake was created in 1908-1909 when the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company built a dam across Tenmile Creek to support logging operations. Engineer John S. Eastwood designed it as the world's first concrete reinforced multiple-arch dam (61 feet tall, twelve 50-foot arches), completed in just 114 days for about $46,000. A 73-mile flume once carried cut lumber from the mill to Sanger, CA, and doubled as a tourist attraction where visitors rode in specially built boats. Logging ended in 1924, and the U.S. Forest Service acquired the property in 1935.
Hume Lake: FAQ
Does Hume Lake charge a fee?
Recreation.gov lists camping fees (single- and double-family sites, with an $8/night charge for additional vehicles beyond the 2 (single)/4 (double) vehicle limit) and notes a separate National Forest day-use/park entrance fee applies; the exact day-use swim/beach fee amount was not found.
Do I need to hike to reach Hume Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Hume Lake?
Developed day-use areas (Hume Lake Day Use Area, Sandy Cove Day Use Area) and a campground exist at the lakeshore, implying designated parking, but Recreation.gov does not specify lot type (paved lot vs. roadside pullout). A National Forest day-use/park entrance fee applies per the official listing, but the exact dollar amount was not published in any source found this pass.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Hume Lake?
No no-wake or electric-only exceptions were mentioned; the rule found is a blanket non-motorized-only policy.
When is the best time to visit Hume Lake?
Summer (warmer months), per the official recreation.gov listing; winter shifts the area toward snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling rather than swimming.
What are the rules at Hume Lake?
Only non-motorized boats are allowed on Hume Lake. Campsites are capped at 2 vehicles (single) or 4 vehicles (double). Firewood transport restrictions apply, and firewood is sold on-site ($10/bundle at the campground host site).
What water body is Hume Lake on?
Hume Lake is on Hume Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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