Vacation rentals in Dinkey Creek

Ninety minutes northeast of Fresno, in California’s southern Sierra Nevada range, Dinkey Creek is an unincorporated community located on a stream with the same name. The creek flows for nearly 30 miles through the Sierra National Forest and is said to have gotten its name from a dog who once fatally battled a grizzly bear. It goes without saying that nature looms large in this neck of the woods. Soaring sequoias, cascading waterfalls, lush Ponderosa pine, cedar forests, and scenic hiking trails are all on the menu here. Anglers have a field day fishing the creek’s rainbow-trout-filled waters.

The Dinkey Creek Recreation Area, which runs along Dinkey Creek, features the Dinkey Historical Bridge. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was one of the first wooden bridges in the country to use steel to give it the strength needed to handle heavy loads. Sprinkled throughout the dense forest landscape are plenty of scenic picnic areas for a bite break. Dinkey Creek is also blessed by its proximity to some of California’s biggest and best national parks, including Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, both roughly two hours away in opposite directions.

The warm spring and summer months provide pleasant weather for enjoying outdoor recreation in Dinkey Creek. The fishing season spans the end of April through mid-November, and you’ll need to possess a valid California state fishing license if you plan on catching some freshwater game. Many of the community’s hiking trails pass by waterfalls, which are best seen in the spring and summer after the winter snow melts. In the fall, Dinkey Creek’s lush flora and the Sierra National Forest are dazzling in vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges.

McKinley Grove

McKinley Grove, near Shaver Lake, is a natural gem featuring a short loop trail that leads to an isolated patch of around 20 centuries-old soaring Sequoias. Nearby, you’ll find a picnic area where you can enjoy lunch or a snack near the magnificent grove of trees. You may even spot the deer, chipmunks, and squirrels that roam through the area.

Rancheria Falls Trail

Rancheria Falls Trail is a four-mile round-trip hike 20 miles past Shaver Lake. The trail leads to Rancheria Falls — a 150-foot waterfall gushing over granite cliffs. The falls are an especially spectacular sight in the spring and summer months after melted winter snow feeds the waters. Much of the well-maintained trail is lined by towering red and white fir trees. And at certain points, the serene waters of Lake Vernon are visible through the thickets.

Dinkey Creek Bridge

The historic 1936 Dinkey Creek Bridge stretches above its namesake creek. Its whimsical design, which features a bowstring arch made of redwood, complements the surrounding natural landscape, especially the towering pine trees in the background.