That Cool Travel Couple

There is nothing we like more than camping with friends. Pine Flat Lake is the home of one of our most favorite camping trips, partly due to great company but also because of the spectacular views this place affords.

Location and Logistics

Pine Flat Lake is about halfway between Fresno and Kings Canyon National Park. Find the link to Google Maps here.

We stayed at Island Park Campground which we easily booked on recreation.gov (link here). Our specific campsite was #33 on the Upper Loops and we really enjoyed it. There was plenty of space to spread out and we had amazing views of the lake, especially at sunset. It wasn’t too far of a walk to the restrooms or down to the lakeshore either.

If you forget any supplies, there is an “I Forgot Store” really close to the campground with basic supplies including gas and ice.

Things to Do

We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of things to do around Pine Flat Lake. First of all, you can drive down to the docks at Pine Flat Lake Marina and rent a boat to spend a nice day on the lake. You can bring your own food, drinks, music etc. on the boat, but I’d be sure to rent one with some shade and chairs to make sure you’re comfortable as it can be a long day!

Pine Flat Lake is also really close to Edison Point Wildlife Area and do a one mile each way hike with stunning views of the lake and lots of beautiful wildflowers. There are also a few parks to easily access the King’s river which are really convenient to hang out, grill and catch up.

Regarding extra-curricular activities nearby, we explored Cedar View Winery. This is a low-key, relaxed winery. We just visited for a few hours, but you can actually stay here as well. The owners were really nice and even allowed us to sample some of the grapes on the vine. They also have cute little charcuterie boxes that pair great with their wines, which are very affordable.

Special Considerations

We visited in September, and it was HOT. I’m talking too hot to have a fire at night (though we still did have one – nothing better than cooking food and chatting around a lovely campfire). We didn’t need our heavy duty sleeping bags, and slept with the tent cover off so we could see the stars. We didn’t feel that there were too many bugs.

Camping beginner? Seasoned camper looking to expand your portfolio? Check out our favorite Amazon finds for camping here!