Rambler Hikes 2025 Page 1

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Kaweah Oaks Preserve          Blue Oak Trail

Kaweah Oaks Preserve
(Photos by Dave, Don and Susan)

When our member from Visalia, Allen Ward, hikes with us, he has to drive about 45 miles just to reach our home starting point. So once every year or two we take pity on him and hike in one of the public tracts east of his city. Arriving in several cars from various starting points, an even dozen Ramblers met at the parking lot for the Kaweah Oaks Preserve on January 30. The group included two new hikers, Bruce Nieman, who I know through the computer club we both belong to, and Beth Sohm, wife of one of our regulars, Keith. Laurie, Susan S, and Dave had not hiked with us since May. Others included Wes, Allen, Don B., Bruce & Susan V., and yours truly, Dick, he who foists these reports on an unsuspecting world.

The preserve is an area of land much like large parts of the great Central Valley were before the arrival of European and American settlers - a land of rivers, swamps, and endless groves of huge valley oaks. It's just off State Highway 198, about eight miles east of Visalia. We had hiked here once before, in April, 2021.

The weather was nice - cool but not cold, and the scenery was as expected, winding trails through tall green grass, thick bushes, big oaks and other trees. The various waterways through the properly were dry, not surprising in a year when we have had well below normal rainfall. There were just a few other hikers, mostly couples or very small groups. Of course, our dozen were scattered along the trail and all together only at the beginning and end of our walk. Adding to the dispersion is the fact that the area is criss-crossed by a half-dozen trails that divide and rejoin at different locations, allowing a variety of walking options.

After we finished our hike we drove into downtown Visalia to have lunch at the Black Bear Diner, a favorite with many of our group. There is one in Fresno, but it's not in a convenient location for most of us, so we were glad to be able to take advantage of this one, just a quarter mile off our route back home. 

The new people (Beth and Bruce N) both plan to hike with us again, and while I was preparing this report, Sue Wirt told me of a friend of hers who wants to join us. Can a group of 20 be next? Stay tuned!

--Dick Estel, February 2025

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Once again we chose a winter hike location that was familiar to the Ramblers Hiking Group, the Blue Oak Trail at Millerton Lake, northeast of Fresno on the San Joaquin River. However, it was the first visit for about half the group of 16 that gathered under mostly sunny skies on February 18. These were Keith and Beth Sohm, Ana Lindsay, Dick Estel, Jackie Taggart, Ardyss Webster, Allen Ward, Wes Thiessen, Don Bandoni, Bruce Nieman, Bruce & Susan Vasquez, Susan Silveira, Laurie Fitzgerald, and Dave and Megan Smith (father-daughter). Ana was new to the group; her son is married to Keith & Beth's daughter.

This location is a state park, with a drive of a mile or so from Millerton Road on a narrow winding road to the trailhead. The state park entry fee is $10 or $9 for seniors. HOWEVER: You can go to any Fresno County Library branch and check out a placard that allows free entry, which several of us did. The placards must be returned within three weeks, just like a book.

The trail itself runs along the lake, not far above the high water mark. The terrain is essentially blue oak savannah, with open grassy areas dotted with oaks and a few shrubs. The grass was thick and green, and we saw a number of wildflowers. Fiddlenecks and popcorn flowers were dominant, with a few shooting stars, filaree, lupines, and blue dicks.

The lake is constantly in sight, and in many places there are nice views of the distant snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains.

As would be expected with such a large group, we separated into different clusters, and some hiked farther than others. I arrived late with six fellow hikers, and the others had already started their hike, thinking about going all the way to Winchell Cove, another trailhead with a marina where you can park and begin the hike heading "downstream." About ten members of the group went to within 200 yards of the marina, a round trip of about four miles.

I was hiking with Jackie, Ardyss and Allen. Allen went on farther while the the other three of us started back when we reached "half of far enough," which gave us a total mileage of 1.56. Just a hundred yards or so from the start of the trail are some benches that overlook the lake. We sat there for a while as various members of our group reappeared. We saw Wes, Bruce and Susan walking right at the edge of the water (the lake was at 55% of capacity).

We soon all came together, and proceeded to the nearby Table Mountain Casino, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Blue Oak Grill. As far as I know, we all resisted the lure of the slot machines and gaming tables, and returned home with just a small hit to our wallets for the lunch, and richer in experience and enjoyment from out pre-spring outing.

--Dick Estel, February 2025

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