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Millerton Lake is located 20 miles northeast of Fresno, in almost the exact center of California. The San Joaquin River flows out of the Sierra Nevada foothill and into the great central valley. Just at this point, Friant Dam was built across the river canyon in 1944.

A mile wide near the damsite, Milerton Lake is three miles wide at its widest point and stretches more than 16 miles back up into the river canyon. With 51 miles of shoreline, and activities ranging from fishing and boating, to hiking, camping, and horseback riding.

The hills that surround the lake tend to be steeper and higher toward the eastern end of the park, and are covered by grass or chaparral with occassional trees and wooded areas typical of the Upper Sonoran Life Zone. Digger Pines intermingle with valley, blue, and live oaks while western sycamore, black willow, and sandbar willow grow alongside the streams.

There are several developed campgrounds with a total of 137 family campsites, all of which have individual tables, stoves, and are near piped drinking water. There are two group camps available that can accommodate 40 and 75 people respectively. Boaters can also use the 25 campsites at Temperance Flat, an upstream campground that cannot be reached by car. Facilities include tables, wood stoves, and pit toilets. Fifteen boats can anchor and stay overnight in the North Finegold area. Boats must be fully contained.

The original Millerton County Courthouse, which today stands on Mariner's Point close beside Friant Dam, was constructed in the town of Millerton in 1867. It was dismantled in 1941 and saved from the rising waters of Millerton Lake. Millerton Courthouse looks today very much the way it did 100 years ago.