Hume Lake is a scenic reservoir in the Sierra Nevada within Sequoia National Forest in Fresno County, central California. Nestled on Ninemile Creek, a tributary of the Kings River, it lies adjacent to the unincorporated community of Hume. The lake’s surface elevation is 1,586.34 meters (5,204.5 feet), and it is accessible from California Route 180 via Forest Service Road 30, approximately 51 miles east of Fresno and near the west entrance to Kings Canyon National Park.
The 87-acre lake, constructed in 1908 by the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company, lies behind the world’s first concrete-reinforced multiple-arch dam, designed by John S. Eastwood. Initially created for industrial use, the lake stored logs for an adjacent mill and supplied water for a flume that transported lumber to Sanger, California. Since logging operations ceased in 1924, Hume Lake has become a popular recreational area.
The dam, constructed by the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company, was a significant engineering feat featuring a unique multiple-arch design. Construction of the dam and adjacent mill was completed in 1909. The dam stood 61 feet high and extended 667 feet in length. It consists of twelve 50-foot-wide arches supported by intervening buttresses. The dam created a reservoir to store and transport logs for milling and lumber transportation.
Logging operations continued until a fire 1917 destroyed the mill, and logging ceased entirely by 1924. In 1935, the United States Forest Service purchased the area and incorporated it into the Sequoia National Forest. The lake was drained for safety inspections in the 1950s and resurfaced to ensure its continued use.
Hume Lake now offers a variety of recreational activities, attracting visitors year-round:
Camping: The United States Forest Service operates a campground with 74 sites among four sections located at varying distances from the lake shore.
Hume Lake Christian Camps: Founded in 1946, this camp has grown to accommodate over a million attendees for worship, religious studies, and recreation. The camp offers swimming, disc golf, boating, hiking, biking, paintball, high ropes courses, climbing walls, and various recreational games. Facilities include a dining hall, snack shops, a coffee shop, a pizza restaurant, lodges, and more.
Private Rentals: Cabins are available for private rental, with some cabins owned by full-time and part-time residents.
Boating: Non-motorized boating is popular on the lake.
Fishing: Hume Lake is known for its trout fishing.
Hiking: Numerous trails provide scenic hiking opportunities.
Swimming and Beach Activities: The lake features a beach area for swimming and related activities.
Hume Lake also holds historical significance in popular culture, serving as the filming location for The Sawmill in 1922.