Hike Hard or Go Home

A short drive from Fresno and Clovis, you can experience three of California’s beautiful national parks—Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. Explore Mount Watkins (6.2 mi.) in Yosemite, which offers a different perspective of the legendary Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Cloud’s Rest. In Sequoia National Park, Eagle View Trail (1.5 mi.) is a short but scenic hike that offers a colorful view of the whole valley and a glimpse of Moro Rock. Escape the crowds of Yosemite and discover Kings Canyon National Park. Deeper than the Grand Canyon, Kings Canyon is 8,200 feet at its deepest points, rewarding hikers with incredible views. Right off the General’s Highway, get a glimpse of the park’s high country from Buena Vista viewpoint (2 mi.) and see why it is the United States’ biggest hidden gem. 

Closer to Fresno and Clovis, you can also witness spectacular views along local hiking trails. Wander the Pincushion Mountain Trail (2.8 mi), a favorite among locals; it overlooks Millerton Lake and ends with a steep climb up Pincushion Peak to view the foothills and Fresno. Fresno and Clovis have many walking trails for walkers and bicyclists to see parts of the cities. 

Farm Fresh Isn’t a Season, It’s a Way of Life

As one of the top-producing agricultural counties in the United States, spring brings delicious fruits and colorful flowers out for the season. From cherries to peaches, plums to apricots, visitors not only taste a variety of fresh fruits on the Fresno County Fruit Trail but also meet the farmers who grow, pick, and package them. Stop for spicy handmade salsas and apricots at Sweet Girl Farms. Get fresh fruits and vegetables at Simonian Farms, and enjoy wine tasting or old-fashioned soda inside their Old Town Saloon.

Dine inside an old schoolhouse built over 100 years ago. At Schoolhouse Restaurant & Tavern, taste classic American dishes featuring produce from local farms. The Wildflower Trail blooms from late March through mid-April and showcases colorful waves of blue, purple, and yellow wildflowers on the foothills outside Fresno and Clovis. The driving trail runs for 62 miles and takes about two hours. Travelers can stop at safe turnouts for photos. 

Fresno County
Spring in the City

Say goodbye to winter and hello to the California sun but with a better view. In the spring, Fresno’s Forestiere Underground Garden reopens for the season. Wander through the tunnels hand-carved in the early 1900s by Italian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere. Visit the world-class Fresno Chaffee Zoo to see more than 200 species within their interactive exhibits. Help train sea otters, meet an elephant, or feed a giraffe in one of their behind-the-scenes experiences. Enjoy the warmer weather with a glass of wine in California’s undiscovered wine country. Fresno County produces 20% of the state’s total wine grapes.

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Wine tastings are intimate, where visitors can meet the families operating the vineyards, and are a fraction of the price of other wine destinations. Beer lovers will also find great hops in Fresno’s Brewery District or along the Clovis Taps Trail. 

Getting There

Fly into the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, the only international airport in California’s Central Valley. The airport has non-stop flights to 14 major cities, including Dallas, Denver, and Salt Lake City. A new direct connection from Fresno to Atlanta via Delta Airlines will open in June 2024. California road trippers can hop on State Route 99 or Interstate 5 to enter the city. Fresno is three hours from San Francisco and Sacramento and four hours from Los Angeles.