State Parks and National Parks

Squaw Leap Management Area

Auberry, CA U.S.A.

40060 Smalley Road
Auberry, CA 93602
U.S.A.

661-391-6000

Open Year-Round

No Entry Fee Charged

State Park Information

This 10-mile national recreation trail, with a six-mile loop along the San Joaquin River, skirts chaparral country. Venerable oaks line the way and spring brings wonderful wildflower displays.

This is an easy and enjoyable trek for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders seeking a day outing. Fishing is allowed along the river.

An unusual horse bridge adds to the fun and photo opportunities along the way. The trail opens onto thousands of acres of public land. The best time to visit is during the fall, winter and spring. The summers tend to be very hot and dry.

The site is located approximately five miles northwest of the town of Auberry, California in the scenic San Joaquin River Gorge.

This scenic area straddles the San Joaquin River just upstream from Millerton Lake State Park and includes lands in both Fresno and Madera Counties. Hikers and horseback riders who use the Squaw Leap Trail enjoy access to several thousand acres of public land.

In Madera County, there are two trails to travel. The Six-Mile Loop Trail weaves through chaparral uplands where mountain lilac, manzanita, mountain mahogany and many other shrubs and annual wildflowers thrive.

The River Trail starts off of the west side of the Loop Trail. About four miles long, it connects with Millerton Lake State Recreation Area on the Madera County side of the reservoir. The BLM trail follows along the river and leads the traveler through oak woodlands with their mixture of foothill pines.

On the Fresno County side of the area is a portion of the San Joaquin River Trail which leads south and west.

There is a wide range of wildlife present throughout the Squaw Leap area, including the California mule deer, quail, band-tailed pigeons, waterfowl, Audubon cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel and mourning dove.

In the spring and early summer, when Millerton Lake is nearly full, anglers can catch catfish and stripped bass from the shoreline. But note that there is no vehicle access to the upper end of Millerton Reservoir in this area. You have to hike in on somewhat primitive trails which are steep and slippery in places.

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