Looking for some lake time during your visit to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks?
Head to Hume Lake!
Read my travel tips below to plan your visit, then follow me as we circumnavigate Hume Lake,
checking out where to camp, swim, paddle, hike, and grab a lakeside burger for lunch.
ABOUT HUME LAKE
Hume Lake was created in 1908 when Tenmile Creek was dammed to create a holding pond for logs. At the time, this area was home to the world’s largest sequoia logging operation. Sequoias are notoriously difficult to log, however, so by the 1930s the logging camps around Hume Lake were dying. The Civilian Conservation Corps stepped in to clean up the site, and today Hume Lake is surrounded by the Sequoia National Forest.
It’s also the site of a popular Christian camp, Hume Christian Camps, which was founded in the 1940s. Today Hume Lake Christian Camps hosts thousands of young campers, primarily in summer, although winter camps are also offered. It’s a beehive of activity on the lake each summer, with a gas station, small general store, fast food, and boat rentals that are all open to the general public. This gives the lake a decidedly different vibe from the surrounding national parks and forest land. Don’t come to Hume Lake looking for a secluded wilderness experience! But if you want a fun lakeside spot to camp and relax within easy proximity of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, this could be just the place.
Hume Lake is small, but that’s part of the charm. It’s also one of the few lakes in this part of the Sierras that can be reached by road; most others are only accessible on a backcountry hike. It’s a place to sit back, relax, and simply enjoy the outdoors — and be happy that so many others get to enjoy it, too!
Special Note: To reach Hume Lake, you must drive through the entrance station for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Even though the campground is on national forest land, the only way to reach it by road is through the parks. This requires an America the Beautiful pass or other national parks pass, or paying the $35 entrance fee, which is valid for up to seven days. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free or reduced cost pass. You can also purchase an annual pass at the park entrance station.
WHEN TO GO
Hume Lake is ideal in the summer when the weather is warm (or hot) and swimming and kayaking are at their best. Of course, this is also the most crowded time of year. Regardless, the vibe is fun, almost like being at summer camp — even if you aren’t attending the camp yourself! Expect Sandy Cove to be packed on a sunny day, and know that you may hear the sounds of evening activities at Hume Lake Christian Camps drift across the lake.
To avoid the biggest crowds, visit in late spring or early fall. Hume Lake is accessible year round, but the campground is only open from roughly mid-May through mid-September. Winter is a quieter time to visit, although Hume Lake Christian Camps offers a few winter programs. Keep in mind that the rough dirt road to the lake can close when there is heavy snowfall. The Hume Lake Store and gas station are typically open year round.
HOW TO GET THERE
To reach Hume Lake from the Big Stump Entrance into Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, drive north on Highway 180 (the Generals Highway) past Grant Grove Village. Just past Princess Campground, veer right off the highway onto Hume Lake Road. From here, it’s a dusty, circuitous 3-mile drive to the entrance to Hume Lake Campground. Drive another 1.5 miles to reach Hume Lake Christian Camps, or 3 miles to Sandy Cove.
From Sandy Cove, Ten Mile Road heads south and connects with the Generals Highway near the Buena Vista Peak trailhead. This is the most direct route to Hume Lake if you’re coming from Sequoia National Park rather than Kings Canyon, but be prepared for a long and winding drive.
WHERE TO STAY
For the general public, the main place to stay at Hume Lake is Hume Lake Campground. We spent four nights here, and I have a full review of our experience online.
Beyond the campground, there is of course Hume Lake Christian Camps, which hosts hundreds of people at a time during the summer. It’s a busy, busy place, but gives Hume Lake its unique character.
There are also many private cabins located on Sequoia National Forest land near Hume Lake. Some owners offer their cabins for rent, but from what I can tell, there is no centralized rental agency for these properties. You can find information about individual cabins for rent through an online search. Hume Lake Christian Camps also offers guest accommodations for groups.
FOOD & DRINK
You may be deep in Sequoia National Forest, but thanks to Hume Lake Christian Camps, you can still order a burger and fries! The food is a bit pricey, as one would expect in such a remote location, but the quality is good. Frankly, it’s more reasonably priced than many national park restaurants. While I recommend packing in your own groceries (the general store is expensive with a limited selection), it’s fun to get a treat here and enjoy the gorgeous lake views while you eat.
Below is a list of the food options at Hume Lake Christian Camps that were open to the public in the summer of 2021. There isn’t much information about these places online (probably because they exist primarily to serve the campers). We made a quick trip to the area after setting up our campsite at nearby Hume Lake Campground to check out the food options and opening hours.
- Hume Lake Snack Shop is a hopping place frequented by just about everyone who makes their way to the lake (or so it seems). Service is reasonably fast considering how busy it gets. The Snack Shop serves the usual burgers and fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream, and more. Some of the burgers are massive, definitely a step above McDonald’s. We were very satisfied with our food, and the milkshakes, made from real ice cream, are especially delicious. There is ample outdoor seating, and the view of the lake is superb. One word of warning if you have kids: don’t buy a juice box! One of my kids requested one, and I ended up paying $2 for a tiny little thing that only served to increase his thirst!
- Pizza & Pizookie may sound bizarre, but it’s a winning combination: pizza and giant, freshly baked cookies topped with ice ream. Yum! We didn’t try the pizza, but we give the pizookie a hearty thumbs up! Order your food from a takeout window next to a beautiful patio with picnic tables. While I’m sure the pizza’s not made from scratch, the pies we saw sure looked and smelled appealing.
- Hume & Beans, another takeout window operation near Pizza & Pizookie, is the place to get your coffee shop fix. Cute name, right? It serves all the usual coffee drinks, plus smoothies and a small selection of pastries. My boys weren’t thrilled with the smoothies (they are smoothie snobs who prefer those made from whole fruit), but the coffee is good. The mini cinnamon rolls, which are graciously warmed to order, were a tasty treat as well. This place is hugely popular in the morning, so expect a long line.
- Hume Lake General Store is a small shop that seems to focus primarily on candy — probably not a surprise considering 90% of the customers are teenage campers! That may be a slight exaggeration, but you get the picture. Fortunately, the store has a small selection of camping-friendly foods, enabling me to restock bread, bananas, and ice during our stay. They even have block ice — score!
SWIM & PADDLE
Hume Lake’s small size and generally calm waters (not to mention lack of motorboats) make it an ideal spot for novice paddlers and swimmers. Of course, safety always comes first when on the water. Keep a close watch on young children, and don’t forget your lifejackets.
To check out some of the many places you can swim or paddle, please see the “Exploring Hume Lake” section below. But before you do, here are some general tips for your visit:
The water at Hume Lake is pleasantly cool, making it an easy place to hang out and float or go for a leisurely swim. While the water isn’t as pristine and clear as the Kings River, it’s reasonably clean. There’s some muck and weeds at the water’s edge, but nothing too bothersome. Further from shore the water is clearer and cleaner.
Motorized boats are not allowed on Hume Lake. This is a big part of what makes it so fun for paddlers and swimmers — no wake, no noisy motors, just the sounds of kids laughing with sheer delight! Its small size also means that even novice paddlers can comfortably explore the entire lake if they like.
Boat docks are located at Hume Lake Christian Camps, where kayaks and paddle boards are available for rent. Since the dock is on camp property, I’m not sure if they allow visitors to launch their own personal boats here. Elsewhere along the lake, prepare to carry your boat to the water’s edge and launch directly from the shore.
HIKE
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks offer a wealth of hiking opportunities, so if you’re camping at Hume Lake, there’s no shortage of trails nearby. Be sure to check out my personal recommendations below. At the lake itself, there’s really just one trail: the Hume Lake Trail. I talk about this trail in more detail below, but here are a few key things to note:
- The Hume Lake Trail is 2.8 miles total and mostly flat, with a few very small hills. Most notably, there are a couple of short switchbacks behind the dam.
- The trail surface varies, including dirt, pavement, and a boardwalk. It follows the road through Hume Lake Christian Camps. This makes it convenient if you want to get around the lake on foot, but it also means it doesn’t always feel like a true “hike”.
NEARBY & NOTABLE
Hume Lake is beautifully situated between the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park and Kings Canyon itself. It’s a great home base from which to explore both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. There are so many amazing places to visit in these parks! Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:
- The General Grant Loop is an easy, accessible trail that showcases some of the mightiest sequoias in the parks.
- Buena Vista, located just south of Grant Grove, leads visitors on an easy climb to the top of a granite dome for incredible views.
- Boyden Cavern is a small but fascinating cave in the Sequoia National Forest near the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. Be sure to reserve a guided tour in advance.
- Zumwalt Meadow is the centerpiece of a beautiful short hike in the heart of Kings Canyon.
- Muir Rock offers the chance to jump into the crystal clear waters of the Kings River, perfect on a hot summer day.
- Mist Falls, an epic eight-mile day hike, takes hikers deeper and higher into the wilds of Kings Canyon.
Our Experience
Tour time! Join me as we circumnavigate this little gem of a lake in the Sierras.
HUME LAKE CAMPGROUND
When coming from Highway 180 to the north, Hume Lake Campground is the first stop along the lake. We spent four nights here in the summer, and you can read my full review online. For us, it was the perfect home base from which to visit Kings Canyon National Park. We had easy access to the park (although we did have to drive that bumpy dirt road to get there!), and could chill at the lake during our downtime.
Even if you aren’t camping, you can enjoy the day use area here. Follow the signage to the day use parking lot, which is equipped with a vault toilet and dumpsters. That may not sound so appealing, but rest assured, both toilets and dumpsters will be out of sight when you’re at the lake! The shoreline here is forested, and it lacks a large open beach. Those looking for a larger beach should head to Sandy Cove on the opposite side of Hume Lake. Our family actually preferred the day use area by Hume Lake Campground. It was less crowded than Sandy Cove, and even when the parking lot was full, we still managed to find a private spot between the trees to roll out our beach blanket.
You can walk to Hume Lake from the campground, but it’s a downhill trek, and not ideal when carrying supplies. When taking out our inflatable kayak, we drove down to the lake instead. From the parking lot, it only takes a minute or two to walk to the lakeshore. The trickier task may be finding just the right spot to settle in amongst the trees. The shoreline here is a mix of grass, hard packed dirt, and pine needles. Wear sandals on shore — those pine needles sure can poke!
There is a small fishing pier here, or you can fish from the water. Of course, with people swimming and splashing nearby, this may not be the best spot if you actually hope to catch something!
THE HUME LAKE TRAIL
The Hume Lake Loop Trail winds for 2.8 miles around the lake (which, coincidentally, is the same distance as the trail around Green Lake in Seattle). During that brief loop you’ll encounter a wide range of terrain — dirt paths, paved segments (with some sections falling into disrepair), elevated boardwalks, roadside rambles, and narrow trails through the forest. It’s mostly flat, but a few switchbacks lead hikers down behind the dam before climbing back up to the level of the lake.
While the Hume Lake Trail is a fun diversion for those spending time here, it isn’t a destination hike. In other words, I wouldn’t drive out here just to hike the trail, especially considering there are so many terrific hikes in nearby Kings Canyon.
However, for those staying at Hume Lake, I definitely recommend incorporating all or part of the trail in your explorations. We set off from our campsite with beach supplies in tow, stopping first at the Snack Shop for lunch, then continuing on to Sandy Cove for some beach time. Ten-year-old J and I then hiked the remaining trail from Sandy Cove back to the campground, while Michael and T stayed behind to play.
The best part of the trail is the section between Hume Lake Christian Camps and Sandy Cove. The trail disappears as you walk through the camp, but look for a trail sign just past the expansive lakeside lawn. From here, continue on to Sandy Cove. The trail skirts the edge of the lake, offering pleasant views across the water. Shortly before you arrive at the cove, you’ll pass a small fishing pier. A beautiful boardwalk leads around the cove and down to the beach.
Beyond Sandy Cove, you’ll spend part of the time walking along the road, but there is little traffic here. The road ends at the dam, where the trail leads down to a picturesque bridge crossing Tenmile Creek. Back on the north side of Hume Lake, the path heads into the woods with few glimpses of the lake as it leads back to the Hume Lake Campground day use area.
HUME LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMPS
A beehive of activity on the western end of the lake, Hume Lake Christian Camps is a happening place! Teenage campers flock here in the summer, but there are also a number of services that are open to the public, including the only gas station for miles around. If you’re spending a lot of time in the area, this is a real boon.
The road around Hume Lake travels directly through the camp. Coming from Hume Lake Campground, you’ll pass a small National Forest parking lot and picnic area on the left as you arrive. Just ahead, the gas station and general store will be on your right as you drive into camp, with the Snack Shop and lake to your left. Look for boat rentals, including kayaks, row boats, and paddle boards, next to the Snack Shop. Additional parking is available near the store and further into the camp, but take note that it is often quite full in summer.
Past the gas station, Pizza & Pizookie and Hume & Beans are located on the hillside to the left. To the right, a large lawn stretches out to meet the lake. The field is used for camp events, but the public can also access the lake here. A few Adirondack chairs dot the shore, and we saw quite a few visitors set up their picnic spots along the water. It certainly offers one of the best viewpoints along the lake.
SANDY COVE
Sandy Cove is a pretty inlet tucked along the south side of Hume Lake that boasts the only real “beach” on the lake. It’s less than a mile from Hume Lake Christian Camps, and accessible by road or trail. It is not, however, easily accessible for those with mobility restrictions, as reaching the cove requires taking a steep path or stairs. The easiest access is on the east side of Sandy Cove, where there is a parking lot, restrooms, and a short paved path down to the beach. Additional parking is available along the road.
Parking is also available above the southern tip of the cove, where stairs lead down to a gorgeous boardwalk section of the Hume Lake Trail. Beyond the cove, Tenmile Creek zigzags its way down to Hume Lake. When the water level is low, this section of the creek is a beautiful area for exploring and wading.
Despite its name, Sandy Cove isn’t exactly sandy. Sure, there is some sand, but when we visited there were also a lot of small sharp twigs and pine needles. My five-year-old still had a lot of fun playing here, but I definitely recommend sandals and a good beach blanket or chairs. The water in the cove is shallow, calm, and fairly warm — just perfect for young swimmers. It’s a great place to launch a kayak or paddle board if you’re comfortable carrying them to the beach.
I was surprised to find Sandy Cove far busier than I expected. This may be due to the large number of private cabins nestled in the forest between the cove and Hume Lake Christian Camps. On a beautiful day, it’s a happening place! Heck, even a little summer rain didn’t stop many people from enjoying their time by the lake (certainly not us Pacific Northwesterners)! Hume Lake is lovely in any weather.
I hope you enjoyed our tour of Hume Lake!
If you’re spending time here, don’t forget to check out some of the other wonderful places to visit, including General Grant Grove, Zumwalt Meadow, and Mist Falls.
Happy exploring, from my backyard to yours!
