Hume Lake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hume Lake
Hume Lake Location in California Show map of California Hume Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Sequoia National Forest Fresno County, California
Coordinates	36°47′29″N 118°54′21″W / 36.7913°N 118.9059°W / 36.7913; -118.9059
Lake type	Reservoir
Etymology	Thomas Hume
Primary inflows	Tenmile Creek Long Meadow Creek
Primary outflows	Tenmile Creek
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	87 acres (35 ha)
Surface elevation	1,585 m (5,200 ft)
Settlements	Hume, California

Hume Lake is a beautiful reservoir (an artificial lake) located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can find it within the Sequoia National Forest in Fresno County, California.

This lake sits on Tenmile Creek, which flows into the Kings River. It's right next to the small community of Hume.

Hume Lake is about 1,585 m (5,200 ft) above sea level. You can reach it from California Route 180, by taking Forest Service road 30. It's about 50 mi (80 km) east of Fresno, and not far from the west entrance to Kings Canyon National Park.

The lake covers about 87-acre (35 ha). It was created by the world's first concrete reinforced multiple arch dam. This special dam was designed by John S. Eastwood and built in 1908 by the Hume-Bennett Lumber Company. Back then, the lake was used to store logs for a nearby sawmill. It also supplied water for a long flume (a channel for water) that carried cut lumber to Sanger, California.

After logging stopped in 1924, Hume Lake changed from an industrial site to a popular spot for fun activities.

History of Hume Lake

How the Lake Was Made

Dam holding back the waters of Hume Lake. Notice the unique multiple arch design by John S. Eastwood.

Another view of Hume Lake dam. You can see its strong concrete arches. The old Hume-Bennett mill used to be right here.

The Hume-Bennett Lumber Company started in 1905. The company needed a new place to cut trees because there wasn't much lumber left near their old mill. They decided to move deeper into the mountains. Tenmile Creek, about 4 miles (6.4 km) east, seemed like a good spot. This area, called Long Meadow, could become a lake.

This new lake would help the company in two ways. First, it would store logs cut from the surrounding forests. These logs could float right to the mill to be cut. Second, the cut lumber could then be sent out of the mountains using a flume filled with water from the lake.

In 1908, John S. Eastwood was hired to build the dam at Long Meadow. Eastwood suggested building the world's first reinforced concrete multiple arch dam. This was a new idea, but it was much cheaper than a regular rock dam. The dam cost about $46,000, which was half the price of other options. The dam was finished very quickly, in just 114 days, by the end of 1909. A sawmill was built right next to it.

Logs were brought to the lake by train and floated to the dam. They were then pulled into the mill, cut, and dried. From there, the lumber floated all the way to Sanger, California, in a flume. This flume was the longest ever built, stretching 73 miles (117 km) from Hume Lake to Sanger. It was designed by James Carroll Goss.

The flume was used by the lumber company and even by tourists! Some adventurous tourists would ride down the flume from the mountains in special boats. The dam and lake still look much like they did in 1908. The dam is 61 feet (19 m) tall and 667 feet (203 m) long. It has twelve 50-foot-wide (15 m) arches supported by strong walls.

Logging Comes to an End

The Hume-Bennett company cut down many trees around Hume Lake. But they didn't make much money, and a big fire in 1917 destroyed the mill and other buildings. Logging stopped completely by 1924. On April 8, 1935, the United States Forest Service bought the entire operation. This included the dam and the forest around Hume Lake. It became part of the Sequoia National Forest.

Dam Repairs Over Time

From 1953 to 1954, the lake was emptied so the dam could be checked for safety. It turned out the dam needed repairs. The lake stayed empty for a while. The leaders of Hume Lake Christian Camps suggested that the dam be fixed. A six-inch layer of cement was added to the front of the dam. The repairs were done in 80 days, and the lake was filled again.

Fun Things to Do at Hume Lake

Since the Forest Service bought it, Hume Lake has become a very popular place. There are many fun things to do here:

• Camping: You can camp at a United States Forest Service campground on the north side of the lake. There are 74 campsites in four different areas.

A postcard from the 1940s showing a conference at Hume Lake.

• Hume Lake Christian Camps: This is the biggest facility at the lake. It started in 1945 when people met to plan a Christian Bible camp. In 1946, they bought 320 acres (130 ha) of land around the lake. This included a hotel, store, post office, cottages, and boats. That first summer, 670 campers and 15 volunteers came to the camp. Since then, over 1,000,000 young people and adults have visited for worship, religious studies, and fun. Activities at the camps include:
  • Swimming
  • disc golf
  • boating
  • hiking
  • Biking
  • Paintballing
  • High ropes course
  • climbing wall
  • Games like Kajabe Kan Kan
• Cabins: You can rent cabins, and some people own private cabins here.
• Boating: You can use non-motorized boats on the lake.
• Fishing: The main type of fish you can catch at Hume Lake is trout.
• Hiking: There are many trails to explore around the lake.
• Swimming: Enjoy swimming and other beach activities.

Images for kids

• 

  A wide view of the Sierra peaks around Hume Lake.

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  A map showing the shape of Hume Lake and the land around it.

• 

  Hume Lake in April 2016, showing trees damaged by mountain pine beetles.

Hume Lake in Pop Culture

• The 1922 film The Sawmill was filmed at Hume Lake.