Gary-Summer: January 6, 2026 - Hiking the Goat Mountain Trail

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

January 6, 2026 - Hiking the Goat Mountain Trail

Title: January 6, 2026 - Hiking the Goat Mountain Trail
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Road 426

Trail: Goat Mountain Trail

Actual Destination: About a third of a mile below the ridge between north and South Goat Mountain.

Distance: 6.21 miles

Start Time: 10:27

End Time: 3:35

Travel Time: 5:08 (1.21 mph)

Moving Time: 4:14 (1.47 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,200'

Descent: 1,234‘

Maximum Elevation: 4,419'

Minimum Elevation: 3,550

GPS Tracks

Description:

Bass Lake

Originally we were thinking about doing Stevenson Falls. But when we talked last night about when we would need to leave, we decided that the logistics would not work out. I had noticed a couple of days ago on the Central Valley Hiking Group that a series of hikes our of Oakhurst was posted. I looked at them and say that hiking up Goat Mountain had a real possibility. We probably are not going to make the top as it is a 1,200’, 8+ mile hike-a bit more than either of our conditioning would stand

We had asked if Steven and Rachel wanted to come with us. Neither had the time, so it was just Sherri and I. I busied myself in the morning while Sherri got ready. We got in the car by 9. But before we would travel far, we stopped at Costco for gas-we only had three gallons left. A minor disagreement ensued as I used the wrong credit card. After taking care of that, we head on up towards North Fork. Then onto Road 221, then the Teaford Saddle Road, finally we turned onto Road 426. We traveled less than a mile and found the place to park. We arrived about 10:15 and got on the trail by 10:25.

Sherri on the prowl

The first thing we noticed was how cool the temperature is. That is cool, not cold, a great temperature to hike in. With all of the rain over the weekend, there is a lot of moisture on the ground and in the air. The first mile or so is on a service road. At the top of the northern peak of Goat Mountain are some communication towers. The service road gives us a gentle start to our hike. It is generally gently inclined, crossing several seasonal creeks.

This is where I get a bit dissatisfied with the topo map I had downloaded. The map shows that the trail will criss-cross the road for the next couple of miles. In reality, when we turn onto the Goat Mountain Trail, that is the last time we see the road until we return. I think if we went about a half a mile on the road.

The trail now starts to go up at a good clip. Occasionally there will be places where the trail follows the contour lines. This is usually when we get close to a creek. But then it will then go up again, never as steep as last week at Hensley. But unlike Hensley, there is only an occasional very short downhill. We are continually going up. Sherri is doing better at this than I am. I am lagging back while Sherri waits for me.

Gary on flat land

But I keep on plodding along. The trail is enjoyable on this winter day. While there are some evergreen trees, there are more oak trees. There is a smattering of huge manzanita bushes-if they came in trees, that is what they looked like. We see the acorns on the trail along with the remains of the Fall leaves. The brownness of the leaves on the ground ordinarily might lead to dewariness. But today, they seem to be right in place, almost relaxing.

After a lot of huffing and puffing, we reach the junction with the Spring Cove trail. A very short-very short-distance we find a log and have a lunch break. We found some mushrooms right beside us-one large and one colorful. Then to top it off, we spot a bee hovering around. Looks like a honey bee to me, but I could be wrong.

We feel a bit rested after lunch. We decided to go on up the trail another half an hour. When we stop, it turns out we are only a third of a mile and 100’ down from the top-this came to my attention when I plotted our GPS tracks on a map after getting home. While we felt good doing this after lunch walk, Sherri in particular will pay for it later.

You would think going downhill would be easier than going up. For me, that would be true lately. But for Sherri, her ankle is bothering her. And as we go down further, it bothers her more. Nothing sprang or broken-maybe it is just stressed. Still, we go down, a bit faster than when we came up-this is because I was slow going up.

Going up we saw nobody. But coming down, we first saw a woman who went up the slope a lot quicker than I did. Then about ten minutes later two young men came running up the trail. All of these people gave us reason to stop and move off of the trail to give them room to get by. Of course, it is also an excuse for us to get a few moments of rest.

By the time we get back to the road-which turns out it goes to Bass Lake, not a service road to the top-we are feeling tired and ready to get back to the car. I am sure this last little bit must be two miles-in reality about half a mile. But to the car we make it by 3:30.

We decided to eat in Oakhurst. After narrowing down the food we wanted, it is Mexican. Which one will be determined where we come onto Highway 41. Turns out we come out right in the middle of Oakhurst, so Los 2 Carnales Restaurant is the one closest. I must have been concentrating too much about parking as Sherri needed to alert me to a car parked on the other side which I would have run into. I missed it-but this is a wake up call for me to be more aware.

We enjoyed our meal-Sherri with a California burrito and I an enchilada platter. We left the restaurant at 4:50 and headed home. There was a lot of traffic on 41 when we got close to Fresno. It is 5:45 by the time we get home. I lay down for 45 minutes until Jeopardy then take a relaxing shower afterwards. I am ready for bed by 9:30.