| This file describes leaving Hwy 99 at Madera, one way to get to Prather. | ||||||||
| Driving Directions | > | Central Valley | > | Fresno to Prather | > | Prather to Shaver Lake | ||
| Madera to Prather | ||||||||
| Waypoints between Madera and Prather are plotted in several images to clarify the text below. | ||||||||
Click here for GPS waypoints in Waypoint+ format (NAD83, decimal degrees) with descriptive comments, in a popup window.
Here is an overview of the entire route from Madera to Prather:
If you leave Hwy 99 at the official Hwy 145 exit, you
will probably get lost and will certainly waste time in the Madera
business district. Instead, follow the MADERA-PRATHER
route waypoints, as described below.
Bypass downtown Madera by exiting at Cleveland (waypoint
099CLV), which is marked as the turn for 'Millerton Lake'.
Stay on Cleveland by following green-and-white signs through
several quick turns, continuing for two miles where you angle
right (at waypoint CLVLND) and the immediately turn left at a
well marked intersection with Hwy 145 (a stop sign at waypoint
145CLV, marked for Millerton Lake). Stay on Hwy 145 as it
bears east at the town named Sue (waypoint 145SUE).
Here is a detailed view of waypoints in Madera near the Hwy 99 exit:
16 miles from waypoint 145CLV you go straight through Four Corners
(waypoint 145041), still on Hwy 145. Four Corners is a stop light
where you cross Hwy 41 as it goes north from Fresno to Yosemite.
Hwy 145 continues east around Millerton Lake and follows Auberry
Road to join Hwy 168 in Prather.
From Four Corners (waypoint 145041) go 3 miles east to the stop sign at Road 206
(waypoint 145206) and turn right. Maps may not label this Road 206, but the
sign there does. Take Road 206 South over the Madera Canal (bears East and
changes name without notice) 2.4 miles to Friant Rd, which is a T intersection
with stop sign (waypoint FRIANT). Turn left at the T, which maps label as Millerton Rd,
but the sign at the intersection shows you only Friant Rd. This turn used to be
easy to miss on your way back, but there is now a gas station and the Friant Depot
mini-mall to look for on your return trip.
Here are waypoints from Madera to Millerton Lake:
Take Millerton Rd 5.8 miles past Millerton Lake (waypoint MILRTN) and the Table
Mountain Casino (waypoint TABMTN) to Auberry Road (waypoint AUBER1) and turn left
at the T intersection with stop sign. This turn is VERY easy to miss on your way
back, and some maps do not show the intersection as a T - there is a bar at the
corner and a sign marking the turn for Friant in the return direction. Check your
mileage from Hwy 168 or use a GPS to find waypoint AUBER1! The bar may not be lit
up late at night, but the Exxon (with reportedly reasonable prices) is a good landmark.
Take Auberry NorthEast 9.5 miles (through waypoints AUBER2-AUBER5) to Hwy 168,
which you hit at the town of Prather (waypoint PRATHR). This is another T
intersection with stop sign (remember this gas station for the return trip,
and check your mileage or GPS here!). Prather also has a couple
of restaurants, and the Foster's Freeze is a good place for
people from Northern Cal (via Madera and 145) to meet people from Southern Cal
(via Fresno and 168).
The Prather Ranger Station is 0.1 miles up Hwy 168 from the intersection
at waypoint PRATHR. (It's actually east of the waypoint because Hwy 168
has a dogleg in Prather.)
Here are waypoints from Millerton Lake to Prather:
Turn left (northeast) on Hwy 168 at Prather (waypoint PRATHR), and refer to the
Prather-to-Shaver file for
instructions on getting to Shaver Lake and the reservoir trailheads.
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