Riverstone: Gateway to Epic Landscapes

May 14, 2023

One of the best things about the master-planned community of Riverstone is its desirable location just off Highway 41 north of Fresno—a centrally located gateway to all kinds of fun and recreation within some of California’s most beautiful mountain playgrounds. Now that spring has sprung and summer is on the way, it’s a great time for Riverstone families to hit the open road and enjoy the fun of exploring new places together via a good, old-fashioned road trip.

Situated just off Highway 41 north of Fresno, Riverstone is a convenient gateway to the legendary natural playgrounds of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Located in The Lodge community clubhouse at Riverstone, the Gear Barn is an outfitter’s cabin featuring a variety of recreational gear available for homeowners’ on- and off-site adventures.

A fun destination just seven miles from Riverstone is Woodward Park, a 300-acre regional park and bird sanctuary packed with playgrounds, trails and ponds for fishing. The park is home to the beautiful Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden, where you can explore and learn about 100+ species of bonsai trees. For more adrenaline-filled pursuits, the Woodward BMX course, located on the western side of the park, offers dirt tracks for riders of all ages to practice and race.

A bit further away is Millerton Lake, a mere 15 minutes from Riverstone, and now with a lake water level that has surpassed 80% thanks to the Valley’s abundant rainfall from recent storms. This State Recreation Area boasts more than 40 miles of magical shoreline for boating and all kinds of water sports. Hiking in the surrounding foothills offers a glimpse of local critters, such as cottontails, mule deer, badgers and even bald eagles—and lake fishing provides the chance to reel in a rainbow or brown trout, a catfish or a largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass.

Only a one-hour’s drive from Riverstone is Bass Lake, named “One of the West’s Best Lakes” by Sunset Magazine. The lake, with its classic beauty, provided the backdrop for The Great Outdoors, starring Dan Aykroyd and John Candy. Visitors can swim, boat, fish and frolic at the emerald-green lake ringed in tall sugar and ponderosa pines, where summer water temps reach nearly 80 degrees—a boon for water skiers. Being a perfect destination with activities to please the whole family, spending several days here is an easy option with a number of overnight accommodations to consider.

On the north shore of Bass Lake, The Pines Resort offers charming chalet-style cabins, farm-to-table dining and the same authentic mountain lodge ambiance that dates back to the resort’s founding in 1941. Gracing the south shore is The Forks Resort. Family-owned and operated for three generations, its delightful cabins and restaurant serving homemade classics have been a mainstay of happy vacationing families for more than 80 years. Also a long-time favorite on the south shore, Miller’s Landing Resort boasts cabins with full kitchens, BBQs and spectacular views as well as a lakefront grill serving up delicious food and drink.

Shaver Lake is also an easy one-hour’s drive from Riverstone offering a diverse variety of recreational fun—from camping and rock climbing to water skiing and sailing. It’s a popular spot for anglers as well, with year-round fishing access as weather permits, a number of exciting fishing derbies that take place on the waters, and three marinas that rent all kinds of watercraft.

Of course, also close at hand for Riverstone residents are the epic Sierra Nevada wonderlands—Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. These legendary mountain landscapes present a nature-lover’s paradise where the scenery is truly spectacular. Some of the landmarks you’ll discover include Yosemite Falls (the highest waterfall in North America) and Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the contiguous U.S.).

Helping Riverstone residents make the most of their adventures is the idea behind the Gear Barn. Located in The Lodge community clubhouse, this unique outfitters amenity offers a residents-only rental program providing all the information needed for a wide variety of on- and off-site pursuits. 

Situated in the heart of the region’s path of growth, Riverstone—when complete—will total approximately 6,578 single-family, attached and multi-family homes. Coming soon is the one-million-square-foot Riverwalk mixed-use lifestyle retail destination. Amenities at Riverstone include walkable neighborhoods, parks and open space, a dog park, a sustainable water supply and The Lodge community clubhouse with resort-style swimming pools, a trainer-designed fitness center, demonstration kitchen, Gear Barn, outdoor gathering spaces with firepits, and ongoing monthly activities such as self-defense classes, book clubs, arts and crafts, specialty meal cooking classes and more.

For more information about the new-home community of Riverstone and its collections of new homes from Bonadelle Neighborhoods, Crown Homes, Lennar, Wathen Castanos Homes, Wilson Homes, Woodside Homes—as well as Granville Homes coming soon—homebuyers are encouraged to tour the builders’ Model Homes or visit the community’s website at www.RiverstoneCA.com and add their name to the Interest List.