Steve Barton Point
Peak · 858 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Steve Barton Point is a 858-foot peak in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. It sits above the drowned landscape where lake and granite meet, typically calmer than the open water to its east.
Wind funnels off the lake surface by mid-afternoon, gusting to 17 mph at the peak of daily heating. Morning conditions are substantially quieter. Expect 7 mph average wind across rolling days. Exposure is direct; the peak offers no shelter once afternoon thermals build.
Over the last 30 days, the 30-day average wind has held at 7 mph with a NoGo average score of 35.0, well within seasonal patterns for this low-elevation Sierra location. The week ahead will track similar dynamics: calm mornings, rising wind by noon, afternoon gusts. Temperature swings between the 50-degree floor and 82-degree ceiling are typical year-round at this elevation.
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About Steve Barton Point
Steve Barton Point sits in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor at 858 feet elevation, a modest height that places it in the marginal zone where lake effect and Sierra thermal winds collide. Access is via Highway 180 from Fresno or Highway 198 from Visalia; the point overlooks the transition zone between mountain and reservoir. The location is lightly trafficked relative to higher peaks in the corridor, with base popularity rated at 0.2. Approach typically involves scrambling from the lake margin or ridgeline trails that drop from the Sierra crest eastward.
Conditions swing sharply by time of day. Morning wind averages well below the rolling 7-day mean; the point is sheltered until solar heating begins lifting air off the reservoir around mid-morning. By afternoon, thermals and lake-breeze interactions drive gusts that have been observed to 17 mph on record. Temperature varies from a 50-degree winter minimum to 82-degree summer maximum across the full year, but the last 30 days have averaged 61 degrees, reflecting spring's transitional character. Crowding remains minimal, averaging 2.0 on the rolling scale, except on holiday weekends when Highway 180 and 198 gates open. Snowpack is relevant only in very early season; the low elevation means snow vanishes quickly once temperatures climb above freezing.
This location suits visitors seeking uncrowded Sierra access with minimal technical demand. Day hikers and paddlers use it as a navigation mark or casual turnaround point rather than a destination summit. Because avalanche terrain exists in the higher drainages feeding the reservoir, be aware of snowpack instability if approaching in winter or very early spring. The 7-day average wind of 7 mph masks time-of-day volatility; plan around morning starts and expect to clear the point by mid-afternoon if wind sensitivity matters for your activity.
Nearby alternatives include higher peaks in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor to the north and east, which receive more traffic but offer greater elevation gain and cooling. The open reservoir surface just west is calmer in morning hours but exposed by afternoon. Lower-elevation valley access via Highway 198 or 180 provides faster descent and warmer temperatures but lacks the Sierra character Steve Barton Point offers. The point itself remains a low-pressure waypoint for those already in the corridor rather than a destination that commands the drive on its own merits.