Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon
Bass Lake, United States · June · Visit Yosemite | Madera County (USAT-sanctioned; historically produced with Tucson Racing)
Why people love it
- Transition at Pines Resort, so lodging, start and finish are steps apart.
- Water 15 to 19 °C (60 to 66 °F), wetsuit-friendly, clear mountain lake.
- Bike loops the lake through Sierra National Forest, close to Yosemite.
- Sprint, Olympic, aquabike and duathlon options; barbecue lunch afterward.
Watch out for
- Hilly bike and lake-road run at 1,040 m (3,400 ft); elevation gain is not published.
- Sprint swim length differs by source: 400 m (0.25 mi) or 800 m (0.5 mi).
- Traffic control on North Shore Road, not a full road closure (2013 notice).
- Pines Resort rooms fill fast; Fresno airport is about 85 km (53 mi) away.
- Almost all coverage is local news; few racers have written critical accounts.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Local news quotes racers calling it amazing and a great location, across 2014 to 2019; no critical accounts. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Over 100 volunteers in 2014, record turnouts and barbecue lunch; no athlete complaints found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim in cool water and a hilly 40 km (24.9 mi) bike. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
Hilly 40 km (24.9 mi) forest course. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
Water 15 to 19 °C (60 to 66 °F), far below the USAT 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
15 to 19 °C (60 to 66 °F) is cool; 2019 reading near 16 °C (60 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Sheltered mountain lake, early start. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
1.5 km (0.93 mi) in 15 to 19 °C (60 to 66 °F) water. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.1
Clear mountain water and forested shore. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
Wave starts and volunteers on the water in 2019; kayak numbers are not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Mountain resort roads; no athlete reports of the surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
2013 notice described traffic control on North Shore Road, not full closure. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
Sierra National Forest and lake views. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.6
Forested valley; wind is not reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.5
Challenging rolling forest roads. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.5
40 km (24.9 mi) around the lake; gain unpublished, described as challenging. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Lakeside roads with some turns. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Barbecue and awards at Pines Village; little detail on spectators along the course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Over 100 volunteers in 2014; no athlete detail on aid stations. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.4
Lake road with pines. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.9
10 km (6.2 mi) in two laps at 1,040 m (3,400 ft). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.8
10 km (6.2 mi) with hills noted by a racer. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Cool mornings, about 10 to 27 °C (50 to 81 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.2
Late spring Sierra foothills; 2019 weather cooperated. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Forest lake near Yosemite; local coverage describes clear mountain water and a scenic loop. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Resort village hosts transition, finish and barbecue; the bike loop is spread around the lake. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate2.5
About 1,040 m (3,400 ft), between the 700 m (2,300 ft) and 1,500 m (4,900 ft) anchors. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Pines Resort and rentals sell out around race day; Oakhurst alternatives. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Mountain resort pricing; no athlete accounts of rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
Pines Resort hosts the transition; rooms are steps away. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.4
Fresno airport is about 85 km (53 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
One transition at Pines Village, optional Friday check-in, traffic control on the lake road. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Resort village and Oakhurst nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Bass Lake, California, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 30 May 2026
- Organiser
- Visit Yosemite | Madera County (USAT-sanctioned; historically produced with Tucson Racing)
- Field size
- About 550 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $160
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bass Lake, The Pines Beach (lake)
- Water temperature
- 15–19 °C (59–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- wave
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Pine shade on the lake road
- Air temperature
- 10–27 °C (50–81 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry
- Altitude
- 1,040 m (3,410 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), 85 km (53 mi) away
- Where to stay
- The Pines Resort, Oakhurst
- Booking
- The Pines Resort hosts the transition area; other lodging in Oakhurst and Bass Lake; Yosemite is about 30 minutes away.
What racers and reviewers say
- Sierra News Online: record turnoutRaced 2014 · article · Positive
2014 recap: a record 489 triathletes, over 100 volunteers and an enthusiastic participant. Olympic was 1.5 km (0.9 mi) / 40 km (24.9 mi) / 10 km (0.93 / 24.9 / 6.2 mi), sprint 400 m (1,310 ft) / 20 km (12.4 mi) / 5 km (0.25 / 12.4 / 3.1 mi). No weather or water detail.
“an amazing event!”
- Sierra News Online: Hundreds splash and dashRaced 2019 · article · Positive
2019 recap: over 625 triathletes, weather described as cooperative, water about 16 °C (60 °F). Racers include a first-time visitor with Bay Area club teammates and a 14-year-old who found the hills the hardest part and the finish the best.
“The weather really cooperated this year.”
- Sierra News Online: Swim, bike, run funRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Preview for the 9th annual event: about 500 athletes a year, a challenging yet scenic bike through Sierra National Forest, a barbecue lunch and charity proceeds. A promoter-side contact calls it one of the best races around.
“one of the best races around”
- Sierra News Online: Bass Lake Yosemite TriathlonRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Preview of the 7th annual event with nearly 500 athletes in 2016. The promoter says newcomers enjoy the venue and veterans keep returning; the swim is described as clear mountain water.
“Bass Lake really is a great location for a race”
- Sierra News Online: What to expectRaced 2013 · article · Positive
Logistics notice for 2013: swim starts at The Pines Beach, bike loops the lake through North Fork, run goes to Falls Beach on North Shore Road. Traffic control rather than closure, arrive about 6 am, transition in Pines Village.
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- Sierra News Online: Right around the cornerRaced 2023 · article · Positive
2023 preview calling the course beautiful and challenging, with Pines Resort hosting transition and an optional Friday bike check-in and packet pickup. Notes the lake hosted national championships in 1983 and 1984.
Raced Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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