Trail Mix: Bald eagles in sight at Millerton, along San Joaquin

Starting this weekend and every Saturday and Sunday through March 13, the California State Parks will lead its annual Eagle Tours at Millerton Lake.

Boat tours begin at 8 a.m. at the historic Fresno County Courthouse on the lake’s south shore.

Cost is $20 per person and space is limited. Make a reservation by calling 559-822-2332 or emailing MillertonLake.EagleTours@parks.ca.gov.

Next week, Jan. 9, the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust will be leading a 2-mile hike to view bald eagles at Millerton.

The group will meet at River Center at 8 a.m. and carpool to the lake. Good hiking shoes and binoculars are recommended.

Register online at www.riverparkway.org. For more information, contact Molly Schnur-Salimbene at mschnur-salimbene@riverparkway.org or 559-248-8480 ext. 104.

If you want to hike on your own, bald eagles can be seen above the waters of the San Joaquin, from Woodward Park and past Millerton Lake.

Boling gap hike – The Sierra Foothill Conservancy is leading a strenuous hike at 9 a.m. Saturday that will take adventurers on a 1,000-foot climb to the top of the Boling Gap at Table Mountain, then traverse down another 1,000 feet to the San Joaquin, stopping for lunch before making the climb back.

The 8-mile hike takes up to eight hours and is recommended for advanced hikers only. Bring snacks, a lunch and plenty of water and wear appropriate hiking gear.

Members are free; non-members pay $5.

Limited space is available. Register at www.sierrafoothill.org.

Garage sale – REI’s members-only garage sale is Saturday, with plenty of discounted gear available.

The store will hand out numbered wristbands at 4 p.m., then conduct a lottery starting at 5 p.m. Memberships are available for $20. All sales are final.

Details: rei.com/fresno.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Trail Mix: Bald eagles in sight at Millerton, along San Joaquin."