Warm Spring above Corlieu Falls on Lewis Creek, Fish Camp

[Chem101]

I finally got the chance to hike around Corlieu Falls on Lewis Creek and found the sacred "Hot Springs." I think calling this a "Hot Springs" is being very generous. In fact, calling it a warm springs wouldn't be intirely accurate. Maybe calling it a "Not D*** Cold Springs" would be a little more on the mark.
Nonetheless, it did have the classic slight smell of sulfur and the water had a bluish cast to it. There were also some strange things growing in it.

I'm curious, does anyone on OO know any history around this "Sacred Hotsprings?"

[Sandman]

I went there often as a kid. The water was usually in the 80's. One time we saw a big snake in there, so soak with caution. I don't know the history.

[falconer]

My wife and I have a cabin not to far from the hot springs. I found out that it used to be lumber land. So the cables you see up on the cliff you'll notice have grow into the trees. At one point there used to be a cable with a basket so the lumber jacks could get across the falls. I have bee told that the whole area was clear cut at one time. The forest thats there now is only about 70 years old. I hope that helps.


www.sierracreekstudios.com

[KevinC2H5OH]

Clifford Corlieu (different spelling but same family as Corlew of Corlew Mountain and Corlew Meadows) built a home across from the waterfall after his daughter married and moved to the Sugar Pine area. Corlieu is the one that constructed the hot tub and piped the warm spring water. The following is rumor. It is fascinating but at least some of it can't be verified.

Corlieu is rumered by some to have had something to do with the Peraltas and/or Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine. It is claimed by some that he moved to the general area to live with the "Corlews" while hiding after the Peralta/Dutchman/Apache massacre. He claimed to be a Rancher and Poet. But his activities and those around him suggest that he did have experience in mining.

The son in law filed mining claims and illegally sold property in the area. The law eventually caught up with him, sent him to jail and tore down homes and a resort of sorts during the 1960s. The rumor claims that items, possibly including gold and/or a map to the Dutchman mine were hidden in a mine a creek was redirected to cover the entrance to the mine. I've been collecting stories and clues for over a decade. The Clovis Forest service office has printed fliers on local hikes. The one on Lewis Creek includes some details about Clifford Corlieu and the Madera/Sugar Pine logging operation & flew.

[Chem101]

Thanks Kevin! That's good stuff.....


Ethanol? I won't ask....... ;)

[KevinC2H5OH]

I worked in alternate fuel research for a while, hydrous ethanol was my biggest project. I've had many smaller hydrous ethanol projects before and since, but those are mostly just a few ounces, or pints, at a time.:grin:

[Chem101]

I'll drink to that!!

[MtnBreeze]

I am not sure if one can still obtain old maps from Fresno State but I used to have copies of maps dating back into the 1890's for the areas near Cascadel. I lived there in the 70's and was attending college so I did research and got some great maps that showed where cabins or buildings and roads were located.....One might be able to do the same with Corlieu Falls area. I used to hike all over the Sierras near Cascadel....there was suppose to be gold buried in or near the old barn which has long since been gone....but with those maps I was able to pick out where the barn stood...because if you know there was a building it isn't difficult to see where it sat....it leaves an outline (very slight)..I also found other building sites near Whiskey Falls because of the maps...anyway...just a suggestion as the University has information not in regular libraries.....

[monkey]

Just wanted to warn anyone thinking of hiking Lewis Creek. Some of our guests hiked it today and when they returned to their car at the 41 turnoff, they found their car window smashed. Someone had broken it and got into their car. Nothing valuable was taken fortunately.

[cak]

We were quite disturbed this morning to find that one of our weekend guests had a bunch of camping gear removed from the (unlocked) trunk of their car.

They were parked at the side of our cabin in Cedar Valley, near Lewis Creek trail, along with several other cars.

[watergirl]

Would it be wrong to ask how to get to the warm, snake infested springs? I know to go across the log but that's about it. I've always wanted to know where they were.

[mp5man1]

I would like to know as well. I thought it was near the falls which would be the other direction from crossing the logs. At least I thought it was.

Anyhow as far as the Veh Burg goes that sucks. I hate thieves. I would guess and say kids. It's hard to imagine the typical thugs from Fresno coming up to break into cars.

Oh if there are any "typical thugs" from Fresno here no offense intended. LOL

[mp5man1]

I'm bumping this hoping that someone who knows will reply. I'm headed to Lewis Creek Trail next week.

[only1alphafemale]

If its the one I have been to, its off of a trail that bears hard right after you cross the log and the creek..... Its NOT a wide trail like the ones you find all around there either... Its a narrow at times skimpy hike in area's, uphill and very narrow at times, and its a continual uphill climb~ along the side of the bank/creek side cliffs~ ... and actually when you get to the small pool which *used* to be a warm spring....they are more tepid...-that was 5 years ago when I was there.... so they are probably even cooler now ! If they havent dried up...
Without actually showing you the way, thats all I can offer....maybe someone else can give you better directions....

[Chem101]

The "Hot" springs is very close to the falls. We're talking 10 feet close. It is on the opposite side of the creek from the parking area.

[mp5man1]

Thanks for the directions. That will make it a little easier when I head up

[wdesign1]

The "hot" springs pool by the falls is fun to find but another fun thing to do while you're there is to put your water shoes on and hike upstream through the pools to the log bridge about a quarter mile up the creek. We have a cabin in Cedar Valley and I've been doing this with my boys. They love all the different big and small pools. The rock formations are cool and there's even a small water slide. There aren't too many difficult spots to scramble over and this is a great time of year to do it.
Also... if you're at the top of the falls, opposite side from the warm pool is a giant granite bowl carved out by the water. It's in a scary place right on the edge of the cliff. It's more than 8 feet deep but you can climb in and out easily.
Mike

[elainev]

I go there a lot with my dogs. They absolutely love it. Last summer, we found a "hot" spring, the one previously mentioned, right by the waterfall. We didn't get in, as it looked fairly creepy, and the falls were pretty strong, and it is no exaggeration about the 10 ft. from the falls statement. I've only been from the bottom of the falls (is that Corlieu? The big one?) to...about a mile from there toward SugarPine. Is there more fun, too?
Also, I found a book, called Waterfalls of California (i actually got it at Salvation Army for $1 but see it in bookstores now). It has been great, and now we also love to go to Angel Falls across from Bass Lake (though would never dream of letting the kids slide down the rocks at the tippy top). It is a great place to swim and romp. Isn't our back yard terrific!?

[wings]

I was there last weekend also. It is so incredibly beautiful. Someone plugged the draing on the "HOT TUB" so it was filled up. The water felt about 70 degrees or so. My son goes nowhere without his fishing pole and he threw it in at the lower pool. To my absoulute surprise he was pulling rainbow trout out one after another. They were only about 8" long so they all went back but it was still a blast. One question where abouts is the hidden mine entrance behind the waterfall. I found pictures of it on a hiking website but I couldn't place where it it. It looks pretty cool to check out.

[powerstroke01]

One question where abouts is the hidden mine entrance behind the waterfall. I found pictures of it on a hiking website but I couldn't place where it it. It looks pretty cool to check out.

Woah!!!!
For realz?
Never heared of it....

[wings]

Here's the link to the pictures.. I e-mailed the author to see if he will tell me. Let's keep this our little secret.. I really like how un-crowded it is up there. I love to adventure hike and find new (old) stuff like this, like the old mine car axle and wheels near the hot spring.

http://hiking.meetup.com/411/photos/270957/

[powerstroke01]

http://pages.prodigy.net/crashh/_wsn/page10.html