Bass Lake is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, United States. Located within the Sierra National Forest, it lies approximately 14 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The community is centered around Bass Lake, a reservoir formed in 1910 by the construction of Crane Valley Dam on Willow Creek, a tributary …Bass Lake is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, United States. Located within the Sierra National Forest, it lies approximately 14 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The community is centered around Bass Lake, a reservoir formed in 1910 by the construction of Crane Valley Dam on Willow Creek, a tributary of the San Joaquin River.