California is the state with the most National Parks and the most visitors --- not at all surprising if you have spent any time in California's great outdoors. The jewel of the state is the Sierra Nevada, arguably the most beautiful mountain range in the country. Three of California's most famous National Parks are in the Sierras, and the weeklong itinerary below is for those parks. California is also home to the famous wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, the very scenic Big Sur coast, and the biggest trees on earth, the California Redwoods and Giant Sequoias. California is huge, and you would need many vacation days and a love for long road trips to visit all of its major attractions in one go. Fortunately, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose --- popular destinations in themselves --- have flights to every major city and are reasonably close (4 to 5 hours driving at most) to all the abovementioned attractions.
The driving tour plan below is for the Western Sierra Nevada only but if you have plenty of vacation time you can combine it with a trip to Big Sur and/or California's wine countries. Read on, get inspired, then contact us to customize your private California adventure.
The driving tour plan below is for the Western Sierra Nevada only but if you have plenty of vacation time you can combine it with a trip to Big Sur and/or California's wine countries. Read on, get inspired, then contact us to customize your private California adventure.
CONTACT US
California's Sierra Nevada: Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks - 7 days from San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Jose
California’s Sierra Nevada is the premier mountain range of the American West. With its granite domes and peaks, giant trees and picture-perfect alpine lakes the Sierras are one of the most beautiful and impressive areas in the United States. This weeklong road trip takes you to three must-see National Parks in the Western Sierras: Sequoia which is named after its awe-inspiring trees, Kings Canyon with its miles of scenic trails for hiking and horse riding, and Yosemite with its waterfalls, rivers and immense rock walls.
Day 1: Drive to Sequoia National Park. See General Sherman and the Big Trees.
Sequoia National Park is about 4 hours from San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles so you can start and end this driving tour in any of these cities. After Visalia, about 40 minutes from Sequoia’s entrance, the drive becomes very scenic as you pass through meadows with boulders, streams and idyllic little villages perched on hilltops. Once inside the National Park you’ll start seeing giant trees along the road. To see the true behemoths hike the Big Trees trail which is an easy walk that takes you along the border of a meadow surrounded by giant sequoias. The paved path weaves through the sequoias and has information panels that teach you about the trees and their ecosystem. Also, be sure to visit General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world.
At the end of the day check into one of several cozy lodges in Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park where you spend the night.
Day 2: Hike up Moro Rock and visit Tunnel Log, General Grant and the North Grove
Today you visit more of Sequoia National Park’s iconic attractions. Moro Rock is a granite dome that can be summited via a short but exciting trail that involves steep sections and drop-offs. At the top you can get fantastic views of the park and the Sierra Nevada. Tunnel Log is a fallen giant sequoia that lies across the road. It is so large that a tunnel was carved out of its trunk and any car or SUV can easily pass through it. The North Grove is home to a number of giant sequoias including General Grant, the second biggest sequoia in the world.
Sequoia National Park has several trails of varying lengths that take you to different groves, lakes, waterfalls and mountain views. We’ll recommend ideal trails for you depending on your fitness level and what you are interested in seeing.
Spend the night back at your lodge.
Day 3: Go horseback riding in Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon is right beside Sequoia National Park and the two are often referred to in conjunction with the other. Viewing Kings Canyon from a high vantage point and driving through it is a feast for the eyes, and its many trails provide great hiking opportunities. Perhaps the most fun way to enjoy Kings Canyon, however, is to explore it on horseback. One to two hour rides are suitable for beginners and longer rides of 4 and 6 hours are available for experienced riders. Riding a horse through the spectacular scenery of Kings Canyon is definitely an unforgettable experience.
Spend your last night at your Sequoia or Kings Canyon Lodge.
Day 4: Drive to Yosemite Valley and visit Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park has some of the most dramatic scenery in the United States, and it is also one of the most diverse parks in the country. Yosemite Valley, where most tourist attractions and facilities are located, is at around 4,000 feet of elevation. Tuolumne Meadows in the high alpine area of Yosemite, on the other hand, is at 8,600 feet and the highest peaks in the park are over 13,000. This huge range in elevation makes for radically different environments, all of which are wondrous.
The drive from Sequoia to Yosemite takes under 3 hours and Glacier Point is a good first stop inside the park. Glacier Point is on the south wall of Yosemite Valley, 3200 feet above the valley floor. It is the perfect spot to view the valley with its sheer rock walls as well as the surrounding mountains and domes of the High Sierras. You can also hike some of the trails off of Glacier Point Road which take you along the top of the valley wall and to various attractions such as Sentinel Dome, the Fissures and Taft Point.
After exploring the Glacier Point area drive down to Yosemite Valley where you will spend the next 3 nights, making sure to stop at Tunnel View to see the iconic vista of the valley bordered by El Capitan and Half Dome, two of the parks most famous monoliths.
Day 5: Hike to Yosemite’s Waterfalls
Yosemite Valley is famous for its waterfalls and today is a big hiking day to see some of its most iconic. Bridal Veil Fall is the first waterfall you see when entering the valley and it is an easy quarter mile walk from the road on a paved path. Yosemite Fall is the tallest waterfall in North America, dropping 2,425 feet from top to bottom. The falls have 3 steps, referred to as Lower, Middle and Upper Yosemite Fall. Getting to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall is an easy walk on a one mile loop, while getting to the top of the Upper Fall is a strenuous 7.6 mile (roundtrip) hike.
The popular and aptly named Mist Trail takes you to Vernal Fall. The mist is created by the waterfall and on sunny days a rainbow embellishes the already beautiful cascade. It is 0.8 miles to get to the footbridge in front of Vernal Fall and 1.2 miles to get to the top of the waterfall. If you have enough energy to hike further and want to see another spectacular fall and more great scenery you can visit Nevada Fall which is another 1.5 miles up the same trail.
Overnight in Yosemite Valley.
Day 6: Explore Tuolumne Meadows
Today you visit the high alpine area of Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne Meadows is 4,600 feet higher that Yosemite Valley and is 55 miles away. The drive takes about an hour and a half each way without stopping, but you should definitely make several stops to enjoy the fantastic views. Olmsted Point gives a sweeping view of Yosemite Valley from a different angle and is a great place to see Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, and Clouds Rest.
Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding area have dozens of trails that take you to peaks, lakes and other attractions. The hike up Cathedral Peak trail is a challenging full endeavor that takes you to the top of one of Yosemite’s most iconic mountains. The trails to Gaylor Lakes and Elizabeth Lake are easier but still moderately lengthy. A short walk through the scenic Tuolumne Meadows takes you to Soda Springs which gets its name from its cold carbonated water that bubbles out of the ground. The area also has several granite domes, some of which you can hike up. Whether you want to spend the day hiking or simply want to do sightseeing with minimal walking, Tuolumne Meadows and the high alpine area of Yosemite make for a wonderful day full of amazing scenery.
Overnight in Yosemite Valley.
Day 7: Go whitewater Rafting on the Merced River. Drive back to San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles.
In spring and early summer snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains flows into the Merced River and swells its typically shallow water enough to make it navigable with a raft. The section of the river inside Yosemite National Park is typically calm and makes for a smooth, relaxing ride. Just outside the park, however, the Merced runs faster and can range from class 2 to 4 rapids depending on the time of year and amount of snowmelt. This fun experience is a great way to cap off your Sierra Nevada adventure if you visit during rafting season.
From Yosemite National Park it is about 4 hours driving to San Francisco or San Jose and 5 hours to Los Angeles.
Day 1: Drive to Sequoia National Park. See General Sherman and the Big Trees.
Sequoia National Park is about 4 hours from San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles so you can start and end this driving tour in any of these cities. After Visalia, about 40 minutes from Sequoia’s entrance, the drive becomes very scenic as you pass through meadows with boulders, streams and idyllic little villages perched on hilltops. Once inside the National Park you’ll start seeing giant trees along the road. To see the true behemoths hike the Big Trees trail which is an easy walk that takes you along the border of a meadow surrounded by giant sequoias. The paved path weaves through the sequoias and has information panels that teach you about the trees and their ecosystem. Also, be sure to visit General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world.
At the end of the day check into one of several cozy lodges in Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park where you spend the night.
Day 2: Hike up Moro Rock and visit Tunnel Log, General Grant and the North Grove
Today you visit more of Sequoia National Park’s iconic attractions. Moro Rock is a granite dome that can be summited via a short but exciting trail that involves steep sections and drop-offs. At the top you can get fantastic views of the park and the Sierra Nevada. Tunnel Log is a fallen giant sequoia that lies across the road. It is so large that a tunnel was carved out of its trunk and any car or SUV can easily pass through it. The North Grove is home to a number of giant sequoias including General Grant, the second biggest sequoia in the world.
Sequoia National Park has several trails of varying lengths that take you to different groves, lakes, waterfalls and mountain views. We’ll recommend ideal trails for you depending on your fitness level and what you are interested in seeing.
Spend the night back at your lodge.
Day 3: Go horseback riding in Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon is right beside Sequoia National Park and the two are often referred to in conjunction with the other. Viewing Kings Canyon from a high vantage point and driving through it is a feast for the eyes, and its many trails provide great hiking opportunities. Perhaps the most fun way to enjoy Kings Canyon, however, is to explore it on horseback. One to two hour rides are suitable for beginners and longer rides of 4 and 6 hours are available for experienced riders. Riding a horse through the spectacular scenery of Kings Canyon is definitely an unforgettable experience.
Spend your last night at your Sequoia or Kings Canyon Lodge.
Day 4: Drive to Yosemite Valley and visit Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park has some of the most dramatic scenery in the United States, and it is also one of the most diverse parks in the country. Yosemite Valley, where most tourist attractions and facilities are located, is at around 4,000 feet of elevation. Tuolumne Meadows in the high alpine area of Yosemite, on the other hand, is at 8,600 feet and the highest peaks in the park are over 13,000. This huge range in elevation makes for radically different environments, all of which are wondrous.
The drive from Sequoia to Yosemite takes under 3 hours and Glacier Point is a good first stop inside the park. Glacier Point is on the south wall of Yosemite Valley, 3200 feet above the valley floor. It is the perfect spot to view the valley with its sheer rock walls as well as the surrounding mountains and domes of the High Sierras. You can also hike some of the trails off of Glacier Point Road which take you along the top of the valley wall and to various attractions such as Sentinel Dome, the Fissures and Taft Point.
After exploring the Glacier Point area drive down to Yosemite Valley where you will spend the next 3 nights, making sure to stop at Tunnel View to see the iconic vista of the valley bordered by El Capitan and Half Dome, two of the parks most famous monoliths.
Day 5: Hike to Yosemite’s Waterfalls
Yosemite Valley is famous for its waterfalls and today is a big hiking day to see some of its most iconic. Bridal Veil Fall is the first waterfall you see when entering the valley and it is an easy quarter mile walk from the road on a paved path. Yosemite Fall is the tallest waterfall in North America, dropping 2,425 feet from top to bottom. The falls have 3 steps, referred to as Lower, Middle and Upper Yosemite Fall. Getting to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall is an easy walk on a one mile loop, while getting to the top of the Upper Fall is a strenuous 7.6 mile (roundtrip) hike.
The popular and aptly named Mist Trail takes you to Vernal Fall. The mist is created by the waterfall and on sunny days a rainbow embellishes the already beautiful cascade. It is 0.8 miles to get to the footbridge in front of Vernal Fall and 1.2 miles to get to the top of the waterfall. If you have enough energy to hike further and want to see another spectacular fall and more great scenery you can visit Nevada Fall which is another 1.5 miles up the same trail.
Overnight in Yosemite Valley.
Day 6: Explore Tuolumne Meadows
Today you visit the high alpine area of Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne Meadows is 4,600 feet higher that Yosemite Valley and is 55 miles away. The drive takes about an hour and a half each way without stopping, but you should definitely make several stops to enjoy the fantastic views. Olmsted Point gives a sweeping view of Yosemite Valley from a different angle and is a great place to see Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, and Clouds Rest.
Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding area have dozens of trails that take you to peaks, lakes and other attractions. The hike up Cathedral Peak trail is a challenging full endeavor that takes you to the top of one of Yosemite’s most iconic mountains. The trails to Gaylor Lakes and Elizabeth Lake are easier but still moderately lengthy. A short walk through the scenic Tuolumne Meadows takes you to Soda Springs which gets its name from its cold carbonated water that bubbles out of the ground. The area also has several granite domes, some of which you can hike up. Whether you want to spend the day hiking or simply want to do sightseeing with minimal walking, Tuolumne Meadows and the high alpine area of Yosemite make for a wonderful day full of amazing scenery.
Overnight in Yosemite Valley.
Day 7: Go whitewater Rafting on the Merced River. Drive back to San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles.
In spring and early summer snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains flows into the Merced River and swells its typically shallow water enough to make it navigable with a raft. The section of the river inside Yosemite National Park is typically calm and makes for a smooth, relaxing ride. Just outside the park, however, the Merced runs faster and can range from class 2 to 4 rapids depending on the time of year and amount of snowmelt. This fun experience is a great way to cap off your Sierra Nevada adventure if you visit during rafting season.
From Yosemite National Park it is about 4 hours driving to San Francisco or San Jose and 5 hours to Los Angeles.