Hi,
I'm planning on doing a grand slam of backpacking in California this summer - the channel islands, yosemite, king's canyon and sequoia.

I'd really like to avoid renting a car - so I'm travelling mostly by Amtrak.

However, I'm having trouble finding a way to connect Amtrack at Fresno or Visalia with Sequoia or King's Canyon. Once I'm in the park, I'll be fine getting around and hiking... I just need to get there.

Does anyone have any suggestions of private companies or shuttles that do this? Google searches have only turned up "guided tour" companies - something that I don't enjoy and don't require.

Thanks so much!

Tyler Nagel
[email protected]

Can you explain why you are trying to avoid renting a car? I dont think you'll save money and you certainly wont save any time... beacuse you cant travel where youre talking about by amtrack... it involves a bus from Santa Barbara to Fresno.

Also, it's extremely hot in the Valley in the summer... temps ofter hit over 100* so standing waiting for a shuttle would be miserable.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I've got a California Rail Pass - And I'm in CA for 5 weeks (ah the joys of working in education!) but on a tight budget. I would like to go on some multi-day trips within the park, and I'm travelling solo - so the car would just sit at trailheads for days on end - an expensive proposition!

Have you looked into Green Tortoise? I personally haven't used it, but I've heard positive things from friends. A different type of tour:
http://www.greentortoise.com/
So you have checked out Amtrak's bus service, and Greyhound?

Sequoia/Kings Canyon is a tough one---everything I found on the web says "no public transportation." But you already know that. Perhaps these people would do the train station (Hanford) to Three Rivers part without charging you for the tour:
http://www.sequoiatours.com/amtrak.htm
It's worth calling them.

Otherwise, you could do it the hard (and very rewarding) way---hike the John Muir Trail from Yosemite! (I'm semi-serious, if you have the time and inclination).

The Home Page of Sequoia Tours states that it has a hiking shuttle service and you can email them. We have taken their tour, and they were very accommodating. I would email them, and ask any other questions you may have.

You might also check craigslist.com to see if there are people offering rides in exchange for splitting the cost of gas.

I was on a ranch in that area with Elderhostel... they use private shuttles to transport people to/from Fresno Amtrak and airport. Wait, I'll find my report, the name of the ranch, you can try to contact them to see if they still do it and can arrange a shuttle for you.

The name is Wonder Valley Ranch, this was my report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34448663

Ranch's website:

http://www.wondervalley.com/index.html