Sequoia NP vs. Joshua Tree NP
 

Hello,

I'll be driving into CA from Nevada toward Joshua Tree NP (with a travel trailer) with my two kids this spring. I had originally thought of hitting Sequoia NP after Joshua Tree, then heading over to the coast and driving from San Luis Obispo north to the Bay Area, then Yosemite before heading north Redwood NP and Oregon.

If I had to choose between Sequoia or Joshua Tree, which one would you omit? We'll be in the Southwest prior to hitting CA (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion)

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

If would go for Sequoia if you've just spent time in the desert SW. Depending on how late in the spring you're traveling, JT will be *hot*. I thought Sequoia was just wonderful, and it's quiet tourist-wise compared to Yosemite. We were there the last week of May, and were surprised by snow...I'm told that's not typical.

That's a tough one.Joshua tree is beautiful and unique but you will have seen quite a bit of desert scenery by then.
Those gigantic trees are unlike anything in the world,I'd pick Sequoia.

I've been to all of the NP's you mention, twice for some of them. But it's still hard to pick one over the other. Sequoia is second only to Yosemite for the glory of the Sierra Nevada, along with its (surprise!) sequoia redwoods, while Joshua Tree is great for the desert. So it comes down to which experience are you willing to skip.

Do you think you will get enough desert from Bryce and Zion? Or will you get enough sequoia and sierra while at Yosemite? That's the question.

Personally, I'd skip Joshua simply because it's more out of the way than Sequoia. If you REALLY want to experience desert, then got to Death Valley, which would be less of a journey from Nevada than Joshua would be.
Basically:
Las Vegas -> Death Valley -> Sequoia -> Yosemite -> Bay Area -> Redwoods

I'm aware that this skips San Luis Obispo, but you really should make only one trip between the Sierras and the Pacific Coast.

Above all else: DO *NOT* SKIP YOSEMITE!!

OK -- NV > Joshua Tree > Sequoia > the coast > SF > Yosemite > the north coast > Oregon is a hecka lot of to-ing/fro-ing. You are crisscrossing the State and adding hundreds of miles to your itinerary.

How long do you have for the whole trip and exactly WHEN in the Spring? April and June are two totally different experiences and also make a difference which roads are open.

If you want to a more practical route, one option would be Sequoia, Yosemite, the coast around Monterey/Big Sur, SF, Redwood NP, Oregon coast.

We might be able to switch it up to what you suggest janisj, but I need to have my husband meet us (flying in), which originally we were thinking we'd have him meet us in SF. I might look into having him fly into Las Vegas instead or something.

We still need to know <i>when</i> the trip is. Road conditions, weather, etc vary wildly from early to late Spring.

Also -- there are only a very few places you can camp/park an RV near San Francisco.

We expect to be in SF around the middle of May. I used to live in SF, so I'm familiar with the weather. As for SF, we planned on staying outside the city anyway, and just doing day trips.

I think your advice for skipping JT and doing Sequoia/Yosemite first then the coast is good. Here's the sticky part for me though, my husband only has 10 days to 2 weeks to join us and he MUST be with us over May 20 (son's 6th bday). Part of the reason I had him flying into SF was I knew we'd be around that area longer so if we running a day or two late/early it still gives us flexibility around his flight arrival. He was really hoping to see both the CA coast and Yosemite.

If he didn't fly in to SF, where would you suggest? Is Reno the best place to come in for Yosemite? Is there any type of transit from the airport down that way or would I have to drive up and get him? I don't think I can have him come in too much before we'd be in that area or he will have to leave before May 20. Otherwise, he'll have to forget about Yosemite. Not sure it can all be done. But you guys are great at helping solve these types of problems!!

Just returned from a trip from UK touring part of California. Itinerary 4 nights SF, 3 nights Yosemite, 2 nights Sequoia NP, 2 nights Santa Barbara, 2 nights Cambria, 2 nights Santa Cruz. A brilliant trip- you should not miss Yosemite, for sure. Sequoia is beautiful and much quieter than Yosemite but the polluted air coming up from the Central Valley spoiled the views of the Sierra Nevada and we aborted our drive into Kings Canyon because of limited visibility.

"<i>I used to live in SF, so I'm familiar with the weather.</i>"

My question "when?" wasn't merely about weather. If you plan on getting to SF by the middle of May -- then you may have a slog getting to Yosemite. Tioga Pass Road across the Sierra will likely still be closed.

The weather may be 'nice' but the road would still be closed.

So from the SW you'd have to go the long/ugly way via Bakersfield/Fresno.

And if you mean to start from Reno, you'd have to go west all the way to Sacramento, south and then into YNP from the west, or down hwy88 and hwy 49 and into YNP from the NW (a slow trip w/ a travel trailer).

Starting from SF would eliminate the Tioga Pass Rd issue. Main problem is you won't know the chances of the road being open until late next Spring and you'll want to have your flights/itinerary set before then.

Most years it opens mid to very late May. This year it opened on <u>June 5</u> . . . . .

Yeah, I had read about Tioga pass, so I wasn't sure how much that meant we'd be able to see the Park at all. I think I also need to just pin my husband down on what he really wants to do. He can't do it all in 2 weeks, so I think I need to press him on what his top priorities are.

"<i>I wasn't sure how much that meant we'd be able to see the Park at all.</i>"

Tioga Pass has nothing at all to do w/ Yosemite <u>Valley</u> where all the iconic photos are taken (except that it is the only access road from the eastern side). Otherwise it really only affects the high/back country.

You would have total access to the Valley/waterfalls/etc. You just couldn't easily get there from Death Valley or Reno since those are on the east side of the Sierra.

So if we were to come in from Fresno on 41 we'd been OK? I know you said it's boring, but I guess we all have to come through some boring stuff to get to good stuff, no?

We were in Yosemite May 20 thru 25, 2010. Tioga Rd was closed. Yosemite is spectacular(even though we missed the high country). Mist Trail is one of my favorite hikes ever. I have been to all the places you mention, with the exception of Bryce. We have reservations there for May as this next summer. As far as the trees, Sequoia National Park is just mind blowing. I really like the trees there far better than the Redwood NP or Yosemite. Fern Canyon is a pretty cool short hike in the Redwoods. How long do you have in Oregon, as it is a great place to visit as well. Crater Lake in Oregon is somewhat like The Grand Canyon. Those two places almost brought me to my knees. Angels Landing and the Narrows hikes in Zion are spectacular hikes. Each place you mention is spectacular in their own unique ways. I would try to spend 2-3 days in most places if at all possible. I think it is better to experience a few places than to just check a bunch of them off your list.

If you drive over from SF you wouldn't go through (or anywhere near) Fresno. You'd either take hwy 120 through Manteca or hwy 140 through Merced.

Janisj, no we'd visit Yosemite after Sequoia (coming in from NV). Then cut over to Carmel and up to SF most likely, then just keep heading north.

spirobulldog, I'm trying to allow us 2-3 nights in each NP. Tricky, as there's never enough time, is there?

My recollection is that the road from Fresno to Sequoia might be difficult with a travel trailer. The north access to Sequoia is much easier.

Oh - I thought you wanted your husband to be w/ you in Yosemite.

Have you towed a trailer in the mountains before? If so, and you know you can handle it - great. But this'll is a long slow drive in a car - w/ a trailer it will be even more so.

I meant to ask this before -- is this a trailer your own, or are you renting?

I did want him to be with us in Yosemite, but I'm thinking it's not going to be possible, or I'll have to change his flight into Fresno instead. I had decided to follow your advice (see my post above) and do Sequoia & Yosemite before SF to avoid extra criss-crossing.

I have not driven a TT before, but my dad has. I'm not sure if we are going to rent or buy yet. He wants to buy one (he got rid of his last one about 6 years ago and wants another one), but it might end up being a rental.

Michael, isn't Fresno Northwest of Sequoia? I'm not sure which North access you mean. Are you talking about Fresno on 41 into Yosemite?

Oops, you're right. I meant 198 coming from Visalia.