Yosemite and Sequoia
 

We had a great time in Yosemite and Sequoia this June. Waterfalls were still pumping. Hiking was great and we saw lots of different black bears too.

<b>Background:</b> 2 families each with a 16 yo and 13 yo; 8 people in total. Varying level of fitness with the kids and the author leading the way. We like to see the sites via hiking if possible.

<b> Lodging </b>:
Piccadilly Inn Express (cheap and cheerful for 1st night)
http://www.piccadillyinnexpress.com/#6

Scenic Wonders, Yosemite West (Excellent, particularly for self-catering; inside the park)
https://www.scenicwonders.com/yosemi...eau-royal-west

Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia (well located, in park lodging)
http://www.visitsequoia.com/lodging.aspx

<b> Itinerary </b>: 9 total nights (1 Fresno, 5 Yosemite, 3 Sequoia)

1) drive from Fresno, groceries in Oakhurst, check in, quick sites on Valley Floor
2) Hike: Sentinel Dome/Glacier Point/Taft Point
3) Hike: Vernal Falls via Mist Trail, John Muir connector (partial to Nevada Falls), horse trail to Mirror Lake
4) Drive along Tioga Rd: Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows/Soda Springs, Gaylor Lake
5) Hike: Hetch Hetchy / Wapama Falls
6) travel to Sequoia: Grant Grove, Kings Canyon until end, Sequoia check in
7) Hike: Sherman parking lot to Moro Rock via Tharp's log and other offshoots
8) Hike: Tokopah Falls + Crystal Cave
9) travel home

<b>Favorite Hikes:</b>
Sentinel Dome / Glacier Point / Taft Point
Sherman to Moro Rock

<b>If I had 1 more day:</b>
Cathedral Lakes hike. The high Sierra / Tioga Road area was intriguing and would have liked another day there. Due to weather forecasts, we decided on Hetch Hetchy instead.

<b>Interesting restaurant:</b> Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining after a long day of driving/walking. Yes, it's in a gas station!

http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/

<b>Helpful Sites:</b>
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/hikes.htm
http://www.hikespeak.com/sierras/sequoia/

<b>Disappointments</b>
Crystal Cave (not that great + obnoxious youth group during our tour)
trail from Happy Isles to Mirror Lake (horses)
missing trail around Tenaya Lake (bad info or bad navigation)

Overall, it was a great trip. Everyone got along. We got about 40 miles of hiking in. Lots of animals including 10 bears. Waterfalls still flowing and great weather.

Photos and additional details:
https://freytravel.wordpress.com/201...rks-june-2015/

>>2 families each with a 16 yo and 13 yo<<

OMG . . the kids are 16/13 already(!)

Sounds like you had a wonderful time (was going to nag you on the other thread and then saw your TR was posted :) )

Amazing isn't it? 8 & 11 when we moved to the UK (11 & 14 when we moved back).

Fabulous report, indy_dad! To us, Yosemite has some of the most outstanding scenery any place. You certainly explored many areas, and your pix are beautiful. We've done many of the same hikes. Glacier Point is phenomenal, isn't it? Thanks so much for sharing!

I enjoyed reading your blog, it's given me some things to think about for my trip to Yosemite at the end of July! I do have a question for you…

As of now, my fiancé and I had planned to do the Four Mile Hike from Glacier Point (going down, not up), and then do the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point hike after. Or vice versa, it's not set it stone. I see on your blog though that you did Sentinel Dome/Taft Point/Glacier Point as a combined hike. Is that from the Sentinel Dome trailhead? Also, would you recommend doing that over doing the Four Mile Hike down? I'm assuming you will get the best views at the top anyways.

We've also looked at doing the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls, but I found that it's a 3 mile roundtrip hike. Would you say that's about right? I know you took a different route after you reached Vernal Falls. I'm hoping this waterfall will still be flowing when we get here.

Thanks for all the pictures, and for all the details in your blog!

Hi Virginia1990

I certainly have a few opinions on your questions. :) I enjoy hiking for the views and exercise but I have little interest in slogging up a hill simply for the sake of doing it. The Four-Mile hike, therefore, was of no interest to me. We also had a couple in our group who were not fit enough for that trail as well.

I've also learned that going down isn't that much better (knees/feet vs legs/lungs) but I assume you are younger than me! There's also the logistics issues of the point-to-point walk. No free shuttles that I'm aware of.

So, I'd recommend what we did instead of four-mile. What a surprise! :D Oh, we did start from the Sentinel Dome parking lot. Sentinel Dome then Glacier Point. From Glacier Point you walk around the back of S. Dome to Taft Point.

I believe the Mist Trail is about 3 miles round trip. Doing the additional hike up to the John Muir Trail probably adds 2 miles? We carried on to Mirror Lake but that's the one I'd give a pass.

Happy planning. Let me know if you have more questions.

Bookmarking for future trip. Thanks for posting.

Thanks so much indy_dad!

From what I've been reading, there's a new shuttle this year (free!) that runs from Badger Pass Ski Area to Glacier Point, so I'm thinking we can park there and ride the shuttle, then that means we wouldn't have to walk back to the car, which would save us time. You've convinced me to change my mind then and skip the Four Mile Hike! :) Before reading your trip report, I wasn't aware there was a trail that connected all three.

And you can get from the Valley to Badger Pass via shuttle? Anyway sounds like it doesn't matter.

I actually didn't know about the GP trail either. I just saw the sign and went for it. You will partially double back from GP to Taft Point but not completely since you go around the "back".

this map shows it pretty well

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisi...acierhikes.pdf

nice looking trip, indy_dad - and haven't those kids grown?

I'm surprised the falls were going.????? Makes me want to rethink going back there again next June. I've been really wanting to go back the past couple of years but figured the falls would be totally dry the past 2 years.

Really nice blog you have there. And you really really lucked out on the bears I would say.

I've only been to Sequoia in Winter. Having been to Redwoods twice and Yosemite once, I think the trees in Sequoia and easily my favorite.

I just returned from Yellowstone last week and was contemplating going back there next year. However, I'm tempted now by your photos to hit either Sequoia or Yosemite. Looks like you did a pretty good bit of hiking. Very Nice Trip!!!

>>I've been really wanting to go back the past couple of years but figured the falls would be totally dry the past 2 years.<<

The falls will only be dry in late Summer and early autumn. Even this year after 4 years of drought Yosemite Falls has some water going over it now in early July. Not gushing like in Spring of course.

Glad you enjoyed the blog, spirobulldog. Your TRs and comments have help some of my past trips.

Yellowstone is high on my list and it's almost embarrassing that I haven't been. We were planning to go in 2011 but moved to the UK that year (for 3 years) instead. With 2 in high school next year it will be tough to plan through the schedules though.

I can't compare, but early June sure worked out for us.