Yosemite or Sequioa?
 

I looked at a few other responses to a similar question but I thought I'd get more specific.

Situation:
We'll be leaving SF on the morning of June 20 and heading to Yosemite. We need to be to LA by around 8:00 PM on June 23. That gives us 3 1/2 days to spend between Yosemite and Sequioa. We know it's tight but we are looking for recommendations on which park to spend more time given 3 nights to camp.

June 20 - Early leave from SF to Yosemite
June 21 - Yosemite?
June 22 - Yosemite - Sequoia?
June 23 - Sequoia - back to LA @ 8.

We'd like to hike as much as we can and will likely be "backcountry" camping. We don't have reserved spots at either and I don't think we can get them anymore.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!!

Jim

You will need permits for backcountry camping. Yosemite is more spectacular for scenery than Sequoia, but it may be easier to camp in Sequoia.

I would chose Yosemite and skip Sequoia. You don't have time for both.

Some of the Yosemite campsites are walk-in. You should try for reservations, but may be able to get a walk-in site.

I agree that you should choose one or the other - no time for both, esspecially if you are going to be backpacking. Sequoia is a lot less crowded than Yosemite, so I wouldn't assume you can't get site reservations at Sequoia.

I recommend Yosemite for its beauty (unsurpassed) and Sequoia for lack of crowds. Here's the info you'll need for the (absolutely MANDATORY) back-country permits:

www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

According to
http://www.yosemite.org/DSN/wwwyosem...lheaddates.htm
some trailheads are still open even on your arrival date of June 20th.

Note that 40% of all back-country permits are given out the day of, or the day before, the start of your hike. If you show up and are completely flexible on where you're willing to hike, you're bound to get a permit SOMEHWERE. If you don't want to start your backpack till the morning of June 21st, you'll have to find a place to stay somewhere outside the Valley. Check out
www.yosemite.com/tripplan/lodging.html
for a place that will meet your needs.

I agree, stick with one place. You might consider seeing the trees in Sequoia and doing the majority of your hiking in Kings Canyon. Trees are the thing at Sequoia. Yosemite has the views and waterfalls(and the crowds). We are headed to Yosemite the end of May. I don't see how you can go wrong with either.

Backcountry camping will be very inconvenient for any other sightseeing in Yosemite.

You might consider driving over Tioga Pass to the east side of the Sierra and then driving 395 south to LA after visiting Yosemite Valley. It's a more spectacular drive and there are dozens of trailheads and campgrounds along the route that won't be booked. Unless we have some very late season storms, Tioga Pass should be open by the time of your visit.