Yosemite/Sequoia National Parks in 2 Days?
Jul 2nd, 2012, 08:04 AM
#1
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Yosemite/Sequoia National Parks in 2 Days?
Looking to visit Yosemite in June 2013. Probably not going to do the Tioga Road due to others on the trip. Anyway, any suggestions on what we MUST do/see in our short time for these two parks. Only can do short/easier hikes, mostly do driving with pulloffs. Will be coming up from Las Vegas area. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!
Jul 2nd, 2012, 08:41 AM
#2
Are you figuring the drive from LV in the 2 days? In other words, are there 2 full days for the parks or are drives to and from the parks included in the 2 days. Being specific with the time frame on such a short visit makes all the difference.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 09:39 AM
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Given that short time, I would choose one park or the other, not both. They are great parks, but trying to see both in 2 days, even if that is 2 full days for the parks will be too much - you'll shortchange both parks.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 11:18 AM
#7
not really a viable plan. It is a minimum 4 hour drive between Sequoia and Yosemite Valley. So there is noway you'll get a day in each park w/ just 2 days total. (Not to mention it is an 8 hour drive from Vegas to Sequoia)
Pick one park or the other.
Pick one park or the other.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 11:32 AM
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These parks take more than two days each. So definately pick just one.
Yosemite would be my choice. The trees there aren't as good as those in Sequoia, but still super super impressive. Yosemite offers many easy options "not far from your car".
I would start off in Maripossa Grove. You can hike there or take the tram to see most of the trees. Have a meal at The Wawonna Hotel. Then on you way to the Yosemite Valley, take Glacier Point Road and see Glacier Point. Spend the night in the Valley. Dinner at Yosemite Lodge or Pizza in Curry Village.
Continue on through Tunnel View and spend the night in Yosemite Valley. The next morning see Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls. If anyone in the group is capable of hiking The Mist Trail, then by all means hike it. A nice easy hike is to Mirror Lake. Anywhere along the river in the valley is also a nice hike. Dinner at The Awahnee or Sunday Brunch there(if you can make it there on a Sunday). Make Reservations. You could do a short rafting adventure, you could drive to Hetch Hetchy or Tuolomne(Tioga).
Yosemite would be my choice. The trees there aren't as good as those in Sequoia, but still super super impressive. Yosemite offers many easy options "not far from your car".
I would start off in Maripossa Grove. You can hike there or take the tram to see most of the trees. Have a meal at The Wawonna Hotel. Then on you way to the Yosemite Valley, take Glacier Point Road and see Glacier Point. Spend the night in the Valley. Dinner at Yosemite Lodge or Pizza in Curry Village.
Continue on through Tunnel View and spend the night in Yosemite Valley. The next morning see Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls. If anyone in the group is capable of hiking The Mist Trail, then by all means hike it. A nice easy hike is to Mirror Lake. Anywhere along the river in the valley is also a nice hike. Dinner at The Awahnee or Sunday Brunch there(if you can make it there on a Sunday). Make Reservations. You could do a short rafting adventure, you could drive to Hetch Hetchy or Tuolomne(Tioga).
Jul 2nd, 2012, 12:24 PM
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Thanks all for the suggestions. I think I'll look at just doing Yosemite. Any suggestions on where to stay in the Valley? I have 2 kids (11/9) going along. Thanks again. We are actually visiting Bryce & Zion on the way to Vegas.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 01:12 PM
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You could check into regular type cabins at Curry Village.
These have private bathrooms.
Also there are tent cabins at both Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp. This is luxory camping-tents with floors and already set up for you, but no private bathrooms. Restrooms and showers you have to walk to a bit. A lot of people really like this and your kids might have fun.
You are going to some of the very best National Parks with some of the very best hikes. If you hike at all consider The Mist Trail at Yosemite. In Zion consider Angels Landing and The Narrows(you would want to rent shoes for this at Zion Adventure Co.). In Bryce, look at Navajo Loop/Queens Garden Combination-a great hike down in the hoodoos. All of these are moderate to slightly strenuous hikes. The Narrows are pretty easy,but you are in water 90% of the time. This is in a slot canyon and you wouldn't want to do this one if rain were threat in the area. Angel's Landing is a a knife's edge about 2000 feet up the last 1/4 mile of the trail. If your kids don't behave, then don't take them on this one. One slip and your gone. It is an amazing hike though. The Mist Trail is just fabulous. All of these hikes take 4-6 hours. Do Angels Landing at first light in the morning to avoid the heat.
At Yosemite, you can easily see just the Grizzly Giant. However, it is cool to walk among the others like The Tunnel Tree, Clothespin, and several others.
These have private bathrooms.
Also there are tent cabins at both Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp. This is luxory camping-tents with floors and already set up for you, but no private bathrooms. Restrooms and showers you have to walk to a bit. A lot of people really like this and your kids might have fun.
You are going to some of the very best National Parks with some of the very best hikes. If you hike at all consider The Mist Trail at Yosemite. In Zion consider Angels Landing and The Narrows(you would want to rent shoes for this at Zion Adventure Co.). In Bryce, look at Navajo Loop/Queens Garden Combination-a great hike down in the hoodoos. All of these are moderate to slightly strenuous hikes. The Narrows are pretty easy,but you are in water 90% of the time. This is in a slot canyon and you wouldn't want to do this one if rain were threat in the area. Angel's Landing is a a knife's edge about 2000 feet up the last 1/4 mile of the trail. If your kids don't behave, then don't take them on this one. One slip and your gone. It is an amazing hike though. The Mist Trail is just fabulous. All of these hikes take 4-6 hours. Do Angels Landing at first light in the morning to avoid the heat.
At Yosemite, you can easily see just the Grizzly Giant. However, it is cool to walk among the others like The Tunnel Tree, Clothespin, and several others.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 01:15 PM
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Yosemite Lodge and The Awahnee are definately more upscale than CV or HC. At least you have a variety to pick from in terms of cost and desire. Do make your reservations pretty quickly. I would also stay at Bryce Lodge and Zion Lodge if you can at all. Much better to stay "in park" and I really love all of the historic lodges. Some people don't like them though, they aren't for everyone.
Jul 2nd, 2012, 01:19 PM
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I'm sorry for so many post. If you have the time stop at Arches National Park and Goblin Valley State Park in Utah on your way in to Bryce. Both amazing places too.
Since you are going to several National Parks-buy a National Park Pass for $80 when you enter your first park. It covers all National Parks, National Seashores, National Rivers, National Monuments for a year.
Are you going through Capitol Reef? I don't know that I would stop there and do much, but I would stop at the Gifford House there and get there homemade pies and eat it in the Orchard right next door under the two huge trees(usually a lot of deer there).
Since you are going to several National Parks-buy a National Park Pass for $80 when you enter your first park. It covers all National Parks, National Seashores, National Rivers, National Monuments for a year.
Are you going through Capitol Reef? I don't know that I would stop there and do much, but I would stop at the Gifford House there and get there homemade pies and eat it in the Orchard right next door under the two huge trees(usually a lot of deer there).
Jul 3rd, 2012, 07:43 AM
#17
"Any suggestions for places to stay outside the park?"
Not if you can get rooms in the Valley. That is by far the best place to stay. Most places outside of the park take 1 to 1.5 hours to drive in. If the Lodge is booked up for your dates (and it shouldn't be because you have a lot of lead time - but book as soon as your dates are firm) two decent options: El Portal has two motels w/i a reasonable drive; and Yosemite West is an area of privately owned homes/condos that is quite close to the park. Wawona is nice and inside the park . . . but is a longer drive from the Valley than El Portal and Yosemite West.
But again . . . Staying IN Yosemite Valley is best if at all possible.
Not if you can get rooms in the Valley. That is by far the best place to stay. Most places outside of the park take 1 to 1.5 hours to drive in. If the Lodge is booked up for your dates (and it shouldn't be because you have a lot of lead time - but book as soon as your dates are firm) two decent options: El Portal has two motels w/i a reasonable drive; and Yosemite West is an area of privately owned homes/condos that is quite close to the park. Wawona is nice and inside the park . . . but is a longer drive from the Valley than El Portal and Yosemite West.
But again . . . Staying IN Yosemite Valley is best if at all possible.
Jul 12th, 2012, 12:10 PM
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Just to clear up Curry Village info: There are 14 real wood cabins without a bath. They are smaller than the average hotel room with no closet but a garment bar over the bed. They are in the 900s section and aren't in danger of rockfall. The bathrooms are really close to them. The cabins with a bath are in the back so in possible danger but I read that they soon plan to move them farther away from rockfall danger. They have been there for years. The last rockfall was in 2008 which closed the ones farthest in the back. There are 42 of those still open I believe. There are also 18 rooms in the Stoneman House Hotel in Curry. Ours was really nice as well as convenient to amenities. There are also over 400 canvas tent cabins. I wish they would just call them Yurts , less confusing. A quarter of them are "signature" which means drywall and elec outlets but cost a little more. It was quiet at night when we were there at the end of June.
