It is widely accepted that Yosemite is Number One of all the Californian National Parks. And the best thing is that Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are just south east of Yosemite, such that you can see all 3 parks in 3 days. But if you want to make it a holiday of a lifetime, we suggest you take 7 days to take it all in. Here’s how you do it…
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Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you know it must be good. And it’s better than good – it’s mind blowing! Yosemite is famous for it’s thundering waterfalls, incredible granite cliffs, massive domes and hanging valleys.
Getting There and Getting Around
We suggest driving a car to somewhere in the vicinity of the park. But once you are there you will find a free shuttle bus is the best way to go, because the car parks to popular attractions can fill up and become very frustrating to find a car-park. The free shuttle buses have 19 stops throughout the park and is a popular way to get around.
Yosemite is all about hiking trails, so be prepared with good hiking equipment and be prepared to walk. Yosemite Fall is one exception, with just a 10 minute walk along flat footpath from the car park to the Lower Yosemite Fall viewing area.
For those less into walking, you can see spectacular views of many of the most famous waterfalls from road turnouts. In fact you can see the most famous domes and waterfalls without venturing more than 10 feet from your car!
When to Go
As soon as possible after the snow melt is the best time to go to Yosemite, because the waterfalls will be pumping hard. They will be so impressive that you will hear the thunderous roar from the other side of the expansive Yosemite Valley.
May-June is our pick for the best time to go. The nights are cool but not freezing, and the waterfalls are at their absolute best. It’s important to check the conditions and not go too early, as some roads may be closed due to snow.
Tip: Checkout the YOSEMITE WEBCAMS if you’d like to see how the park looks at any time of the year.
What to see
Our top 5 picks in Yosemite National Park are the “easy ones” that you can actually see in a single day, if you’re rushed for time.
1. El Capitan and Horsetail Fall
El Capitan is a 3,000 sheer vertical granite rock. There is easy access to view El Capitan from the turnout on the main access road into Yosemite Valley. El Capitan remains one of the greatest challengers for rock climbers.
2. Yosemite Falls, Upper/Middle/Lower
Yosemite Falls are the highest waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 metres). Upper Yosemite Fall drops 1,430 feet (440 metres), which puts it in the top 20 waterfalls in the world.
3. Vernal Fall and the Mist Trail
Vernal Fall is a 4 hour round trip to the top following the mist trail. On the Mist Trail, you will be sprayed with water from Vernal Fall. Expect to get wet.
4. Tunnel View
Tunnel View is located just outside the Wawona Tunnel on State Highway 41. Here you will get a great view of Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall.
5. Glacier Point and the Drive to Glacier Point
Glacier Point offers superb views over the Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall and Cloud Rest. In fact Glacier Point has an elevation of 7,214 feet (2,199 metres) and is 3,200 feet (980 metres) above Half Dome Village.
Sequoia National Park
This is the place to see the Giant Sequoia Trees. These trees only grow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and there are less than 70 groves remaining. You can see the world’s largest tree by volume, the General Sherman Tree. It is also a great place to spot wild black bears.
Getting There and Getting Around
Although you can easily find bus tours through the park, there is no free shuttle bus like in Yosemite. Car is the best way to get around this parks, and it is generally less crowded and easier to find parking than in Yosemite.
Sequoia is approximately 4-5 hours drive from Yosemite, so they are easy to join together for an extended holiday.
When to Go
Virtually anytime except winter is a good time to go to Sequoia National Park, purely to avoid the cold weather and snow. We suggest in the Spring, same as Yosemite since the temperatures will still be cool yet pleasant, and you will see plenty of snow remaining on the high peaks for some stunning scenery.
What to See
Giant Forest and the General Sherman Tree
Crescent Meadow
Auto Log
Tunnel Log
Bear Spotting
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon shares a border with Sequoia National Park, so all the same recommendations apply. It is probably one of the least known of the Californian National Parks, but don’t let that fool you.
Top 5 Attractions
General Grant Grove
This is conveniently located just inside the park entrance, and has the second largest tree in the world the General Grant Tree. You just can’t get enough of these magnificent Giant Sequoia trees.
Kings River Canyon
Drive into the park proper and you will meet the Kings River Canyon, one of the deepest canyons you will ever lay eyes upon. You will need to deal with one of the scariest mountain roads anywhere, due to the massive drops below. In fact you will descend about 4,000 feet along the road as you enter the valley – that’s Grand Canyon size!
Grizzly Falls
These falls are great because it’s just a short walk from the car park to see the waterfall. You will be treated to a powerful 75 foot waterfall.
Roaring River Falls
Take a 0.3 mile paved walking trail and you will see a short but powerful waterfall, well worth a look.
Zumwalt Meadow
This scenic spot is located in the floor of the King River Valley, where you are treated to a lush meadow situated in a dramatic section of the canyon with sheer rock cliffs.
How to Plan Your Itinerary
Our own itinerary worked out great, so this is what we suggest to see the 3 Best Californian National Parks.
Yosemite National Park
Stay in Housekeeping Camp, in the heart of Yosemite Valley. Here you are treated to magnificent views of Yosemite Falls and the Merced River, and it offers outstanding access to all the major attractions.
We booked for 1 night only because the availability was limited. We suggest you book 6-12 months ahead at Housekeeping Camp, and stay 2-3 nights. It is surprisingly affordable, we paid just $116 per night for our luxury tent.
Allow a full day to drive from Housekeeping Camp to your next stop. This way you can take a detour to Glacier Point along the way. Glacier Point is one of the not to be missed attractions, and will add about 3 hours to your trip.
Squaw Valley
Accommodation inside Sequoia National Park is limited and must be booked well in advance. So we took the Airbnb option and stayed in Squaw Valley. We found an amazing RV on a lovely 5 acre residential block for around $100 per night. The RV offered excellent access to the park at just 40 minutes drive to Kings Canyon entrance, and 1.5 hours drive to Sequoia National Park (General Sherman area).
We were a little suspect on staying in an RV… thinking of run down trailer parks. But it was a state of the art RV with all the modern conveniences. Very spacious and lots of personal touches added by our amazing hosts.
Our hosts lived next door in their home and were the most amazing friendly hosts, offering us lots of good advice and help. In the end, this RV was the highlight of our California Road Trip, thus we thoroughly recommend searching for your own Airbnb in Squaw Valley.
Our plan was to spend one full day in the Kings Canyon area, then a second full day in the Sequoia area. We stayed in the RV for 4 nights, so this also gave us one down-day to chill out. We needed it, we were fairly exhausted from all the hiking in these wonderful National Parks.
Your Perfect Itinerary to see the 3 Best Californian National Parks
Day 1 – Drive from wherever to Housekeeping Camp. Take loads of amazing photos in the Yosemite Valley Turnouts. Stay for the night in Housekeeping Camp
Day 2 – Take the shuttle bus to the Mist Trail, hike 3 hours round trip to Vernal Falls. See another destinations in the like Yosemite Falls, El Capitan.
Day 3 – Drive to Squaw Valley. Be sure to stop at Tunnel View (20 minutes) and Glacier Point (3-4 hours).
Day 4 – Drive to Sequoia National Park (1.5-2 hours) – see the General Sherman Tree, Crystal Meadow, Auto Log and Tunnel Log.
Day 5 – Take a down day, you deserve it! If you really want, take another drive into Sequoia National Park and see some more attractions.
Day 6 – Drive to Kings Canyon National Park (45 minutes). See Grants Grove and Kings Canyon.
Day 7 – Drive home, or your next destination.
Best Holiday Ever
So there you have our ultimate holiday in the 3 Best Californian National Parks. By now you would have filled up you camera with some of the most iconic scenery in USA. With any luck you have spotted several wild deer and some wild Black Bears. You have breathed in the freshest Sierra Nevada air. And you don’t need to see another waterfall for a long time, because you’ve just seen some of the best in the world. Congratulations, you’ve just had the best holiday ever.
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