Fall Break

 Saturday 10/17

We left our home after noon and drove to our overnight hotel in Las Vegas. 

Sunday 10/18 

We drove the rest of the way to California and arrived in Three Rivers for our next few days near Sequoia and Kings Canyon. 

Monday 10/19

Today we visited Sequoia NP. We stopped at these sights/trails 

Moro Rock—hanging rock (.5 miles)

California is having bad wildfires. You can see all the smoky air in this picture. We were just glad the park was open during our time here!

Tunnel Log-drive thru

Giant Forest Museum

General Sherman and Congress Trail (3.3 miles)

Crescent Meadow (1.3 miles)-we only did a quick stop and look here. The kids were tired of hiking anymore today.

Lodge pole visitor center-big trees loop (.6 miles)

Tuesday 10/20

Today we went to Kings Canyon NP. 

Here's our itinerary today.

The Big Stump (1.8 miles)- this area was closed for construction so we couldn't go.

General Grant (.5 miles)

Panoramic Point (.5 miles)

Grizzly Falls (pullover)- a pullover with no hiking. One of the kids favorites due to no walking

Zumwalt Meadows Trailhead (1.5 miles)- We didn't quite find the correct place for this place either. We did enjoy the pre-meadows area by the river and bridge though. 

 

Roaring river falls (.3 miles)

Roads End – Swimming in the copper Creek (Rock Diving)- We did not see where to pull over for this one. It was the end of the day anyway, so we just headed home.

Wednesday 10/21

We checked out of the rental and headed over near Yosemite in Groveland, CA. It was a crazy, treacherous, winding road connecting the two locations, but we finally made it. 

Thursday 10/22

Bridal Veil Falls

Sentinel Dome (2 miles)

Elevation 8117 above sea level

Mirror Lake (1.5 miles)- We rented bikes at the Lodge and then biked up to Mirror Lake, which ended up being dried out this late in the season. It was still a nice way to see a bit of the park and switch things up instead of walking or driving.  

Lower Yosemite Fall- Since the lake was dried out, we skipped this hike. I think the spring would be more likely to have some water. 

Valley View Viewpoint

Yosemite Valley -El Capitan, Half Dome- Cook’s Meadow Trail (2 mile)

 

Friday 10/23

Tunnel View Viewpoint

Glacier Point

Saturday 10/24

Instead of breaking the drive home into 2 days, everyone opted to do it all in one day. We checked out a few spots on the way out of the park. Well, some of us. Most of them stayed in the car hoping to be home sooner than later.  

Tenaya Lake

We did not hike the Tuolumne Meadows hike on the way out. But there was this nice pull out view point near the end of the park. Olmsted Point.

Pumpkin patch

 Josh and I visited the patch together today. We got 2 giant pumpkins for the porch since we didn't grow any this year.