While in California we had the fortunate chance to see some of the most majestic national parks we have ever been in! Our first adventure found us amongst the most largest trees in the world in Sequoia National Park.
The first day we were there we hiked Moro Rock Trail. This trail gives you some amazing views but for us we were standing in nothing but clouds when we got to the top. Along this trail you walked amongst the sequoias which were all unique in there own way. We also hiked along the Congress Trail getting to see the famous General Sherman tree. Our last hike of the day was the Big Trees Trail.
Most of the hikes among the sequoias are fairly easy with little to no elevation change. We camped just outside of Sequoia National Park in the national forest side at the Potwisha Campground. A less crowded campground if you’re interested in being out of the crowds. The next day we headed up Generals Highway to camp in Kings Canyon National Park. I don’t know how it is in other months but we went in May and going earlier in the morning through Sequoia National Park was much clearer earlier in the morning than it was the day before when we arrived after lunch in the park. As we were leaving the park about lunch time the fog was rolling in pretty heavy in the Sequoias so just an FYI to have more clear views go early in the morning before lunch. Along our way to Kings Canyon we stopped along Generals Highway and did some hiking along a creek to a waterfall and Matt got some fishing in that day and was successful!
We arrived in Kings Canyon National Park that evening and camped two nights at Sentinel Campground. We spent a full day hiking in Kings Canyon National Park. We hiked Zumwalt Meadows and Roaring Fork Trail for a few hours and only passed one other couple on this hike a very nice and secluded area.
Then we drove to the very end of Kings Canyon Highway where it dead ends. We walked along the Roaring Fork River and Matt did some more fishing. While he fished, I sat along the bank soaking up the nature that surrounded us.
When Matt was done fishing we headed back to the car. As we were leaving the river, about 10 feet from the bank Matt stopped in his tracks. He looked down and there was what looked like some kind of animal poop. I stopped and asked him what was wrong and when he looked up he said BEAR… but in a soft voice. That was fresh bear poop that literally happened right behind me while I was sitting on a log watching Matt fish! My heart was racing I had never seen a bear in the wild at this point. So we stood there quietly watching the black bear tear through old burnt trees that had fallen. It was such an amazing but terrifying experience all at the same time.
We probably watched the bear for about 20 minutes mainly because he was right on the trail we had to walk on to get back to the car. It was pretty cool getting to experience wild life like that and we were the only ones around that witnessed it. Our few days spent in these national parks were pretty memorable.
Lastly, we went back to East California on a separate occasion to visit Yosemite National Park. It was the middle of May when we went and it was already busy there so I can’t imagine what it would be like in the dead of summer. Arrive early morning to get parking spots or you will be driving around for 30 minutes or more just to find a spot. Our first day there it was kind of cloudy off and on with some showers so we just did some short hikes in Yosemite Valley. We did lower Yosemite Falls hike then got on the Valley Loop Trail.
After our hike, we got back to the car and noticed our cooler was missing that we had put on the back hitch rack. We thought someone had just stolen our entire cooler and all of our food for the next two days until we noticed there was a paper on our front windshield. We had gotten a ticket from the park service for having our cooler on the outside of our car in the park and they had confiscated our cooler. So we went to where the ticket said to pick the cooler up and thankfully the park officer just gave us a warning and did not fine us for leaving our cooler out. It was an honest mistake we had never been anywhere that had bear activity so we didn’t know you had to have everything in your car or put up in the bear boxes while in the parking lots of the park. We were very lucky the officer gave us a warning because fines for that can be at minimum $500.00! So after we collected our cooler, we headed to our campground that was outside of Yosemite valley about an hour away called Summerdale Campground. It was nice to get away from all the crowds because all the campsites in Yosemite Valley were packed like sardines. Even though its a little drive to the park entrance we like camping away from all the crowds. The next morning we rose real early to do a 14 mile hike that day starting in Yosemite Valley. We started on Four Mile Trail which was as the name says 4 miles with 4000 feet elevation gain to Glacier Point to get on the Panorama Trail which brings you back down to Yosemite Valley.
So the reason we had to do Four mile trail was because shuttle buses weren’t running up to Glacier Point from Yosemite Valley yet in May so we had to hike up to get to our main hike for the day! Oh yeah and Matt loved me for doing that to him! I have to say though the higher you climbed the more beautiful the views got on Four Mile Trail.
Once we were on the Panorama Trail, we stopped at a few creek crossings and Matt did a little fishing and caught some small trout which I think made up for the extensive hiking that day!
The Panorama Trail took you behind half dome and gave you viewings of Vernal and Nevada Falls from the top then you hiked down to the bottom which the route we went took us by Mist Falls at the end of the hike. Once we were back in Yosemite Valley, our feet were aching and our legs felt like jello, so we took the park shuttle back to as close as we could get to where we had parked the car. Yosemite was breathtaking no matter where you looked from Yosemite Valley to El Capitan to Half Dome to all the rushing waterfalls in Spring. Yosemite makes you realize just how BIG God is and thankful for all of his beautiful creations we get to see and experience on this beautiful earth! If you ever get the chance we recommend visiting all of the these parks because they will not disappoint!
