Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park is a great place to get close to Giant Sequoia's. Starting at the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth, the trail winds through impressive groves of some of the largest sequoia's in the park. Names like 'The House', 'The Senate' and 'The President' strand give the trail its name. Crowds get smaller the further you hike on the easy 3 mile loop which can be done in varying lengths.
#297 Yosemite Valley
Tunnel View overlooking Yosemite Valley is one of the most iconic scenes in Yosemite National Park. Its vantage point includes breathtaking views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and the Half Dome. Late afternoon light through sunset is the best time to photograph this lovely vista. If arriving to the park from Wawona Road, this stop is also the first view of the valley making it a famous spot.
#283 Tokopah Falls
Tokopah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park at 1,200 feet. A stunning 1.7 mile trail each way follows the Kaweah River up the high country of the Sierra Nevada to the base of the falls. Crowds will fade as you surround massive granite cliffs covered in pristine forest. Go in the Spring for the most thunderous falls.
#273 Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a National Historic Landmark in the heart of Yosemite that has been providing visitors luxury since 1927. Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the hotel to blend in with the Sierra Nevada. The Great Lounge and Great Dining Room provide visitors with a space to relax while admiring original paintings, tapestries and rugs. Ahwahnee will take you back to a simpler time of National Park travel as you explore the surroundings where Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball and Judy Garland once stayed.
#263 Big Stump Trail
Big Stump Trail is an important reminder of the need to preserve landscapes through National Parks. This trail in Kings Canyon National Park contains many Giant Sequoia Stumps that were logged in the 1800's. The most famous stump, The Mark Twain Tree, was sawed by two men for 13 days in 1891 and estimated to be 1,350 years old. A ladder takes you to the top to see the rings and massive size of the sequoia. These trees would still be going strong if not selfishly destroyed.
#254 Mobius Arch
Mobius Arch is the most famous of many arches in the Alabama Hills. Giant monzogranite boulders have eroded for millions of years creating magnificent shapes. The arch perfectly frames the Sierra Nevada Mountains including Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. A 3/4 mile hike winds through the boulders and provides sweeping views of the landscape.
#251 Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a seasonal lake in Yosemite National Park that peaks in the Spring after a great snow melt. An easy, 2 mile round trip hike takes you to the base and is a great way to see what Yosemite looked like thousands of years ago when an entire lake covered the valley floor. In the summertime, it becomes a giant green meadow.
#240 Redwood Mountain Grove
Redwood Mountain Grove in Kings Canyon National Park is the largest Giant Sequoia Grove in the world. The grove also features the tallest sequoia at 311 feet. A windy dirt road takes you to the trailhead making it one of the least visited in the park, perfect for those seeking solitude.
#235 Tejon Ranch
Tejon Ranch is the largest private land owner in California. The Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert all meet here to create an ecosystem like no place else on Earth. Rare and endangered plant and animal species call the ranch home. In the Spring, the mountains come alive with a mosaic of wildflowers. Access to the ranch is only allowed through the Tejon Ranch Conservancy.
#223 Glacier Point
Glacier Point is probably the most beautiful spot in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at 7,214 feet. Located more than 3,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, the vista provides jaw dropping views of the iconic sites including Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada Falls and the prominent Half Dome. Glacier Point Road takes you to the overlook and is a beautiful drive.
