NATIONAL PARKS & FORESTS, "OUR BACKYARD"
Cascades of melting water, natural alpine gardens and groves of Giant Sequois make Yosemite a wonder to enjoy any season of the year. Yosemite is a work of nature formed by massive glaciers thousands of years. The Tunnel View turnout at the eastern end of the Wawona Tunnel on HWY 41 is one of the most photographed vistas on earth. It provides a classic view of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls.
For more information call 209-372-0200 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/yose.
Lodging Options (YOSEMITE):
Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 46536 Road 417 Coarsegold, CA 93614
(559) 692-5200 www.chukchansigold.com
Apple Tree Inn 1110 Hwy 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623
(559) 683-5111 www.appletreeinn-yosemite.com
DNC Parks & Resprts at Yosemite, Inc.PO Box 578, Yosemite, CA 95389
(209) 372-1162 www.yosemitepark.com
Paradise Springs PO Box 2904, Oakhurst, CA 93644
(559) 683-7162 www.paradisespringsmountain.com
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite PO Box 159, Fish Camp, CA 93623
(559) 683-6555 www.tenayalodge.com
The Pines Resort PO Box 109, Bass Lake, CA 93604
(559) 642-8816 www.basslake.com
Yosemite West Cottages/Yosemite West Lodging PO Box 507, Bass Lake, CA 93604
(559) 642-2211 www.yosemitewestreservations.com
Located 55 miles east of downtown Frsno on HWY 180. This National Park is a region of giant canyons with towering walls, countless lakes, waterfalls and mountain meadows. KCNP is home to the Grant Grove and the General Grant (or the Nations Christmas Tree), Panoramic Pint at Grants Grove Village, and Big Stump Basin Trail (a one mile loop that reveals the remains of early logging), the Kings River, and many other wondrous sites. This park is a “rival to Yosemite.”
For more information call 888-564-7775 or visit www.kcanyon.com.
Lodging Options (Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks):
Kings Canyon Park Services PO Box 907, Kings Canyon NP, CA 93633
(559) 335-5500
Sequoia Lodging Sales & Marketing 220 N. Santa Fe, Visalia, CA 93292
(559) 565-4070
Wonder Valley Ranch Resort & Conference Center 6450 Elwood Road, Sanger, CA 93657
(559) 787-2551 www.wondervalley.com
Sequoia is the park of superlatives, with the largest living thing – the General Sherman Tree, and the highest point in the contiguous United State – Mount Whitney. Add to that the Wuksacki Village, and you have all the ingredients for a year-round destination. SNP is home to the Giant Forest (the famed Big Trees including the General Sherman Tree), Moro Rock (a large granite dome), Crescent Meadow (a lovely mid-elevation meadow), and many other awe inspiring natural beauty.
For more information call 559-565-3341 or visit www..nps.gov/seki.
Boyden Cavern – The cavern is located on HWY 180 in the spectacular 8,000-foot-deep Kings River Canyon between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove. Daily 45-minute tours available May through October take visitors on a lighted handrail-equipped trail past beautiful crystalline stalactites and stalagmites. For more information, please call 866-762-2837 or visit www.caverntours.com.
Giant Sequoia National Monument – This 328,000-acre preserve protects 38 groves of the world’s largest trees, the giant sequoias. The monument is located in Sequoia National Forest. It consists of two parcels, one north and one south of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Giant sequoias can survive more than 3,000 years. Their native habitat is found between 4,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. For more information call 559-565-3341 or visit www.nps.gov/seki.
Sierra National Forest
The Sierra National Forest is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite and Kings Canyon national parks. Elevations soar from 1,000 feet to more than 13,000 feet.
The Dinkey Lakes Wilderness lies southeast of Huntington Lake and northwest of Courtright Reservoir. Most of it is above 8,000 feet. Sixteen lakes are clustered in the west-central region of the wilderness.
The John Muir Wilderness covers 584,000 acres in the Sierra and Inyo national forests. Elevations range from 4,000 feet to 14,496 feet at Mt. Whitney and many peaks are above 13,000 feet.
The Kaiser Wilderness is located immediately north of Huntington Lake, about 70 miles northeast of Fresno. The southern half of the wilderness area is characterized by dense red fir and Jeffrey pine forests that extend up the gradual south slope of Kaiser Ridge. The top of the ridge is in the alpine zone. This northern region contains 18 small lakes.
The Monarch Wilderness area extends across the Sierra and Sequoia national forests. The Sierra National Forest portion of the Wilderness is extremely rugged and difficult to traverse. Steep slopes extend up from the middle and main forks of the Kings River. Elevations range from 2,400 feet to more than 10,000 feet.
Reservations are available for Huntington Lake campgrounds (Rancheria, College, Upper and Lower Billy Creek, Catavee, Deer Creek and Kinnikinnick); High Sierra campgrounds (Mono Creek, Jackass Meadow, Mono Hot Springs, Vermillion); Shaver Lake (Dorabelle); and Dinkey Creek campground. Reservations can be made from 10 to 240 days in advance of your desired reservation.
Forest-service campgrounds provide vault or flush toilets, picnic tables, fire pits and some have barbecue grills. Nonreservation (first come, first served) campgrounds that have running water have fees that vary from $14 to $24 per night. For all campgrounds, six people and one vehicle are allowed per single site, 12 people and two vehicles per double site. There is a $5 extra charge for vehicles at fee sites. Golden Age and Golden Access passes offer 50 percent discounts and they are accepted at all family campgrounds.
Campers are required to camp at least 100 feet from streams, lakes and trails, and to remove all trash. Campfires, portable stoves and barbecues outside campgrounds are prohibited in most areas below 7,000 feet during high-fire danger. In higher elevations, fires are allowed with a valid campfire permit. Permits, current fire-danger levels and maps of restricted fire danger-areas are available at all ranger stations. Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office: 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, 93611, 297-0706. For more information and current campground rates, visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra.