Southern California loop - August 2023

[Mark Sedenquist]

Weds 23rd - Day 16
Sunrise Dantes View (leave hotel at 430am)
Drive to Grand Canyon National Park (+/- 6.5 hours)
Pass Las Vegas and stop for quick visit to Hoover Dam
Sunset time approx 7pm
Overnight accommodation booked: Yavapai Lodge

Yavapai is in a great location. Be sure to go the main lodge for lunch or dinner. Pretty awesome views.

Fri 25th - Day 18
Drive to Joshua Tree National Park (+/- 3 hours)
Roadside attraction: London Bridge at Lake Havasu City

Personally, I would recommend that you drive west from Lake Havasu and stay overnight at the 29 Palms Inn. This place has been a favorite getaway for us and the Thodys and Hollywood starlets for many years. Plus, it is located on the edge of the Joshua Tree National Park.
Here is what Peter wrote about it.
Here is one of Megan's articles about itIf you do stay there -- EAT AT THE Pool restaurant. The owner is a Michelin Chef and his food is awesome and not at all what you might expect.

Explore Joshua Tree National Park
Drive back towards LA and stop at San Bernadino (+/- 2 hours)
Roadside attraction: World’s Biggest Dinosaurs at Cabazon
Overnight Wigwam Motel San Bernadino (not booked)

Hmmm. There's not much to see anymore at the Dinos at Cabazon--they are still there, but they have been swallowed by neighborhood homes.

Sat 26th - Day 19
Drive back to Six Flags area (+/- 2 hours)
Anything outstanding to north or west of Los Angeles
Stock up with Prime!
Overnight near Six Flags (not booked)

Sun 27th - Day 20
Full day in Six Flags
Overnight near Six Flags (not booked)

Mon 28th - Day 21
Fly Los Angeles - London

I have never been to Six Flags and usually when I am passing by there, I am going to someplace else and have never really explored that area. Except for some off-highway explorations. i will do some cogitating.

Mark

[Rick Quinn]

I have to say that I am disappointed to miss out on the second day in Death Valley (my favourite place!) as well as not getting to walk on the Skywalk (something I've wanted to do since I first heard about it years ago!)

Since you're interested, here's a link to a field report about a Grand Canyon river trip. Down at the bottom of the section on "Day 8" there's a couple of cool photos of the Skywalk from underneath:

Into the Heart of the Grand Canyon

Sort of puts it in context (as it were).

Rick

[UKCraig]

Craig, I must have misread the original post -- I thought you were going to drive to Bodie and then south to Death Valley the same day. If you are leaving from Willow Springs -- it would be the 4 hours or so to Furnace Creek.

No, you read the original post just right; I only changed it after your 'hmm' comment made me re-assess :)

Sorry I've been quiet; was really struggling with accommodation and the route in the days 8 and 9 as there is - ironically - some big car event in Monterey at the time we will be there. Found a place at Lovers Point now which, whilst not first choice, should fit the bill.

All accommodation now booked other than day 7 which will depend upon the reopening of the coast road. I suspect it'll still be closed sadly so we will likely try and dip in to the Pinnacles per the itinerary as above (not sure how a drive by visit will work there so open to other suggestions if we do go inland route) but, if it should be open we will take the coastal route I think. Really undecided how to handle that so may book two places which allow for cancellation later and see how things pan out.

Thanks for all the tips; very helpful. With things now much more certain in terms of routes/timings I am happy to consider these little added stops and visits! I particularly like the Starwars Canyon idea but I thought that got shut down after some sort of accident?

One thing to ponder; we are staying just outside the south entrance to Yosemite; should we follow the route via Modesto, Merced and Mariposa or enter into Yosemite via Groveland and exit to the south? I would like in some ways to do the latter but I suspect the traffic possibilities are endless with that? Maybe it is also more dramatic for the first time visitors to allow things to build slowly coming from the south and seeing the various views along the Glacier Point Road before the crescendo in the valley?

I am also wondering what the situation is with a quick (?) stop at the Hoover Dam these days? I went there years ago back before the bridge was built but can you still get down there relatively easily? I heard about security checkpoints? I believe there is a viewpoint which allows pedestrian access to the bridge now instead/as well? Is it possible to do both, perhaps?

[Mark Sedenquist]

All accommodation now booked other than day 7 which will depend upon the reopening of the coast road.

So here is the latest map from the PCH -- there are still thousands of tonnes of mountain sitting on the highway in a few places. I can't imagine that they will be able to reopen the road this year.

I suspect it'll still be closed sadly so we will likely try and dip in to the Pinnacles per the itinerary as above (not sure how a drive by visit will work there so open to other suggestions if we do go inland route)

I have only been there twice in 20 years, but brother goes at least once a month-- I will get some suggestions.

Here is a short article I wrote the last time I was there.

This may be too hot for your summer trip. This is what Dan had to say:

Pinnacles NP is best enjoyed from the west entrance, off Hwy 101 at Soledad. It is a narrow road so plan on taking your time and there have been many washouts in the area. I haven't been to the NP since the atmospheric rivers started. Nice new Visitors Center and good hiking both at the visitor center and further in at the main parking area. Can't really go wrong. There should be plenty of water in the canyons, lots of wildflowers, and the poison oak is leafing out, so be cautious. You can also enter the park from the East side on Hwy 25. It is a very small NP and this time of year should be uncrowded and pleasant. Summer is way too hot and dry. Keep an eye out for California Condors, which can often be spotted.

I particularly like the Starwars Canyon idea but I thought that got shut down after some sort of accident?

Yes, a jet crashed on the ridge and took out some photographers. Here is a video clip from the last time they flew through that I have been able to find.
I have my own story of "playing" with one of those F-15 Eagles--but that's a tale to be shared in person...

One thing to ponder; we are staying just outside the south entrance to Yosemite; should we follow the route via Modesto, Merced and Mariposa or enter into Yosemite via Groveland and exit to the south? I would like in some ways to do the latter but I suspect the traffic possibilities are endless with that? Maybe it is also more dramatic for the first time visitors to allow things to build slowly coming from the south and seeing the various views along the Glacier Point Road before the crescendo in the valley?

I have driven the approach in all of the ways. My recommendation is to approach using either tCA-140 (Mariposa and El Portal) or the road from the south through Wawona.

I am also wondering what the situation is with a quick (?) stop at the Hoover Dam these days? I went there years ago back before the bridge was built but can you still get down there relatively easily? I heard about security checkpoints? I believe there is a viewpoint which allows pedestrian access to the bridge now instead/as well? Is it possible to do both, perhaps?

Yeah, it is easy to do. The checkpoint is no big deal. Here is an article that Megan penned about the opening of the bridge in October 2010. You can see some of the photos taken from the pedestrian bridge. David Gomm has some awesome photos from there. I will look for them.

It's a one-way trip to see the Dam and the pedestrian bridge, but it's certainly cool.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Craig,

Another tool that you might find interesting would be the RTA Library Maps tool.

Go to the Advanced Maps page
and use the "Search for RTA Library Maps within" (200 miles) and click on the center of Pinnacles Park to see some of the possible routes.

Or you could just use the "Search for places within" (100 miles) and also click on the center of Pinnacles Park to see some of the possible attractions that we have written about.

The Bear Creek Driving road is on the way to Yosemite

And your kids might enjoy The Cowboy Museum in Oakdale Another really cool place is Railtown

Mark

[UKCraig]

Excellent information, thank you.

Sadly I thought the same about the chances of Highway 1 reopening having seen some photos; not just the blockages but sections of road entirely washed away.

We will bank on the inland route and plan accordingly; will seek the thoughts on the others in the party on whether we simply spend a little more time (and a night) at the southern end of the leg at the sacrifice of Pinnacles as it may be that they prefer this option.

[UKCraig]

Unsurprising news below:

https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/hig...onditions.html

At least Tioga Pass is about to re-open today!

[UKCraig]

So it turns out the kids are happier sitting in pools and swimming in the sea rather than the back of thr car. Who knew? Lol

To keep this trip on track for them we are going to change things up and dlow it down a little. Unfortunately the Grand CNyon has gone and we will spend a little more time in Yosemite and Death Valley before heading straight to Joshua Tree NP. Can anyone suggest the best route from DV to JT and perhaps a cool place to stay in JT area?

[glc]

I would take the east entrance out of DV to Death Valley Junction. Take CA-127 south to Baker, continue straight under I-15 onto Kelbaker Road into the Mojave National Preserve. Go through Kelso then out the south entrance, go under I-40 to Old 66. Turn right and go into Amboy, then a left on Amboy Road to 29 Palms. I believe Mark knows about a nice place to stay in the 29 Palms area, I forget what it's called.

[Southwest Dave]

will spend a little more time in Yosemite and Death Valley before heading straight to Joshua Tree NP.

Hey Craig. As I mentioned before, as much as I love Death valley it gets pretty hot and could be limiting and miserbale for the Kids. It's quite cool this coming weekend but then the heat begins to build from the middle of next week and is forcast to be around 40c by the 25th/26th of this month. It's worth keeping an eye on it as I'm sure you won't get tired of Yosemite in a hurry ! Between Yosemite and DV you could also check out June lake loop, Mammoth lake and the Alabama hils nar Lone pine. I agree with Georges routing to JT.