Las Vegas to Yosemite via Death Valley

[Mark Sedenquist]

You are using "the Sherman Pass Road" to include things west of the Kern River - over there it is "the Western Divide Highway" ( Hwy 190 to Camp Nelson), or the California Hot Springs road.

You are, of course, correct -- so I use "Sherman Pass Road" as a generic name -- it is actually nearly impossible to find street names when traveling along some of the sections -- especially since much of the signs were never replaced after the most recent wildfire on the west side of Sherman Pass.

The Kennedy Meadows folks don't... honest!

Let's say, I have seen alternative evidence from time to time.

There is a nice new Motel along the Kern River road - before you get to McNally's,

What is the name of it and when did it open? I was just there a couple of months ago. I actually like patio cabins owned by Dick and Louise Whitworth (closer to town) (Whispering Pines)

And now on 395 there are solar-powered signs listing Tioga (as Yosemite), Sonora, and Monitor Passes- open/closed. They're pretty accurate.

The last two times I went over Sonora -- those solar-powered signs on US-395 were still indicating that Sonora was closed. I always check the gate -- no matter what and have found it to open -- no matter what was on the official CALTrans site.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Folks are always coming into Kennedy Meadows asking where Sequoia trees are, because it is Sequoia National Forest, isn't it!?! Well, yes, but there are no sequoia trees east of the north fork of the Kern River - ie. the Kern Plateau/Kennedy Meadows/Sherman Pass road. However, with persistance, you can keep going over Sherman Pass, down to the Johnsondale Bridge, up 7 more miles to Hwy 190, turn north 2 miles to Trail of 100 Giants.

How about the "other confusion" -- whereby folks find Kennedy Meadows (as in the one up by the Emigrant Wilderness) and think they can find it someplace in the Kern River drainage?

From there, it's another 2 hrs. down to Camp Nelson - the road passes several groves, but they are not marked nor is it easy to get to them.
So - if folks are in the Owens Valley area, they can get to large (20 ft) Sequoia trees in 2 hrs. but it's not the National Park. (there is a lot of logging in GSNM) And the roads are very, very wiggly!!

Me thinks you must live somewhere near the Kennedy Meadows area? Have we met? Your knowledge of the Kern Plateau exceeds most casual visitor's expertise....

Best fishing around in the Kern River and Fish Creek.

I agree, that area is little-known jewel!

Most folks just drive through and miss the pretty meadows and grand vistas! 22 meadows (not counting Kennedy) with flowers, and all are available for primitive camping.

What are your picks for this year's spring wildflower display?

Mark

[jwest]

I've lived in Ridgecrest for over 40 years, taking advantage of this location to go exploring, lead field trips, etc. etc. Helps being a biologist....
I go to Kennedy Meadows on a regular basis and know most all of the locals.
As for flowers this spring - nope. Just too dry. The usual good spots like Short Canyon, Walker Pass/PCT, Sand canyons, behind the college, etc. so far have nothing, not one little blossom anywhere near a road, which is where they usually are. A few things have been reported from upper Indian Wells Canyon and from the PCT north of Walker Pass, but that's it. Sorry. Gotta have rain to have flowers, and we've gotten very little- 0.52" since last October. It's really DRY this spring. We got some more drops today, but only drops. Even the poppy preserve doesn't have more than 2 flowers. Sad. But they can wait. The bushes in our desert will bloom a little, starting in April.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I've lived in Ridgecrest for over 40 years, taking advantage of this location to go exploring, lead field trips, etc. etc. Helps being a biologist....

Ridgecrest has really changed in the last couple of years.

I go to Kennedy Meadows on a regular basis and know most all of the locals.

Yeah, I have gotta get back and have another of Al's Italian sausage sandwiches at the Kennedy Meadows Chuck Wagon BBQ.

As for flowers this spring - nope. Just too dry.

Yeah, I agree, it is not going to be in the usual spots. There is a meadow just off Rattlesnake Creek, that will probably be the best bet -- whatever moisture comes off the upper drainage reaches there. I have seen some great color of the years in Short Canyon -- nothing like the displays in 2005 (here are some of our photos nearer to Death Valley that year)

We got some more drops today, but only drops. Even the poppy preserve doesn't have more than 2 flowers. Sad. But they can wait. The bushes in our desert will bloom a little, starting in April.

We got some of those drops today -- at the office in Las Vegas -- but it is going to be a long, hot and dry summer.

Mark

[ssamiraa]

Hi Jwest and Editor,

I've been fixing together a route from las vegas to yosemite over two days with an over night stay. I'm hoping that on the first day we can spend a little time in death valley. Not quite decided where we'd stop off on the second day, so suggestions would be welcome.

How feasible does this sound for next week:

Las Vegas to Death Valley to Kernville (spend the night there) then north on to mountain road 99 then connecting on to Route 99 and then via fresno upto yosemite on route 41. Im hoping to see some giant Sequoias and maybe have a stop over somewhere too.

Again on yahoo maps it looks OK, it says its about 15 hours in total,
so splitting that into 4 journeys (I'm so not used to long distance driving) seems reasonable.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Las Vegas to Death Valley to Kernville (spend the night there)

OK, you are good to here. Now, stop and grab a bit of reality. Online maps, such as the one you created can easily cross the line from a "good thing" to a disaster. Looks like you really had some fun creating this route -- and I am sure it is doable, but....This is not Disneyland -- anytime you see a route suggestion offering a "mountain road" as the recommended choice -- you need to say "Whoa!" Unless you are a skilled mountain road driver, you should not drive down graded gravel/dirt roads in mountainous areas. (These roads are not actually gravel or dirt -- but they are very, very windy and require some mountain driving skills).

From Kernville, proceed west on CA-178 (down the paved highway) to Bakersfield whereupon you can go north on CA-99 to CA-198. Follow that east to Sequoia National Park and make the loop road to CA-180 and back to CA-99 to CA-41 and on to Yosemite.

The other route could be fine -- as long as you get printed, paper maps and make sure you are skilled sufficiently to travel on narrow roads. According to Janet (jwest), those roads are:

The road down the Kern River is M99, and is usually just called the upper Kern River Road, or the Johnsondale Road... no maps have the correct markings, so it's important to try to keep them straight. :-)

Mark

[ssamiraa]

You know... I soo appreciate a reality check!

To know what the roads are really like is much appreciated. Although, I'n not inexperienced, long distances may not be my thing, but narrow mountain roads are! I've done quite a bit of driving in coastal Turkey, around the lakes in Italy and also sicily... nevertheless, it is still good to know what's what!

As we say in London "Ta, very much!"

[Mark Sedenquist]

You know... I soo appreciate a reality check!

Sometimes I have a tendency to be a little harsh -- those roads would probably be OK for you -- I have driven them all. But given your time parameters, they are not a good choice -- on parts, you can not expect to average much more than 30 mph.... Beautiful and special and but not quick! Gorgeous scenery -- so with your four day period -- you should be fine. Just be aware, that they will take some time.

Mark

[ssamiraa]

I'm a bundle of nervousness and excitement as my trip starts tomorrow! So thanks for the advice and help and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'm a bundle of nervousness and excitement as my trip starts tomorrow! So thanks for the advice and help and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!

We look forward to reading about YOUR trip is like!

Mark