yosemite to death valley

[brendonallen]

Im after some advice if anyone can help?? we are planning a trip from yosemite (where we have booked an overnigt at the south entrance of the park.....moving on to sequila and kings canyon where we have an overnight in vasalia.....then we have two days to get to death valley (furnace creek).

wondered if anyone had any good routes from vasalia to death valley with an overnight on route???? we will be travelling in april so i think some of the mountain roads would be closed.....looking for any good tips and stop offs on the way....hope someone can help us :) 4 adults and two children will be travelling......thanks again....

[Mark Sedenquist]

Im after some advice if anyone can help?? we are planning a trip from yosemite (where we have booked an overnigt at the south entrance of the park.....moving on to sequila and kings canyon where we have an overnight in vasalia.....then we have two days to get to death valley (furnace creek).

You have a very reasonable pace and will find no problem reaching Death Valley from Visalia in two days. The southern pass route will probably still be closed (Sherman Pass Road) so you should proceed south on CA-99 to Bakersfield and then either follow CA-58 through Tehachapi (home to the famous Tehachapi loop where long freight trains actually cross over themselves) or CA-178 past Lake Isabella to US-395.

I actually recommend that you stay on US-395 all the way to Olancha before heading east on CA-190 to get the full effect of the Death Valley approach.

You could stay overnight at either Lake Isabella, Tehachapi or Ridgecrest -- If you stay at Ridgecrest you could take a side trip to see the Trona Pinnacles (home of the site of many famous movie locations) before heading west again to US-395 and thence north).

Be sure to stop at Fossil Falls on US-395 -- great photo opps and the rocks makes a good place to stretch everyone's legs.

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

[weather permitting]
If you don't mind mountain driving it would be to head on the 65 through Exeter to Strathmore and then on j28 to the 190 through Springville. This will take you through Camp Nelson and Cedar slope to mountain road 50 to Johnsondale, passing the "Trial of 100 giants", a peaceful grove of giant trees.
You then follow the Kern river down into the lovely little town of Kernville and Lake Isabella that will make a nice place to stop.
It's slow going but very scenic and little visited compared to the parks.

On reading your post I am not sure, but it sounds as though you are planning to see Kings canyon, Sequoia and get to Visalia in a day. If so that's going to be a very long day.

[brendonallen]

thanks both for your responses.....yeah we are planning to go through sequila / kings canyon in a day...thought it may be rushed but that we would chance it.....we may have made a mistake....dont mind the moutain driving the most scenic route is the best for us providing we wont get stuck in the snow ;) anyone know of any good places to eat or stop......the falls sound good.... thanks for responding ....:)

[Southwest Dave]

The route from Visalia to Kernville should be fine [and is certainly scenic] as should the Generals highway through the Giants village but the 180 to Cedar grove and Kings canyon could well be a no go.
You can keep updated on the N.P.S website.

If you decide to head towards Kernville then I have heard good thing about Mc Nallys fairview lodge for rustic charm and wonderful steaks.