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Old 03-21-2015, 01:24 AM
 
4 posts, read 3,647 times
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Hey,

Like the title says, I'm driving from SF to Austin and would like to do some guerrilla-style nature hiking/camping along the way. I was originally going to drive down Highway 1 to see the coast, but I'm feeling more enthusiastic about hitting up Yosemite and then as many other parks/nature reserves as possible along the way- I've seen the ocean, I've seen awesome California towns and cities, but never been through a beautiful and famous national park. I also think it's a great time of year for this - correct me if I'm wrong.



My plan is to drive 3-5 hours a day and spend the rest of my time sight-seeing.

Would something like this work? I could make my way into the forest from the eastern border every day and hit up different spots?




Last edited by GoatFloat; 03-21-2015 at 01:35 AM..
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Old 03-21-2015, 08:44 AM
 
Location: Columbia, California
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Looking at your map it appears you are leaving very soon. If you wait a bit, the pass thru Yosemite is open and will save you a few hundred miles.
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Old 03-21-2015, 11:38 AM
 
Location: State of Transition
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Interesting route. I might try something similar on my annual trip to the Bay this summer. I'll skip Death Valley, though.
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Old 03-22-2015, 03:26 AM
 
Location: Oroville, California
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That route is pretty wonky. Go south up through the San Joaquin Valley on Hwy 99 and then up Hwy 41 from Fresno into the park.
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Old 03-22-2015, 02:34 PM
 
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Why skip Death Valley?

Also, I should clarify that when I said "as much of Yosemite as possible" I assumed that gigantic chunk of green on the map was a single state park. So I'm just trying to do as much camping/hiking as possible along the way to Austin.
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Old 03-22-2015, 03:11 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,210 posts, read 107,859,557 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoatFloat View Post
Why skip Death Valley?
Death Valley in the summer isn't my idea of a good time. Maybe you missed the part of my post where I said I'd be doing the trip in the summer.
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Old 03-22-2015, 04:17 PM
 
Location: Sierra Nevada Land, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeauCharles View Post
That route is pretty wonky. Go south up through the San Joaquin Valley on Hwy 99 and then up Hwy 41 from Fresno into the park.
That route should add no more than five or six hours (compared to taking 120 east as his map indicates).

Quote:
Originally Posted by GoatFloat View Post
Why skip Death Valley?

Also, I should clarify that when I said "as much of Yosemite as possible" I assumed that gigantic chunk of green on the map was a single state park. So I'm just trying to do as much camping/hiking as possible along the way to Austin.
It's a good route. HWY 88 is open.

And the gigantic green chunk is a series of National Forests plus Yosemite. Get yourself a paper map of the State. A paper map has tons of information, including what kind of public land is where.
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Old 03-22-2015, 07:55 PM
 
Location: Bel Air, California
23,766 posts, read 29,048,781 times
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should be a blast and you will enjoy...

personally I'd substitute a visit to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Nat'l Park and see the giant trees there instead of heading north after leaving Yosemite, but your way is sure to offer great scenery too.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Univ...d36.505389!3e0

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)

If you do head north, spend some time taking California Hwy 49 (49ers...eh!). Great road to drive as you skirt the fault zones in the Sierra foothills and cool mining/historical towns and sites such as Columbia and Angels Camp.

Highway 49 - The Golden Chain Highway - Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide

(from wiki)


Columbia SHP

(from wiki) Columbia Historical Park


also, if you are heading as close as you are to it anyways, divert yourself to the Lake Tahoe as it is truly one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere and a chance to see Donner Pass and their winter encampment area is a not-to-be-missed experience.

would encourage anyone to see Death Valley...the hotter, the better in my book. Make sure you have a super reliable vehicle if you visit in the heat of the summer or do any kind of gravel road travel.
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Old 03-22-2015, 08:13 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,210 posts, read 107,859,557 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghengis View Post
should be a blast and you will enjoy...

personally I'd substitute a visit to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Nat'l Park and see the giant trees there instead of heading north after leaving Yosemite, but your way is sure to offer great scenery too.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Univ...d36.505389!3e0

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)

If you do head north, spend some time taking California Hwy 49 (49ers...eh!). Great road to drive as you skirt the fault zones in the Sierra foothills and cool mining/historical towns and sites such as Columbia and Angels Camp.

Highway 49 - The Golden Chain Highway - Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide

(from wiki)


Columbia SHP

(from wiki) Columbia Historical Park


also, if you are heading as close as you are to it anyways, divert yourself to the Lake Tahoe as it is truly one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere and a chance to see Donner Pass and their winter encampment area is a not-to-be-missed experience.

would encourage anyone to see Death Valley...the hotter, the better in my book. Make sure you have a super reliable vehicle if you visit in the heat of the summer or do any kind of gravel road travel.
This looks beautiful! I may take your suggestion here. This has turned out to be such a great thread! Thanks for posting.
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Old 03-22-2015, 08:25 PM
 
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
5,921 posts, read 13,853,608 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghengis View Post
would encourage anyone to see Death Valley...the hotter, the better in my book. Make sure you have a super reliable vehicle if you visit in the heat of the summer or do any kind of gravel road travel.
We visit Death Valley each year, between Christmas and New Year.
About the only time it is bearable, temperature-wise.
Although last year was really strange.
Even the *locals* mentioned that it was colder than ever ...

We do this each year, if we can, just to say that we have flown 250 feet below sea level.
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