National Park Adventures

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a convenient hub for visiting the Sierra Nevada Mountains’ famous national parks, but check out the sights and flavors of Fresno before hitting the trails. For shopping, dining, and nightlife, visit the vibrant Tower District between Belmont and McKinley avenues, a neighborhood named after its centerpiece—the neon-lit art deco Tower Theatre. Elsewhere in town, tour the subterranean passageways and courtyards planted with fruit trees and grapevines at Forestiere Underground Gardens, and stock up on snacks at Simonian Farms, a 1901 fruit stand run by the family’s fourth generation.

This foothills town has everything a Yosemite traveler could want, from lodgings to eateries to outdoor gear suppliers. Learn about the region’s history at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park. Go for a hike on the Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail, which follows the path of a historic lumber flume to two waterfalls. Quench your thirst with South Gate Brewing Company‘s cold-fermented lager or pine-and-citrus IPA, or visit Queen’s Wine Bar & Beer Garden at Idle Hour Winery for outdoor sips and live music by the river.

Enter Yosemite National Park at its South Entrance on Highway 41, then park at the Welcome Center for the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Hop on board the shuttle for the quick drive to Yosemite’s largest sequoia grove with more than 500 mature trees, each more than 10 feet in diameter. Stroll through the lower grove and tilt your head way back to see super-sized trees like the Grizzly Giant, Yosemite’s largest tree at 210 feet tall and 29 feet in diameter. Feeling ambitious? Wander around both the upper and lower groves (6 miles round-trip with a 1,200-foot elevation gain). 

The tiny hamlet of Wawona boasts top-notch attractions: Step back in time at the Yosemite History Center, accessed via a covered bridge over the South Fork Merced River. Stroll past structures that played a role in Yosemite’s history, including a U.S. Cavalry office, bread bakery, Chinese laundry, Wells Fargo stagecoach station, and a jail. In the spring months, hike Chilnualna Falls Trail to see five gushing cascades on Chilnualna Creek. Stop for lunch or stay overnight at the 1879 Wawona Hotel, a white-and-green Victorian charmer with a covered veranda. Check out the dining room chandeliers made with giant sequoia cones and the lobby’s historic Yosemite photos.

Follow Glacier Point Road to its end at Glacier Point to see what is arguably Yosemite’s most photo-worthy spot. This 7,214-foot granite precipice lurches over Yosemite Valley, its vista revealing a slew of park landmarks, including Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Liberty Cap, and Vernal and Nevada Falls. You’ll want to stay a while, so grab some snacks at the Glacier Point Snack Stand and wander over to the 1924 Geology Hut, a small stone structure with over-the-top views of Half Dome, North Dome, and the Merced River canyon.

It could take weeks to see all the sights and trek all the trails in Yosemite Valley, so start with the best: Lace up your boots and ascend the Mist Trail’s riverside stairsteps to Vernal and Nevada Falls. Hike to the top of Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest free-leaping waterfall. Or forego the stiff workout and see the Valley without breaking a sweat: Rent bikes and pedal the valley’s easy, paved paths. Pull out your binoculars and watch daredevil rock climbers on El Capitan, or kick back on sandy beaches alongside the Merced River. Did you plan ahead? If so, you’ll have reservations for The Ahwahnee’s grand dining room and a luxurious overnight stay.

Coming from Fresno, you’ll get your first glimpse of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at Grant Grove Village. This park hub is filled with helpful visitor services—a restaurant, grocery store, post office, campgrounds, and lodging. Get all the information you need for your Sequoia and Kings Canyon trip at the Grant Grove Visitor Center, then drive to Panoramic Point Overlook, where the vistas span the length of Kings Canyon’s high country. Go for a horseback ride on a trusty steed from Grant Grove Stables, or explore Grant Grove’s hiking trails. One not to miss: the easy stroll to the General Grant giant sequoia, the world’s second-largest tree.

The General Sherman is the largest tree on earth by volume—275 feet tall, more than 36 feet in diameter at its base, and still growing: Every year it adds enough wood to make another 60-foot-tall tree. Take a short walk to gaze at this crowd-pleasing behemoth, then move on to the quieter Congress Trail, where hundreds more giant trees grow. The sequoias steal the show in Sequoia National Park, but don’t miss other awesome attractions, like the heart-pumping climb up Moro Rock‘s 390 stairsteps to admire a sweeping vista of the Great Western Divide. Hungry? Stop in to the glass-walled dining room at Wuksachi Lodge, where every table overlooks a forest of firs and the Silliman Crest.

The first town south of Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers is where three forks of the Kaweah River converge: the Middle, North, and South forks. Cool off in the clear waters at Slick Rock Recreation Area. See the 30-foot-tall statue of Paul Bunyan at the Three Rivers Historical Museum. Shop for chews, sours, caramels, chocolates, and peanut brittle at Reimer’s Candies and Gifts. Pick up souvenir beanies, sweatshirts, and T-shirts at 3R Dry Goods, then stop in for burgers at Ol’ Buckaroo or craft beer at Three Rivers Brewing Co.