Three days in John Muir’s footsteps in Yosemite.

Yosemite through three lenses at the Society of California Pioneers, 2023 February – June.

Horsetail Fall firefall in February at sunset in the right conditions. Get entrance reservations in advance. Visit Modesto Almond Trail on way to or from Yosemite. (1.5 hours from Alameda to Modesto; 2.5 hours from Modesto to Yosemite Valley. 2 hours from Alameda to Angels Camp and another 2 hours to Yosemite Valley.)

Eastern Sierra

June Lake

See fall colors in traversing Tioga Pass to June Lake. Stop at Tuolumne Grove for a hike to a giant Sequoia grove. Soda Springs offers a meadow next to the Merced River and a small spring near a pioneer house. See the tuffa towers at Mono Lake. There are several public hot springs (aka “hot pots” or mineral pools) along Highway 395. Lodging at the Double Eagle Resort and Spa along the June Lake Loop, a 16 mile loop along State Route 158 and four alpine lakes including Convict Lake. Ginny Prior‘s article on visiting June Lake.

Hetch Hetchy

Lodging in Groveland at Evergreen Lodge and Rush Creek Lodge. Evergreen’s options includes fancy tent cabins and Rush Creek’s includes spa and meal packages. The lodges are a half hour drive from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and a three hour drive from Alameda. Ginny Prior‘s article on visiting Hetch Hetchy.

Expect for entrance at the Hetch Hetchy Road, reservations are required to enter Yosemite Park through the end of September 2021.