Timing of Spring trip to Sequoia NP

[Bob___Ann]

We plan to make a trip out West this spring. We would like to go in early spring like late April. Some of the places that we plan to tour are Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, Yosemite NP, Lassen Volcanic NP and Redwood NP in CA. We will then take in the Oregon Coast. We want to go as early as we can but we want to be sure that we can get in without being blocked by snow to see the Sequoias and Redwoods. Will this time of year work? Thanks for your help.

[aerbus32]

First off, your coach is what my wife is currently looking to upgrade to! As others have said, this is a dry year so far in California, but that could easily change. For a coach your size, I'd suggest you consider staying at a nice private park in the flatlands & using your dinghy for day trips. Last fall we used Country Manor in Visalia to access King's Canyon & Sequoia. We had used Sun & Fun previously in Tulare. Both okay. 8/10. The Lakes in Chowchilla is great. We access Yosemite from there. We've also used the fairgrounds in Mariposa & public parks at Lake McClure - Horseshoe I think. It's the 'new' upper one that has a view of the lake. Easter the public parks will be packed. Yosemite will be a traffic nightmare. Lassen, truly one of the underrated parks, is spectacular. And relatively uncrowded. Typically the road thru it won't open until June/July, but you can easily access most of the park via Red Bluff & Redding. Both of which have 10/10 private parks. While in the Redding area, Burney Falls is worth a day trip. The redwoods are best accessed from Redding over to Eureka. In our 37' Winnebago, it is a full day's, scenic drive. We then stay at either Mad River RV in Arcata or Sounds of the Sea in Trinidad. If you want to see the redwoods south of Eureka, from Redding head south on I-5 & access them by cutting over around Clear Lake and then head north. Ancient Redwoods RV, if open for the season, is another 10/10 park. Then just head north along the coast. As you can see, we prefer the high end full hookup places, then take the dinghy on day trips. Finally, if you come up through Bakersfield (lots of nice private parks!) then head north, snow will only be a problem near the parks themselves if we do finally get some precipitation this year. I had my old full time 4wd drive Grand Cherokee in both Sequoia & Yosemite in snow flurries but full sunshine in the parks we were staying at at the lower elevations. Keep in mind, when school is not in session, all of these places are very popular.

[profdant139]

During the last two winters, they have been opening the Sherman Tree handicapped lot to everyone, although there are still a few handicapped-only spots. And they have closed the upper Sherman Tree parking lot (at least this winter), which is accessed off the Wolverton Road, so there is not enough parking, in my opinion.

I don't know when they will go back to normal parking arrangements -- maybe in April or May. The rangers at the Ash Mountain station will know -- the Lodgepole station is closed for the winter this year! (That is a change from prior years -- a result of budget cuts, I was told.)

[katleman]

Bob & Ann wrote:
I understand the idea of snow shoes which would be a lot of fun but my wife had both knees replaced and that is not an option.

If you have a handicapped placard, there is a special parking lot for access to the General Sherman tree, so you can walk to the tree without the substantial walk down and back up. Its a great walk, but not for those with mobility issues.

Very unlikely the road across Lassen will be open before June.

[profdant139]

If there is snow, you can still get to the trees in either Grant Grove (in Kings Canyon) or General Sherman area (at the south end of Sequoia National Park), with almost no walking, right near the parking lots. BUT there might be ice on the paved walkway, so wear good shoes.

But honestly, as much as I love the Sequoias (we go camping there two or three times every year!), I am not sure it is worth the time and effort to get there if you are just going to drive up, hop out, look at the trees, and get back in the car. Yes, the trees are spectacular, but there is so much more that is not right on the road. On the other hand, Yosemite Valley is just fine for drive-by sightseeing -- there are lots of waterfalls in plain view.

[Bob___Ann]

Thanks to all for your responses. While we would like to stay in the park we knew that would not be likely. We had to make our reservations in the Tetons two years ago many months in advance. With the possibility of snow at any time it may be best to stay outside of the parks anyway. My question is if there is snow in Sequoia NP can you still get up close to the Sequoia trees without hiking in. I understand the idea of snow shoes which would be a lot of fun but my wife had both knees replaced and that is not an option. As far as Lassen NP goes it sounds like we will need to check conditions before we head that way. As far as Yosemite goes we will definitely stay somewhere like Mariposa as that is what we did when we went by car many years ago. Thanks again for your input.

[diveman52]

Not much snow at all at Sequoia
We have close friends who live 5 miles from the gate. (Three Rivers)
They went into the park this last weekend said there finely is a little snow.
So just watch the weather. Early spring should not be a problem at all unless we get a miracle spring to get us out of the drought.

Bill

[profdant139]

If you have snowshoes, don't let the snow stop you -- the Sequoias are great in the snow! Stay in Three Rivers -- there is at least one good RV park there -- see rvparkreviews.com. Or if you want a campground, Potwisha is open all year, and it is pretty nice -- no snow. Or if you want to camp in the snow, you can do that at Azalea, even with a big rig. Azalea is right near Grant Grove -- walking distance.



By the way, this is not a trick shot -- that is me in the bottom center, and I am over six feet tall, and I weigh more than 200 pounds, and yes the trees are that big.

[Two_Hands]

We visit Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park often in late April. We stay in Three Rivers at the south entrance at an elevation that seldom gets snow. We drive up into the park where it often snows at that time of year. When we visit Yosemite we stay in the Mariposa KOA at a low elevation with no snow while snow will often fall in the park at higher elevations. We have tried to visit Lassen as late as early June only to find it closed due to snow. You will have no snow problems at Redwoods National Park. Have a great trip.

[tahiti16]

We have seen great weather at memorial day weekend just out side the Sequoia's and it has also snowed there on Memorial Day weekend. We seem to be in a late weather pattern so you will need to watch the weather for the next couple weeks to see if this was all we get for "rainy season" or this is just the beginning of finally getting some needed rain and snow.

Also if you are planning on camping inside any of those parks it may be too late already! Yosemite sells out within hours of reservations opening. Sequoia is only slightly better, not as popular but much smaller and fewer sites.

[korbe]

Normal weather years don't see the road through Lassen Park open til late June or even early July. Of course, this year it may never close. The coastal redwoods can be enjoyed all year long, with the best weather being after the foggy summer months.

[Veebyes]

We were there early summer a few years ago. Sequoia & Kings Canyon are beautiful. Much depends on how much snow the area is getting right now.

Late April sounds early. Locals can advise better than me.