California National Parks Road Trip

Hidden Valley – despite its name, Hidden Valley is no secret in Joshua Tree National Park. In fact, this area of the park has the most popular one-mile scenic trail. A walk on this mostly flat trail will reward you with some of the most iconic views of this desert’s cacti and boulders.

Keys View – situated atop the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Keys View offers one of the best panoramic views in all of Joshua Tree. Visitors who drive up to this viewpoint can easily make out fantastic sites like Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault.

Skull Rock – not far from the Jumbo Rocks Campground, Skull Rock is exactly what it sounds like — a massive rock that looks like a human skull.

Cholla Cactus Garden – there’s no better place to take in the colorful cacti of Joshua Tree than the Cholla Cactus Garden. On this famed walking trail, guests will see cacti of all shapes and sizes.

Artist’s Drive – this 9-mile scenic drive offers colorful vistas. The highlight is the vibrant Artists Palette. There are strict length limits of 25 feet due to the steep and windy paved roads.

Zabriskie Point – this overlook is near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and offers panoramic views of the badlands below. Sunrises here are dramatic.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes – thanks to their easy accessibility, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are one of the most visited areas of this park. These mesmerizing dunes offer fantastic photo ops as well as opportunities for sandboarding.

Badwater Basin – at over 280 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin holds the record as the lowest point in the U.S. Depending on when you visit, you may be able to capture stunning images of reflections on this basin’s salty water.

Dante’s View – perched on the Black Mountains, Dante’s View is one of the top-rated lookout points in Death Valley. Sunrise and sunsets are two of the best and most dramatic times to visit.

The Racetrack – the Racetrack refers to a dry lakebed in Death Valley that contains legendary “racing” rocks. Scientists believe that the mystery of these often-large rocks moving is caused by an unusual combination of rain and wind moving them. The road to The Racetrack is rough and requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Generals Highway – this scenic drive (with speed limits of 10 mph in many places) takes visitors through both parks. The views are stunning but only for those who like steep, narrow, windy mountain driving. There are plenty of scenic overlooks to rest both yourself and your brakes. The park strongly recommends using the Big Stump entrance off Highway 180 for larger vehicles and urges extreme caution for vehicles over 22 feet (vehicles over 40 feet are prohibited so check with the National Park Service for the most accurate information). The highway is named after two of the most famous giant sequoias – General Grant and General Sherman.

Giant Forest – true to its name, the Giant Forest contains a ton of giant sequoia trees. While every tree in this area has a remarkable story to tell, the General Sherman steals the show as the largest tree on earth. Don’t forget to stop by the nearby Giant Forest Museum to better appreciate this popular region of the park.

Moro Rock Trail – this short but challenging hike is well worth it for the fabulous views. This famous lookout point boasts pristine 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain scenery. Nearby the Big Trees Trail has lots of giant sequoias. Morro Rock is family-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Crystal Cave – discovered in 1918 by a few park rangers, the Crystal Cave offers a glimpse into the underbelly of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. This marble cave dazzles viewers with its centuries-old formations. Guided tours are required to see the cave and it requires a few miles of walking to get to and through the cave.

Tokopah Falls Trail – An easy three-mile round trip hike allows you to view the Tokopah Falls, complemented by spectacular granite rocks. At 1,200 feet, this waterfall is the longest in Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Yosemite Valley – almost all of Yosemite’s most iconic sites are within the centrally located Yosemite Valley. Here you’ll see granite formations like El Capitan and Half Dome as well as Yosemite Falls. One of the top areas to take in the majesty is Tunnel View. Be aware that Yosemite Valley can be incredibly crowded in the peak summer months.

Mariposa Grove – with at least 500 sequoias, Mariposa Grove is the best place in Yosemite National Park to see these massive trees, whether you want a leisurely scenic walk or a more strenuous hike.

Tenaya Lake – anyone interested in watersports must plan a stop at Tenaya Lake during their Yosemite vacation. This picturesque lake is the largest in Yosemite and offers a “boatload” of activities in the summer, including canoeing, swimming, and picnicking.

Tuolumne Meadows – the elevated Tuolumne Meadows is one of the most serene areas in Yosemite National Park. This alpine meadow area has many wildlife viewing opportunities, hiking trails, and rock-climbing opportunities.

Learn Yosemite History – check out the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, and in Mariposa, the California State Mining and Minerals Museum. You may also want to check out the Ansel Adams Gallery(https://www.anseladams.com), Yosemite Museum, and the historic Wawona and Ahwahnee Hotels.

Drive Lake Tahoe – spend a day driving the 72 miles around or along Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. The contrast between this massive glacier lake (considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in the U.S.) and its lakefront mansions, shops, dining venues, hotels and casinos makes for an interesting day trip. There are plenty of water opportunities to explore the lake – boat tours, paddleboarding, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, etc.

Sand Harbor State Park – this popular Nevada State Park on the shores of Lake Tahoe is wonderful for families and beach goers with its gentle sandy beaches, swimming spots, boat launch and facilities. There are no camping facilities. In the summer at its lakeside outdoor amphitheater, Sand Harbor hosts the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival with many professional performances each week – usually a Shakespeare comedy, the Reno Philharmonic and other pop concerts and musicals. The performances are family friendly and magical.

Boca Reservoir – this reservoir in Tahoe National Forest is great for all types of water recreation, including personal motorized watercraft of all kinds. Fishing, swimming, kayaking, and windsurfing are popular here.

Emerald Bay State Park – located near South Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park is internationally famous for its imposing Vikingsholm castle and emerald-green water. You can reach this park on land or by boat.

Donner State Park – just a 1.5-mile drive from Tahoe National Forest, Donner State Park is an alpine park that offers many recreational activities like fishing, swimming, hiking, and water skiing. This park also has the historic Pioneer Monument and Emigrant Trail Museum, which memorializes the famed Donner Party – a California bound pioneer group in 1846 who were trapped for the winter by an early blizzard at this site. Most of the group perished during the winter and some historians believe they resorted to cannibalism to survive.

Placer Big Trees Grove – If you’re searching for more “sequoia selfies,” Tahoe National Forest’s Placer Big Trees Grove is the place to be. While the sequoias here aren’t as well-known as those in Sequoia & Kings Canyon, they have the honor of being the most northern sequoia grove in California.