Immediately I need to share my California itinerary for Yosemite and Mammoth with you. These two locations are nice locations to journey for those who love nature and the outside. With beautiful surroundings, miles of climbing trails, stunning mountain lakes, and eerie ghost cities, they’re price a go to. I’ve partnered with Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau and Mammoth Lakes Tourism to go on a highway journey from Yosemite to Mammoth, and right this moment I need to share about it on this promoting function.
Yosemite and Mammoth
My journey to Yosemite and Mammoth originates in San Francisco. I’m again visiting my residence state, and I’m excited to spend time in a few of my favourite locations in California.
I choose up a rental automobile at San Francisco Worldwide Airport and hit the highway. It’s a 3-hour drive to Mariposa, the primary cease on my itinerary.
Mariposa
After I arrive in Mariposa, I’m whisked again in time. This gold rush city close to Yosemite Nationwide Park has almost 200 years of historical past (and that’s lots for California).
From the oldest working courthouse west of the Rocky Mountains to the Nineteenth-century Outdated Stone Jailhouse and the historic shopfronts, there’s lots to absorb.
I spend a pair hours strolling round city to see the highlights. I cease at St Joseph’s Catholic Church to admire its 1860s Carpenter Gothic structure earlier than testing the gold mining displays exterior the Mariposa Museum & Historical past Heart.
I additionally pop into the retailers on the principle road in Mariposa. They’re filled with every little thing from antiques to olive oil and locally-roasted espresso beans. They’re housed in a number of the most historic buildings on the town, too.
There’s even a well-known hidden bar right here referred to as the Hideout Saloon. It’s a well-liked place with locals and guests, and there’s usually dwell music happening.
After I’m performed exploring, I verify into my room on the Mariposa Lodge. The lodge is in an ideal location within the coronary heart of city, and it has every little thing from a swimming pool to little backyard gazebos. My room is gigantic, too.
After getting settled in, I stroll over to Glad Burger to have dinner with my host from the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.
The restaurant is legendary for having the biggest menu within the Sierra. It’s additionally recognized for its quirky decor, classic information, and traditional diner ambiance.
I tuck into a big plate of nachos as my host tells me concerning the subsequent day’s itinerary for my Yosemite and Mammoth highway journey.
Yosemite Valley
The subsequent morning I meet him once more on the Pony Expresso Espresso Home, a enjoyable little place with house-roasted espresso and fast breakfast choices.
From there we head as much as Yosemite Nationwide Park. The 45-minute drive is beautiful, with stunning surroundings alongside the Merced River.
On the way in which I study that entry to the park is now by reservation solely from 6am to 4pm, and guests have to pre-book earlier than they journey.
Once we arrive on the Arch Rock Entrance to the park, we present our reservation, pay the entry payment, and drive into Yosemite Valley.
We spend the day hitting the highlights. We begin on the Nineteenth-century Yosemite Valley Chapel, a reasonably wood quantity with stunning views of Yosemite Falls, one of many tallest waterfalls in the US.
From the church we drive over to Curry Village and hike up the Mist Path to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. It’s one of many finest hikes in Yosemite, and it presents beautiful views of the waterfalls on the way in which up.
After admiring the views from the highest of Nevada Fall, we hike down the John Muir Path, a lesser-trodden path with stunning surroundings by means of the timber.
Once we end the hike, we stroll again to Curry Village to have pizza on the out of doors terrace. The meals is scrumptious, and it feels good to eat it within the nice outdoor.
After lunch we drive over to The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Nationwide Park’s most well-known lodge.
Designed to focus on its pure environment, together with Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Level, this landmark property is thought for its heritage interiors and beautiful Arts and Crafts Motion structure.
From the The Ahwahnee we head into Yosemite Village. We cross the Ansel Adams Gallery and discover the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee. It options reconstructed buildings and displays on the unique human inhabitants of the realm.
Leaving Yosemite Village, we make fast picture stops at El Capitan Meadow and Valley View earlier than driving out to Yosemite View Lodge, my lodging for the evening.
Situated simply exterior the Arch Rock Entrance, it’s the closest resort to the nationwide park.
Yosemite View Lodge is correct on the Merced River, and my waterfront room has a deck with stunning views of the water. The property has strolling paths for entering into nature, and a variety of eating places for eating.
I’ve dinner on the River Restaurant, the place the meals goes down a deal with after an enormous day of exploring Yosemite.
Yosemite Nationwide Park
The subsequent morning I depart Yosemite View Lodge after breakfast and drive again into Yosemite Nationwide Park.
This time I’m heading as much as the Tioga Highway, which many guests miss. It’s price venturing this manner, although, because the views are beautiful, the climbing trails plentiful, and the crowds few.
I make stops at Olmsted Level, Tenaya Lake, and different locations to absorb the views of Half Dome, Clouds Relaxation mountain, and different well-known websites. It’s a surprising drive, it takes me all the way in which previous Tuolumne Meadows and out the Tioga Entrance to the park.
Mammoth Lakes
As soon as exterior, I’m on my means from Yosemite to Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth is legendary for winter snowboarding and summer time climbing, and it’s an ideal place to get outdoor. Tioga Move is closed in winter, so it feels particular to be driving this route whereas it’s open.
I cease for lunch on the Whoa Nellie Deli, a well-known restaurant by a gasoline station close to the nook of Tioga Highway and Freeway 395. It’s recognized for its fish tacos, and I tuck right into a heaping plate as I take within the items within the present store round me.
After lunch I proceed my drive south to Mammoth Lakes. I’m shocked by how shut it’s to the nationwide park, and the way straightforward it’s to do Yosemite and Mammoth in a single journey.
As soon as on the town, I verify into my room at The Village Lodge at Mammoth. The lodge is gorgeous, and it’s situated proper within the coronary heart of every little thing. My room has a full kitchenette and dwelling space, and a balcony overlooking eating places, retailers, and cafes.
Mammoth Lakes Tour
The subsequent morning I head out early on a tour with MAWS Transportation, an organization that gives excursions and shuttle providers to and from Mammoth Lakes alongside the Jap Sierra hall.
Mono Lake
Our first cease is Mono Lake. Fashioned over 1 million years in the past, this inland sea is without doubt one of the oldest lakes in North America (how’s that for historical past?).
Mono Lake can be recognized for its hen inhabitants, beautiful surroundings, alkaline water, and abundance of pure limestone formations generally known as tufas.
We take a stroll alongside the water’s edge, admiring the fantastic thing about the lake earlier than hopping again within the shuttle for the drive by means of Lee Vining to Bodie.
Bodie
Bodie is a well-known ghost city in California, and it’s nonetheless remarkably intact. I got here right here on my final journey to the realm, and seeing it was one in all my favourite issues to do in Mammoth.
Bodie was a Nineteenth-century gold-mining city. Residence to nearly 10,000 individuals within the early Eighteen Eighties, it was deserted within the early twentieth century and have become a State Historic Park in 1962.
We spend an hour strolling round Bodie to absorb the sights. From historic buildings filled with departing residents’ belongings to a graveyard, mill, and museum, there’s lots to see right here.
I can’t cease photographing the deserted homes, retailers, faculties, and mining gear. It’s fascinating.
June Lake Loop
Again within the automobile, we drive from Bodie to Lee Vining and cease for lunch at Whoa Nellie Deli. From there we head over to the June Lake Loop, a drive that leads previous June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, and Grant Lake.
These locations are fashionable for fishing, boating, swimming, and different waterfront actions in the summertime. It’s enjoyable to absorb their shores and see the mountain surroundings round them.
On the way in which again to The Village Lodge at Mammoth, we make a fast cease at Minaret Vista. We’re right here to absorb the panoramic views of the Minarets, jagged mountains that make up a part of the Ritter Vary.
Dinner in Mammoth
Within the night I’ve dinner with my host from Mammoth Lakes Tourism at Shelter Distilling. This distillery-and-restaurant within the village has up to date design and a hip ambiance.
We take pleasure in drinks and dinner within the indoor-outdoor area, and it’s a good way to finish the day.
Mammoth Tour
The subsequent morning I depart The Village Lodge at Mammoth and meet my host for an enormous day of climbing and exploring.
Rainbow Falls
We begin with a shuttle trip from the Mammoth Mountain Most important Lodge to Rainbow Falls, a 101-foot (31-meter) waterfall that’s a part of Devils Postpile Nationwide Monument.
The shuttle drops us off on the trailhead, and from there we hike previous the basalt columns that kind the Devils Postpile earlier than arriving on the falls. It’s an ideal hike, and a enjoyable solution to see Mammoth’s pure magnificence on foot.
Lunch in Mammoth
On the finish of the hike, we choose up the shuttle and trip it again to the Mammoth Mountain Most important Lodge.
It’s a stone’s throw to our lunch spot, The Yodler. This alpine-style restaurant has an enormous out of doors terrace the place we take pleasure in a hearty mountain lunch with views of the ski resort.
Gondola Experience to Mammoth Mountain
Talking of which, our subsequent exercise is to trip the gondola as much as the highest of Mammoth Mountain. The Panorama Gondola presents sweeping views of the Sierra because it whisks us up 11,053 toes (3,369 meters) to the height.
As soon as on the summit, we stroll round and soak up views of the mountains and lakes round us. I skied in Mammoth on my final go to, and it’s superb to see how completely different every little thing seems to be with out snow.
There are mountain bikers throughout us, and I stand in awe as I watch them heading down the steep trails.
Bike Experience within the Mammoth Lakes Basin
They’re not the one ones biking, both. Again on the lodge, we hop within the automobile and drive over to Most important Avenue to hire e-bikes for a trip across the Mammoth Lakes Basin.
This space is rife with climbing trails, pine forests, mountains, wildflowers, cycle paths, and (because the identify implies) lakes.
Our bikes energy us up the hills and round numerous shorelines. We begin at Twin Lakes and make our solution to Lake Mary, Lake George, and others.
The mountain surroundings is gorgeous, and I can’t consider how fast and straightforward it’s to get round on the bike paths right here.
Dinner at The Brasserie in Mammoth
Again in Mammoth Lakes, we head to dinner at The Brasserie. This restaurant is unconventionally situated above a bowling alley, however as quickly as we head upstairs we’re 1,000,000 miles from strikes and spares.
We dine on the terrace overlooking the encircling mountains. It’s the proper ambiance for having fun with every little thing from the restaurant’s signature elk medallions to recent seafood.
The meal is a winner, and it’s an ideal parting present earlier than my drive again to the California coast.
Yosemite and Mammoth
The subsequent morning I get up early to take a look at of The Village Lodge at Mammoth and head off to San Francisco.
I’m handled to a spectacular pink dawn over Mono Lake as I drive again to Yosemite and out to the Pacific Ocean. I break up the 5.5-hour drive with a pair quick hikes in Yosemite Nationwide Park, together with one to the Tuolumne Grove of big sequoia timber.
It’s a good way to extend my journey and delay its finish. I’ve had such time attending to know my residence state higher, and I can’t wait to return sometime and discover these areas extra. I hope my Yosemite and Mammoth itinerary conjures up you to do the identical.
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