Blitz through the highlights of the Sierra Nevada while avoiding the crowds…

1. Drive to Tahoe through Lassen Volcanic National Park (~7 hours driving)
2. Stay at Manzanita Lake Cabins
3. Hike to Sierra Buttes Lookout on the way to Tahoe
4. Stay at Tahoe State Recreational Area
5. Stay at Emerald Bay Boat-In Campground for two nights and paddleboard/kayak the lake for a day
6. Stay in Desolation Wilderness for two nights, hike to Lake Aloha and back
   • Camp at waterfall camp
7. Drive straight to Devil’s Postpile
   • Could stay at Grover Hot Springs that night but it burned in the Tamarack Fire of 2011
8. Drive from Tahoe to Devil’s Postpile (~3.5 hours driving)
9. Hike Ansel Adams Wilderness from Devil’s Postpile area
10. Drive Tioga Pass to Yosemite
11. Drive from Yosemite to Weaverville (~7 hours)
12. Or Add on Seqouia & Kinds Canyon National Parks
13. And/Or add on driving back up the Coast

DL Bliss State Park Camping Permits on ReserveCalifornia.com open at 8am PST 6 months before the date:

Note: DL Bliss Campground is not open in 2023 😦

Other Campgrounds to check near DL Bliss:

• Camp Richardson
  • Camping Reservations
    • $55/night for Single Tent Camping
    • $75/night for Partial Hookup RV (No Septic/Greywater)
    • $85/night for Full Hookup RV
      • Sites 4-35 are close to main road small
  • Cabin Reservation
  • Resort Map
• Emerald Bay State Park
  • Lower Eagle Point – Site 77 is private
  • Upper Eagle Point – Site 29 is full view
  • Boat-In Campground – Site 21 & 22 great view
• Fallen Leaf Campground (not on lake)
• Kaspian Campground
• Meeks Bay Campground
• Nevada Beach Campground
• Sugar Pine State Park
• Tahoe City Recreation Area
• William Kent Campground

Desolation Wilderness Permits: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261

Desolation Wilderness Planning Guide with Zone Map: http://desowv.org/files/Desolation_Wilderness_Trip_Planning_Guide_2022_08_18.pdf

Best paddleboarding Spots on Tahoe:

• Carnelian Bay
• Cave Rock
• DL Bliss
• Echo Lakes
• Emerald Bay

Yosemite Camp Sites are reservable 5 months ahead of the date

Yosemite Wilderness Permits

Yosemite Wilderness Trailhead Maps

Yosemite Trail Information

John Muir Trail permits ARE NO LONGER through the Yosemite Conservancy only Recreation.gov

Top Trailheads for Permits:

1. Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley or beyond
2. Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon
3. Glen Aulin
4. Sunrise
5. Lyell Canyon (John Muir Trail and PCT)
6. White Wolf Campground
7. Lukens Lake to Yosemite Creek
8. Cathedral Lakes to Half Dome
9. Murphy Creek to Clouds Rest
10. May Lake
11. Porcupine Creek
12. Mirror Lake to Snow Creek

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tuolumne-meadows-backpacking-trails.htm