Traveling from Las Vegas to Yosemite offers a perfect opportunity to see some of the most amazing landscapes in the US, one of the top two tours in all of California! Using this route you will leave Las Vegas, then head west on a tour of the vast expanse of Death Valley National Park, where you will see the lowest and hottest places in the US! Then you will continue through more interesting desert landscapes to the epic US route 395 (see directions below). Now in Lone Pine Lone Pine you will have an opportunity to explore the amazing Alabama Hills and the highest place in the continental US, Mount Whitney, at over 14,000 feet in elevation! Heading north on 395 you will pass many interesting sights listed below. Just before you reach the town of Lee Vining You will turn west on to the spectacular Tioga Pass road through Yosemite’s spectacular high (closed during the winter months - check road conditions) country, eventually dropping down into Yosemite Valley.
* Death Valley is a giant expanse of desert between Nevada and California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Best explored during the cooler fall - winter - spring months, when there can be snow on the desert mountains and wild owers in the hills. However, being able to take in the vastness and inhospitable environment from the comfort of an air conditioned car makes touring in the summer worth while. Notable highlights - check map and internet for locations:
* Badwater At 265 feet below sea level, this is the lowest and hottest place in America
* Artist's Drive - Scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. The drive is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. The 9-mile paved road is one- way and is only drivable with vehicles less than 25 feet in length. Drive starts from Badwater Road.
* Furnace Creek - Home of the National Park visitors center and the famous Furnace Creek Resort (closed in summer)
Route 395 is one of the most beautiful roads in the US - you will see the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada as well as a variety of awesome natural landscapes including ancient volcanoes and thermal areas. This road has more cool places to check out than I can list here! Highlights include, listed from south to north:
This is one of the most beautiful roads in the US - you will see the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada as well as a variety of awesome natural landscape: ancient volcanoes and geothermal areas.
* Mt. Whitney portal road, which winds it’s way up to the base of 14,494’ Mount Whitney where there is a nice waterfall and picnic area at the end of the road, 20 minute drive from 395.
* Thye Alabama Hills (the location of many old western movies) along the Mt. Whitney portal road ve minutes from town
* Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery - A cool old building with a pond in a park like setting. The pond has hundreds of giant trout that you can feed. On 395, 20 minutes south of the town of Big Pine, turn right up Fish Hatchery road. Drive four minutes to the sh hatchery.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - the oldest trees in the world! Just as you enter the town of Big Pine on 395 turn left on White Mountain road/Ca 168 and drive to your destination. Allow for a 25 minute drive each way.
* Hot Creek Thermal area just south of Mammoth where you can see hot water bubbling up to the surface and small geyser. Driving north on 395, a few minutes before the turn to Mammoth lakes, turn right on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. On the left after about ten minutes - there are signs and a fence.
* June Lake Loop - A short detour that takes you through a small town and along some beautiful alpine lakes. See map for directions.
* Mono Lake A beautiful shallow saline soda lake with interesting crystalline tower formations and a habitat for millions of migratory birds! Turn right on Ca-120 and drive about 4 miles, making a left turn into the Mono Lake recreation area.
* Virginia Lakes. Here there is a short and easy hike to some beautiful beautiful alpine lakes. To get there drive about 12 miles past Lee Vining to the top of the big grade and turn left on Virginia Lakes Road. Drive as far up the roads as possible. The trail head is right at the parking lot. This is a high altitude hike (10,000 feet/3000 m +) so be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness on this walk!
* Bodie Ghost Town state park north of lee Vining. This abandoned town, that began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859 by a group of prospectors, was the real old west town as depicted in westerns, with daily shoot outs in the streets. Left in a state of "preserved deterioration" there are plenty of cool old buildings to explore. No services. Bodie ghost town is two hour drive round trip from Lee Vining: On 395 north, continue north past the town of Lee Vining. After about 20 minutes, turn right on Ca - 270. This is a gravel road. From this point drive for about 40 minutes to get to your destination.
This is one the main destinations in Yosemite. Winding it’s way through the high country, you will pass some amazing landscapes - giant granite domes, alpine meadows and lakes as well as numerous trailheads. Suggested stops:
* Toulumne Meadows and Lambert dome A georgeous high country meadow and Granite dome that has a hike to the top!
* Tenaya Lake - Go for a swim or take the trail that goes around the lake.
* Olmstead Point - A turn out on the south side of the road that offers a fantastic view of Yosemite Valley and the high country. Hike the short trail from the parking lot, or climb the dome on the opposite side of the road.
May Lake trailhead - Take the side road to the trailhead. About an hour and a half to the lake. Once you arrive at the lake, walk past the camp and climb up the small rocky hill on the far side of the lake for killer views!
Traveling from Yosemite to Las Vegas offers a perfect opportunity to see some of the most amazing landscapes in the US, one of the top two tours in all of California! Using this route you will leave Las Vegas, then head west on a tour of the vast expanse of Death Valley National Park, where you will see the lowest and hottest places in the US! Then you will continue through more interesting desert landscapes to the epic US route 395 (see directions below). Now in Lone Pine Lone Pine you will have an opportunity to explore the amazing Alabama Hills and the highest place in the continental US, Mount Whitney, at over 14,000 feet in elevation! Heading north on 395 you will pass many interesting sights listed below. Just before you reach the town of Lee Vining You will turn west on to the spectacular Tioga Pass road (closed during the winter months - check road conditions) through Yosemite’s spectacular high country, eventually dropping down into Yosemite Valley.
This is one the main destinations in Yosemite. Winding it’s way through the high country, you will pass some amazing landscapes - giant granite domes, alpine meadows and lakes as well as numerous trailheads. Suggested quick stops:
* May Lake trail head - Take the side road to the trailhead. About an hour and a half to the lake. Once you arrive at the lake, walk past the camp and climb up the small rocky hill on the far side of the lake for killer views!
* Olmstead Point - A turn out on the south side of the road that offers a fantastic view of Yosemite Valley and the high country. Try crossing the road here to walk up the giant granite ramp to the top of a small ridge (a 30 minute round trip).
* Tenaya Lake - Go for a swim or take the trail that goes around the lake
* Tuolumne Meadow - Beautiful alpine meadow with visitor center and nice trails. See map.
* Pothole Dome - ike a beautiful granite dome and explore the Tuolumne River. See map.
Driving down the mountain on Tioga road, exiting Yosemite, at the stop sign, you have arrived at US 395. Turn right to go towards Death Valley/Las Vegas, left to go north to Bodie/Virginia Lakes.
This is one of the most beautiful roads in the US - you will see the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada as well as a variety of awesome natural landscape: ancient volcanoes and geothermal areas.
Stops Include, listed from north to south:
Bodie Ghost Town State Park north of lee Vining. This abandoned gold mining town began as a mining camp following the discovery of gold in 1859. This was a real old west town as depicted in westerns with saloons, brothels, daily shoot outs in the streets and a “boot hill”. Left in a state of "preserved deterioration", there are plenty of cool old buildings to explore. No services. Bodie ghost town is a one and a half hour round trip from Lee Vining:
* Virginia Lakes trailhead - A beautiful and easy hike that will take you to several alpine lakes. Heading north from Lee Vining on 395, it is 12 minutes to top of the winding uphill grade where you will turn left onto Virginia Lakes Road. Drive 10 minutes to the end of the road where it ends in a lake and parking lot. The trailhead is just to the right of the bathroom. This is a high altitude hike (10,000 feet/3000 m +) so be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness on this walk!
* Mono Lake - A beautiful shallow saline soda lake with interesting crystalline tower formations and a habitat for millions of migratory birds! To check out the cool landscape here, take 395 south to Ca - 120 east and turn left. (On the left you will pass by a short dirt road to a trail that allows you to explore an old volcanic crater.) About 7 minutes from the turn at 395. Turn left at the park sign down to the beach/ trailhead (not Navy beach - this is a swimming beach). Allow at least 30 minutes to explore.
* June Lake Loop - A short drive that takes you through a small town and along some beautiful alpine lakes. See map for directions.
* Hot Creek Thermal area just sout of Mammoth where you can see hot water bubbling up to the surface and small geyser. Driving south on 395, a few minutes past the turn off to Mammoth lakes, turn left on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. On the left after about ten minutes - there are signs, a fence and a parking area. Follow the short trail to the creek below.
* Keogh Hot springs - Nine minutes south of Bishop, turn right on Keogh Hot Springs road. This place is an “off the map” outdoor spot for dipping into hot pools - you have to look for parked cars on a side road on the right side of the road. Visitors have made these hot pools by making rock dams along the hot stream. No fee. Clothing optional.
* Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - The oldest trees in the world! Just as you enter the town of Big Pine on 395 turn left on White Mountain Road/Ca 168 and drive to your destination. Allow for a 25 minute drive each way.
Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery - A cool old building with a pond in a shaded park like setting. The pond has hundreds of giant trout that you can feed. On 395, 20 minutes south of the town of Big Pine, turn right up Fish Hatchery road. Drive four minutes up the hill to the sh hatchery. No shing!
* Mt. Whitney portal road, which winds it’s way up to the base of Mount Whitney where there are great views, a nice waterfall, a trailhead and picnic area at the end of the road. From the town of Lone Pine on 395, head west - a right turn - it’s 20 minute drive from town to the top.
* The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and interesting rock formations along the Mt. Whitney portal road ve minutes from town. This is the location of many old American movies.
At Lone Pine, take Ca route 136 to Ca 190. Stay on 190 to Furnace Creek. Just past here, veer right onto Ca 178 towards Artist Drive and Badwater. Exiting the national park, GPS or map your way to Las Vegas.
* Death Valley is a giant expanse of desert between Nevada and California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. Best explored during the cooler fall - winter - spring months, when there can be snow on the desert mountains and wild owers in the hills. However, being able to take in the vastness and inhospitable environment from the comfort of an air conditioned car makes touring in the summer worthwhile. Notable highlights:
* Badwater At 265 feet below sea level, this is the lowest and hottest place in America
* Artist's Drive: Scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. The drive is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. This paved road is one-way and starts from Badwater Road.
* Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Park Visitors Center, Furnace Creek Resort (closed in summer)