Day 18–39
Bakersfield, CA → Lee Vining, CA · June 14 – July 5, 2026
The whole loop had been quietly pointing at these two: Sequoia and Yosemite. I set up two base camps to do it right — a week at Sequoia Resort up in Badger to reach Kings Canyon and Sequoia, then a move north to Groveland for Yosemite. Three more national parks on this leg, a lot of granite, and after all that desert heat, exactly the reset I needed.
Pulled off on the way up to walk around Allensworth — the only California town founded and run entirely by Black settlers. Quiet and a little windswept, but worth the stop just to stand in the history of it.
Colonel Allensworth — the only California town founded and run entirely by Black settlers.
Stopped for about an hour and just wandered the oaks — an easy loop, a little more history to soak in, and a good leg-stretch for me and the dogs.
Wandering the valley oaks at Kaweah Oaks — stretching everyone's legs before the climb.
Before the climb up to Badger I dropped the dogs for baths and put the dogless hours to work — laundromat, then a full van deep-clean in a Walmart lot, because road life is nothing if not glamorous. Then up to our week at Sequoia Resort & RV Park.
Deep-cleaning the van in a Walmart lot — the glamorous side of road life.
A settle-in day at the resort — getting the rig sorted and resting up before the big Kings Canyon push. Found this little pop of yellow on a walk around camp.
A little pop of yellow on a walk around camp.
The big one — national park #20. Left before 7, dropped the dogs for the day, and pointed the van at Kings Canyon. Honestly, the drive up Dry Creek Road alone should earn you some kind of driving award. Rolled past Hume Lake, stopped in at the Big Stump entrance and visitor center, then dropped all the way down to the canyon floor.
Down on the floor I did the short hike out to Roaring River Falls, then had lunch at the Cedar Grove Snack Bar — a riverside deck right on the water. Got to sit on the river and eat, and it was really special.
Lunch on the riverside deck at Cedar Grove — one of the best of the whole trip.
Back up top I walked out to the General Grant Tree — huge, and you can still see the fire-scarred side where it caught years back. Closed the day on the scenic byway overlooks: Junction View, Kings Canyon Overlook, and Yucca Point.
The General Grant Tree, fire-scarred side and all.
Stayed in the van and worked all day — the road still has a desk attached to it.
A low-key day around camp, resetting before the Sequoia tour. One of us was fully tapped out.
One of us was fully tapped out.
A morning guided tour through the giant sequoias — national park #21. Standing under trees that big does something to your sense of scale that a photo can't quite hold.
Among the giant sequoias.
Me, for scale, next to one of the giants.
Packed up and ran north to Yosemite Pines RV Resort in Groveland — my launch pad for everything Yosemite. A travel day with an errands tail end, but it put me right where I wanted to be.
Settle-in at the new site, getting the lay of the land before diving into the park.
A quieter day at camp — work, dogs, and getting the week's park plan together.
A little more color around camp.
First real Yosemite day — national park #22 — and it started at the Ansel Adams Gallery, where I fell completely in love with a print. The kind of love where I already know I'm coming back to buy it. That first look at the valley doesn't feel real.
First look at the valley — it doesn't feel real.
The Sierra opening up on the way in.
Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.
Caught the sunset from Tunnel View that night — Kaia right there with me — then slept in the van right there in the park.
Kaia and me for sunset at Tunnel View.
Got to watch climbers working their way up El Capitan — tiny specks on that impossible wall.
Climbers like specks on the face of El Capitan.
Also got my first bear sighting — a cub up a tree, cool as anything.
My first bear sighting — a cub up a tree.
Did lunch at The Ahwahnee (the duck was amazing), then ended the day with sunset from Glacier Point.
Sunset over Half Dome from Glacier Point.
Hiked the Mist Trail — it was beautiful. Exactly the kind of climb-and-spray day that makes the sore legs worth it.
Climbing the Mist Trail.
Taking it in from a rock.
A rest-and-reset day after a big run of park days — though the view never really lets you rest.
Half Dome — the view that never really lets you rest.
A get-it-all-done day — Home Depot, Sprouts, Starbucks, van cleaned out, dog brushed — but I snuck out to a vista point too, and California kept showing off.
California showing off near Groveland.
Worked, then met Aaron after his shift for pizza and a run up to Glacier Point — an easy evening to cap the week.
Back at Glacier Point with Aaron.
Worked all day — nothing exciting, just the steady part of road life.
Another work day at camp, with plenty of Yosemite still ahead. My coworker, as always.
My coworker, as always.
Dropped the dogs for their Big Creek stay and spent the day with Aaron, then slept in the park again. Caught a pretty one on the drive in.
A pretty one caught on the drive in.
Did the Taft Point–Sentinel Dome loop, and it was amazing — the fissures and the sheer drop at Taft, then the full wraparound view from the top of Sentinel Dome. One of those hikes that keeps paying off the whole way around.
The payoff from the top of Sentinel Dome.
More of that Sentinel Dome view.
Slower, sweeter day: a picnic lunch with Aaron up in Tuolumne Meadows, right next to a creek, then dinner back at The Ahwahnee. Hard to beat.
A creekside picnic in Tuolumne Meadows.
Kaia and Piper in the woods.
Packed up and spent the day mapping out the next couple of weeks — then closed out the Fourth the right way, around the fire.
Fourth of July s'mores at camp.
Drove out the back way, up through Tuolumne Meadows and down to Lee Vining, chasing a diner a local swore by — Nicely's. A good way to close out the leg: high meadows in the mirror and Mono Lake up ahead.