Choose from a suite of options, from a one-hour jaunt to soak up the fall foliage to narrated rides that focus on the history of the locomotive. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine RailroadĮxperience the Sierra Mountains from aboard an authentic steam train at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Here, you’ll see legendary trees such as the Fallen Monarch, a massive log that fell three centuries ago, and Grizzly Giant, the largest and oldest tree in the park at more than 2,700 years old. The Mariposa Grove of Giant SequoiasĪ 30-minute drive to Yosemite National Park will take you to the spectacular Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, one of the largest sequoia groves in the world with more than 500 giant trees. The loop trail is fairly easy and provides interpretive signs along the way highlighting native trees and plants and offering an insight into the lives of the Mono, the first peoples to live in the area. The Way of the Mono Trail is less than a mile through a pine forest with magnificent views of the lake. The park is full of magical adventures, including the journey to Glacier Point for expansive vistas of Yosemite Valley, the hike through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, or the Mist Trail with its cool spray from Vernal and Nevada Falls. The three-mile Willow Creek Trail takes you to Angel Falls, a delightful swimming spot.īass Lake is a gateway to Yosemite National Park, just 30 minutes’ drive to the south entrance and the iconic Tunnel View. The five-mile-return hike to Goat Mountain Fire Lookout is more challenging, but it rewards with spectacular views. The Mono Trail is a short loop to the top of a rock with a panorama of the lake. Surrounded by pine forests, Bass Lake is also popular for hiking and mountain biking. Located 3.5 hours’ drive east of San Francisco and an hour north of Fresno, the lake is also a magnet for water sports enthusiasts: water skiing, wakeboarding, and kayaking are all on the menu here, as is swimming in the lovely, shallow coves. Regarded as one of the best fishing lakes in the Sierra Nevada, five-mile-long Bass Lake attracts anglers from all over California for its abundance of Kokanee salmon, trout, and catfish.

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