Yosemite to North Rim-Grand Canyon

[FJ40_Nut]

We, the family kids and dog included, are making some plans to drive from Yosemite to the North Rim-Grand Canyon next summer. There's a whole bunch of territory between these two points. We'd greatly appreciate any recommended stops such as mines, ghost towns, scenery, and good camping/overnight spots.

THANKS.

[Flip Dog]

Well if you go out of the backside of Yosemite on the 120 you can go down to Mono lake and some nearby hot springs, and if you go south to Markleeville you can go to the most awesome campsite ever! Two hour trail down to some very remote hot springs with built in tubs. Beyond that I cant help I am still exploring the Sierra Nevada's, and haven't made it out of California for wheeling and camping. I have to say though, that drive out of Yosemite is one of the most inspiring drives ever, Tuolumne Meadows is so prehistoric and the decent into Mono county I absolutely amazing. I went though that area during dusk so the view into the Nevada desert was indescribable. Good luck I want to drive out to the Grand Canyon sometime too.

[workingdog]

I'd love to hear about this itinerary as well as eventually I'd like to do that trip.

But Markleeville is north of Yosemite.

Peter

[Kofoed]

North Rim. WAY better than the south rim IMHO. Hit the Tuweep overlook. Spectacular. You can stop at the Bar Ten dude ranch and talk them into a helicopter ride ($$$). Then go south and hike down to the Colorado River.

[philos1]

I've driven the "Ancient Bristlecone HWY" - 203 IIRC, pretty drive on a seldom used road into NV, I drove that down into Death Valley (not that you'd do that in the Summer) it was a nice drive and there are other routes Eastbound from that road IIRC.

ahhh, hwy 168- here's a not too interesting link, but it's pretty cool out that way- we call it the alien abduction highway, cause it's so empty...

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/about/

X2 on the North Rim.


Have fun!

[FJ40_Nut]

Thanks for these ideas! I've also done some reading on Benton, CA ghost town. I like ghost towns so this may be an option too.

[philos1]

Lots of those around, in addition to Benton, I can think of Ballarat and Bodie off the top of my head.

[D'Animal]

Send a PM to Cruiserdrew here on MUD. It seems he spends alot of time on the other side of the mountain.

[Fast Eddy]

x3 on North Rim. Awesome!

• Calico Ghost Town near Barstow is touristy, but there's OHV there and shooting is allowed. They have little cabins you can rent too.
• I like Vegas for a couple hours walk on the strip in the early evening. Many don't. There are lots of free attractions.
• You can hardly miss Virgin Gorge east of Mesquite, NV on the way.
• Zion Nat'l Park.

If you plan to bring mountain bikes, this response can get a whole lot bigger.

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by FJ40_Nut

Thanks for these ideas! I've also done some reading on Benton, CA ghost town. I like ghost towns so this may be an option too.

Benton sucks. Bodie is the real deal. See if you came make reservations for the Standard Mine Tour. If you go over Tioga Pass H120 you come out at Lee Vining. From there it is one hour to Bodie. Ballarat has basically nothing, although it is a trail head of sorts for some wheeling in the Panamint Mountains.

[Cruiserdrew]

Yosemite itself is fun, but in high summer, you and everyone else in California will be there. The harder you have to work, and the further you hike, the fewer people you will see. Up at the top of Tioga Pass is some spectacular hiking opportunities.

Bodie is fun and worth a day.

Mammoth makes a good stop-it's shi-shi but still has some good places to eat and stay.

The Bristlecone Pine Forest is a good visit, and if you go up Silver Canyon, you can get there on dirt roads.

Ballaratt is not that great, but the canyon just behind it is. (Pleasant Canyon). That takes you up thousands of feet in the Panamints with extended 4wheeling opportunities in Middle Park and South Park. Great views of Butte Valley off the rim of South Park. It will be much cooler up there and a respite from the heat of DV proper.

From there, up and over Golar Wash, Mengel Pass, Butte valley and out into Death Valley itself via Warm Springs Canyon. It's a real adventure and worth your time. That will take at least a day to make the West-East traverse. Not much gas, so plan accordingly. From there, which is kind of the South End of DV national Park, it isn't far over back roads to Las Vegas.

Alternatively cross DV in the North and visit Saline Hot Springs, Ubehebe, and the Race track. It will be hot so plan accordingly.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Send a PM to Cruiserdrew here on MUD. It seems he spends alot of time on the other side of the mountain.

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Yosemite itself is fun, but in high summer, you and everyone else in California will be there. The harder you have to work, and the further you hike, the fewer people you will see. Up at the top of Tioga Pass is some spectacular hiking opportunities.

Bodie is fun and worth a day.

Mammoth makes a good stop-it's shi-shi but still has some good places to eat and stay.

The Bristlecone Pine Forest is a good visit, and if you go up Silver Canyon, you can get there on dirt roads.

Ballaratt is not that great, but the canyon just behind it is. (Pleasant Canyon). That takes you up thousands of feet in the Panamints with extended 4wheeling opportunities in Middle Park and South Park. Great views of Butte Valley off the rim of South Park. It will be much cooler up there and a respite from the heat of DV proper.

From there, up and over Golar Wash, Mengel Pass, Butte valley and out into Death Valley itself via Warm Springs Canyon. It's a real adventure and worth your time. That will take at least a day to make the West-East traverse. Not much gas, so plan accordingly. From there, which is kind of the South End of DV national Park, it isn't far over back roads to Las Vegas.

Alternatively cross DV in the North and visit Saline Hot Springs, Ubehebe, and the Race track. It will be hot so plan accordingly.

Bout dang time you read your PM's.


You did not mention Death Valley in much detail.

You are the Guru of that area.

[Kofoed]

Buy some of the holy texts this guy publishes:

http://www.trackandtrailpublications.com/

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by Kofoed

Buy some of the holy texts this guy publishes:

http://www.trackandtrailpublications.com/

Agree-Roger Mitchell is the man. He has to be old at this point--I'd love to meet him on a trip somewhere. He has been 4 wheeling in the Eastern Sierra since hte 1950's and has seen it all.

[FJ40_owner]

Times 100 on what CDrew said. Been there also. Did he mention that Death Valley is hot? Not just your average 100+ hot but life threatening hot. 120+ at times. Seriously if you travel in DV be prepared for potential flash floods in Spring and heat like you have never experienced. It can literally take your breath away.

Prepare your vehicle, your communications and bring survival stuff.

Have a great time and don't forget to visit Scotty at his castle.

And the Ghost town of Bodie is worth a day trip. Any passenger vehicle can make it 60% of the year.

We fish the lakes of the Eastern Sierra as well.

And HWY 395 is probably the most scenic drive in the West except Hwy 1 on the coast.

Take lots of pics.

JB

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Did he mention that Death Valley is hot? Not just your average 100+ hot but life threatening hot. 120+ at times.


JB

No kidding. People have their lives in peril driving out to a place like the Racetrack in the a/c comfort of the SUV for a day trip...then the car breaks down and they are f-d. The Euros really love it though.

I was in DV with a buddy in an open CJ5 in August when it was 118 at Stovepipe. I was covered head to toe in clothes because the wind was burning my skin. It really sucks waking up at 5 am with the air temp at 95 degrees and the ground hotter. Not place to camp out in the Summer.

Cerro Gordo in the Inyo Mountains east of Owens Lake is a worthwhile detour. It is up at around 8000 feet, with restored buildings and such.

[FJ40_Nut]

Thanks again everyone for the advice. I've done the Death Valley and Panamint Valley routes (fall and spring) and in the summer with my wife would likely put and end to our trip!

Roger Mitchell is the best for reference material. I'll start digging in his books.

The Bristlecone Forest sounds interesting and we've never been there. The Methusaluh (sp) tree sounds like a deal we should do at least once. The dirt road through this sounds like our speed too.

[Dave-T]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Up at the top of Tioga Pass is some spectacular hiking opportunities.

Mammoth makes a good stop-it's shi-shi but still has some good places to eat and stay.

Gardisky Lake at Tioga Pass is a beautiful short hike with pristine alpine terrain and incredible views.

Giovoni's Italian restaurant in Mammoth Lakes, oh I'm craving it right now. Or you should stop at the Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining (120 and 395). They are famous for their pizza and yes it is very good.

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Agree-Roger Mitchell is the man. He has to be old at this point--I'd love to meet him on a trip somewhere. He has been 4 wheeling in the Eastern Sierra since hte 1950's and has seen it all.

I personally know Roger Mitchell. He lives in my town and is currently the captain at a volunteer fire station. Great guy, but he drives an H3 now instead of his 4 runner.

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by Dave-T

I personally know Roger Mitchell. He lives in my town and is currently the captain at a volunteer fire station. :

Now that is cool. If I ever get to Oakhurst, I want you to introduce me. I'd like to shake the man's hand for a job done extremely well. Maybe he'd sign one or two of his books in my collection. I'd love to see his collection of old photos-like the ones he has sprinkled in his books. 4 Wheeling in the 1950s must have been pretty lonely, but he still went everywhere.

[Dave-T]

I would not go to death valley in the summer. April or May would be my latest.

[Dave-T]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Now that is cool. If I ever get to Oakhurst, I want you to introduce me. I'd like to shake the man's hand for a job done extremely well. Maybe he'd sign one or two of his books in my collection. I'd love to see his collection of old photos-like the ones he has sprinkled in his books. 4 Wheeling in the 1950s must have been pretty lonely, but he still went everywhere.

Sure, I could probably set you up.

[Dusty 66]

Originally Posted by FJ40_Nut

Thanks for these ideas! I've also done some reading on Benton, CA ghost town. I like ghost towns so this may be an option too.

Yea check out the Benton Hot Springs nice B&B/camp ground too.

[CruiserLegolas]

I haven't actually driven from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon's North Rim, but I've been to both on different occasions (and about 13 National Parks in total).

If one of your goals is to drive thru or visit several National Parks and get your money's worth from the National Parks annual pass ($80), then you might want to consider going thru Death Valley and Zion.

I prefer to go to Yosemite in the spring when the waterfalls are going strong. I had to pound the reservation lines as soon as my dates become "reservable" to get a campsite in the valley in Upper Pines. Eat breakfast at the amazing Awahnee Hotel and hang out in the lobby and its grounds. Also, keep in mind that the day tourists arrive by bus and car around 10 am and depart by 4 pm, so early in the morning and late at night the park feels a lot less crowded than in the middle of the day. Get up early and beat the day tourists to the sites.

Bodie is a ghost town preserved in what's called arrested decay -- meaning the park rangers don't improve it, but they don't let it get worse. It's maintained to look as when everyone left town. You'll have to visit on your way out of Yosemite and on your way to Death Valley.

There are a few ghost towns in Death Valley NP. I just got back from 3 days in DV during Thanksgiving. November is one of the most popular months in DV. The good tent campsites were full and the hotels were also booked, but we got lucky and got a night at Furnace Creek Ranch Hotel and another night at a tent site in Panamint Springs Resort. Lot's of off-road bikes and jeeps in November. Some hotels and campsites are closed in the summer and they open in mid-October. Lots of dirt roads like Titus Canyon and the road to the Racetrack (and the back road to Panamint Springs). Not sure about going in the summer and dealing with the 120 degree temperatures.

Zion is also hot, but it's on your way to the North Rim. We stayed at a hotel near Zion called the Desert Pearl Inn that had a great pool overlooking some magnificent boulders. Nice to jump in the water in the summer, but it was over 100 in late August in Zion.

We also went to Bryce Canyon, but I'm not sure if you have time to go there. I really enjoyed the hikes in Bryce Canyon and the thunderstorms in late August.

Try to get a meal at the lodge in the North Rim. It has spectacular views of the Grand Canyon. I really liked the area around the North Rim as well more than the South Rim. I didn't get a chance to explore the valley, but it's not an easy hike!

I forgot to mention that the Mammoth Lakes area is one of my favorite in the summer. There are hot springs, volcano craters, devil's post pile, rainbow falls, obsedion peak, june lake loop, etc. I was there for 4 days in the summer and it was awsome. Camp in one of the campsites around the June Lake Loop and bring your fishing pole to catch your dinner.

[wagon4wd]

others have already covered most of what I'd have to offer.

Going to the north rim of the grand canyon from california pretty much ensures you're going through the northwestern corner of arizona, then into st. george utah to turn south, unless you've got some cross country expedition through BLM land planned (and if so, take pics and post the route).

Because of this, you're within an hour drive of Zion National Park, and it would be a shame to miss it. If you don't want to camp around a bunch of people, there is dispersed camping available in the northwest corner of the park, as well as a primitive campground with six sites. The hike up the narrows (ask a ranger) is amazing, and there is a place in town just outside the south entrance that rents "wet suit" socks with shoes that will make the hike up the narrows a lot more pleasant. A walking stick is also quite handy, since you're walking almost knee high through a flowing river for the bulk of the hike. The weeping rock is also worth seeing, and is an easy hike with no special equipment required.

About ten miles south of the airport in Hurricane, UT is an old mormon escape trail. Pretty easy drive, with the exception of one gnarly loose rocky off camber spot. Gorgeous views, and it's kinda sorta on the way into arizona from Hurricane to get to the Grand Canyon. If this interests you, I'll have to dig up the details and waypoints and such if this interests you.

On the way to the north rim, there is a fire lookout that someone mentioned in Kaibab National Forest that you'll drive by. It is usually locked, but the view from just below the locked cabin is amazing. There are also a few dirt roads that you can drive around in the national forest, some with views that rival what you'd find in the national park. Unfortunately, a good chunk of the forest burned in a fire last year, and there's a lot of logging going on in the area, though I don't think it's quite a clearcut operation that would require letting the oil out of bulldozers or anything. There is a ranger station in Jacob's Lake (where you turn off 89 to head to the north rim) that can provide information about that area if you're interested. There's also a dirt road that completely bypasses jacob's lake, possibly even Kanab if I remember right, heading straight to the fields just north of the north rim boundary.

When you get into the north rim, if you're driving a reasonably equipped 4x4, you should head out to sublime point. Ask a ranger if you can't find it on the map. It is gorgeous out there, and there are a couple of spots that would make good campsites if you want to be in the middle of nowhere with amazing view. Do remember you're in a national park, and tread lightly on the way out there though.

The four wheeling isn't anything ridiculous, then again, we were in a triple locked 80 with 33s and a 3" OME lift, so maybe it was a little worse than I remembered.

I have some pictures of the area somewhere. If you're interested, I can dig them up.

[nevadaesh]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Ballaratt is not that great, but the canyon just behind it is. (Pleasant Canyon). That takes you up thousands of feet in the Panamints with extended 4wheeling opportunities in Middle Park and South Park. Great views of Butte Valley off the rim of South Park. It will be much cooler up there and a respite from the heat of DV proper.

Good description, but a word or warning - There are a couple of miles of heavy brush and trees in Pleasant canyon that will leave major pinstriping. The rest of the route is beautiful and at times challanging. Sounds like it will be a great trip.
For a ghost town, there's Rhyolite close to Beatty NV

[Grolar]

Did the trip you're planning in 2006 with my 80. Blog