California

National Parks of the Sierra Nevada: Yosemite, King's Canyon and Sequoia

Program No. 20197RJ
Discover three of the nation’s most treasured national parks, exploring waterfalls in King’s Canyon, the world’s largest trees in Sequoia and the many must-see sites of Yosemite.

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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
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At a Glance

Breathe crystal-clear air in an in-depth exploration of all three of these iconic national parks. Enjoy field trips where you’ll experience the major attractions of King’s Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks as you learn about animal life, astronomy, botany, geology, native plants, park issues and the influence of famed naturalist John Muir.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Hikes anywhere from 2 to 6 miles a day. Elevations up to 8,100 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Be part of history at Muir's Rock in King's Canyon, the place where John Muir frequently addressed the Sierra Club, and visit Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow.
  • Experience Congress Loop in Sequoia to encounter the largest tree by mass in the world, and take in the vast landscape of the Great Western Divide and the San Joaquin Valley.
  • Catch at breathtaking first glimpse of Half Dome in Yosemite, and stand before natural and man made marvels like El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Sentinel Bridge and Yosemite Falls.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, and a live performance or event.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Chris Cameron
Chris Cameron is a naturalist, consultant, and educator. A student of science with a degree in theology, he has been a pastor, a naturalist, and consultant to the California Department of Education. He loves teaching the UC/California Naturalist program and speaking for Road Scholar. He retired as the Executive Director of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria in 2018, after 17 years rebuilding the facility and programs and bringing it back to capacity. A birder and a master falconer, Chris encourages hands-on experiences integrating multiple perspectives.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Debbie Sebastian
Debbie Sebastian View biography
Debbie Sebastian has lived in Oakhurst, the southern gateway to Yosemite National Park, for 38 years. After retiring as a high school math and journalism teacher, she has continued to pursue her passion for writing, photography, hiking, grandmothering and volunteering. Backpacking trips with family and friends have crossed the Sierras to Devil’s Postpile and back. Day hikes have allowed her to access numerous Yosemite National Park and nearby destinations.
Profile Image of Chris Cameron
Chris Cameron View biography
Chris Cameron is a naturalist, consultant, and educator. A student of science with a degree in theology, he has been a pastor, a naturalist, and consultant to the California Department of Education. He loves teaching the UC/California Naturalist program and speaking for Road Scholar. He retired as the Executive Director of Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria in 2018, after 17 years rebuilding the facility and programs and bringing it back to capacity. A birder and a master falconer, Chris encourages hands-on experiences integrating multiple perspectives.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Oakhurst, CA
D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst

Activity note: Conference center check-in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00-5:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Welcome Reception: 5:30 p.m. We will gather for a get-acquainted social hour.

Dinner: In Lyles Dining Hall.

Evening: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Programming at Retreat locations includes opportunities for light morning exercise, interaction with members of the local community, a farm-to-table meal, and evening entertainment. Our program is staffed with a Study Leader, who will provide educational content, and a Group Leader who will deal primarily with logistics. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we will view a short video highlighting the beauty of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, our destinations for tomorrow. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Yosemite National Park Field Trip
Episcopal Conference Center, Oakhurst (ECCO)
B,L,D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst

Activity note: Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a bus; driving about 70 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; mostly flat ground, paved and unpaved.

Breakfast: In the dining hall. Each full day after breakfast, we will pack our own lunches from a variety of choices. Bring your own personal, reusable water bottle.

Morning: We will board the shuttle bus to Yosemite Valley and set out by 8:00 a.m. This will be a big day, with a first stop at Tunnelview (38 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.) one of the most photographed places on earth. We will then ride on to Bridalveil Fall and further into Yosemite Valley to Yosemite Lodge where our Study Leader will lead our exploration of the Yosemite Falls. We'll make our way to the Pioneer Cemetery and Indian Museum in Yosemite Village.

Lunch: Sack Lunch in Yosemite Valley.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration will begin before regrouping and heading back to campus in the late afternoon. (38 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.) An optional saunter in the valley with your instructor will be available for those who are up for a little more activity. We’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: In Lyles Dining Hall.

Evening: We will gather for a presentation by a local expert on a topic of interest. Possibilities could range from a live animal presentation, living history performance, musical or artistic guests, or lectures on human and cultural history of the area.

DAY
3
Glacier Point, Southern Yosemite
Episcopal Conference Center, Oakhurst (ECCO)
B,L,D
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst

Activity note: Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a bus; driving about 70 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking about 4 miles throughout the day; mostly flat ground, paved and unpaved.

Breakfast: In the dining hall.

Morning: We will depart for Glacier Point in Yosemite (38 miles, 1 hr. 30 min.). Take a walk up to Sentinel Dome where you can view not only Yosemite Valley, but miles and miles of scenery all the way to Mt. Diablo in the coastal range. Our field trip guide will share not just the geologic significance of the valley below as well as the political history of the very significant look out.

Lunch: At the Glacier Point.

Afternoon: We will make our way back to Wawona area (20 miles, 45 min.) to explore the Pioneer History Center, Wawona Hotel, and Thomas Hill Studio before departing back to ECCO in the afternoon (15 miles, 35 min.).

Dinner: At Lyles Dining Hall.

Evening: We will gather for a presentation by a local expert on a topic of interest. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
4
Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Grant Grove, Muir Rock
Hume Lake
B,L,D
Hume Lake

Activity note: Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a bus; driving about 170 miles throughout the day, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 6 miles over the course of the day; mostly flat ground in Grant Grove & Kings Canyon, paved and unpaved.

Breakfast: In the dining hall.

Morning: We will check out and board a bus for the ride to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (105 mi., 2 hr. 15 min.). Our Study Leader will provide commentary along the way as we go from rolling foothills, traverse thriving crops and farms of the central valley, and up to Hume Lake. We’ll learn about the seven botanical zones of Kings Canyon and the histories of three parks.

Lunch: At Grant Grove.

Afternoon: We will begin our exploration of Kings Canyon (30 miles, 45 min.) with field trips to sites such as include Grizzly Falls, Roaring River Meadow, and Muir Rock. As we explore, we’ll learn about floral life zones of the Sierra Nevada. We will ride to Hume Lake (25 miles, 45 min.) for check-in after our field trip.

Dinner: At Hume Lake Conference Center.

Evening: We will gather for a presentation by a local expert on a topic of interest.

DAY
5
Sequoia National Park, General Sherman Tree
Hume Lake
B,L,D
Hume Lake

Activity note: Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Getting on/off a bus; driving about 35 miles each way, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking up to 5 miles over the course of the day; mostly flat ground in Sequoia National Park, paved and unpaved.

Breakfast: At Hume Lake.

Morning: We will board the shuttle bus for a field trip to Congress Trail loop in Sequoia National Park that includes the General Sherman Tree (35 miles, 1 hr.). This is the largest living tree on earth according to the National Park Service.

Lunch: At the Giant Forest Museum, we’ll have our sack lunches.

Afternoon: Our field trip will continue to nearby locations featuring interpretive hikes of ancient groves, wildlife abundant meadows, and spectacular views of the Great Western Divide. Visit the Giant Forest Museum and stroll through Round Meadow before returning to Hume Lake (40 miles, 1 hr).

Dinner: At Hume Lake. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We will gather for a presentation by a local expert on a topic of interest. Prepare for check-out and departure after breakfast tomorrow.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Oakhurst, CA
B

Activity note: Light exercise prior to breakfast (walking, yoga, etc.). Check-out 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At Hume Lake.

Morning: We will board bus for return to the Fresno area for those catching a flight, train or bus to your next destination (62 miles, 1 hr. 30 min). We will return to ECCO following dropping off any fellow participants departing from the Fresno area (55 miles, 1 hr.).






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