Mountains and Foothills - Exploring a New Area of California

April 18-24, 2019
Three Rivers, California

Passing through Tehachapi, California, and dropping into the Central Valley, we acknowledge we're leaving the desert behind for the first time in months. We take it inside us wherever we travel, and now we're looking forward to a summer along the coast and through the forests.

Highway 99 runs through many towns, and then with only 10 miles left on Highway 41 I'm surprised that we're still in the middle of busy civilization. Certainly our stay near the gates of a national park isn't going to be here!?

A couple wide turns through fields of agriculture, the road begins an immediate climb. Within a couple miles we've left the urban and are immersed in the rural. Steep green hills and Lake Kaweah provide a beautiful entryway to the little town of Three Rivers where we'll call the Hideaway RV Park home for the week.

At less than 1000', looking up at 12,000'.

It's a bit snug here, and the water pressure is a mess, but we like the location :-)

We enjoy a late lunch at the Riverview Cafe where we watch a woman filling a half dozen 5 gallon jars with an "interesting" combination of ingredients. She's clearly made this before as there's no precise measuring - just counted shakes and scoops. I finally figure out it must be Bloody Mary mix. And it looks so good that we order a couple Bloody Marias (we don't like vodka so tequila is the better choice). Not only are the drinks delicious, but it's really fun talking with the mix master and laughing with the other staff. We love small towns and their simple pleasures :-)

The very full Kaweah River.

Just like having a salad with our sandwich - soooo good.

A native Californian whose lived here my whole life, it's hard to believe I've never visited Sequoia National Park. Friday morning we make the short drive to take a look. 

We climb to 7,000 feet along and above the Kaweah River, through lodge pines, beautiful wildflowers, large rock formations, small waterfalls, and deep snow. Temps drop from the low 80's to the low 40's. The show stoppers are the old growth Giant Sequoias.

There are 400 steps carved into Moro Rock that you can climb to the summit. You. Not me.

Several snow melt-falls along the road add their own magic to the forest.

Older and "wider" than Redwoods - their thick bark protects them from all but the hottest fires.

More than a little snow remains at the higher elevations, several roads within the park are still closed.

I love the pristine, untouched snow.

We return the back way on a very winding road through the foothills.

Saturday we stay off the roads and stick around home. The campground is very busy, more kids than we've camped with in a long time. 

River access at the campground - very cold!

Sunday is Easter and we head back into the park where there are a surprising number of people on a day I was hoping they were all at home with family. It's very cold and foggy, making for a magical and mysterious forest. Not for everyone, but for us it's even more beautiful.

Between the snow and large crowds, we don't see the major tourist spots in the park. It's not something we miss. We wanted to see the majestic, old trees and we did.


The next two days we spend away from other people, exploring both South Fork and North Fork Roads in the foothills. The wildflowers are especially beautiful here, the river roaring beside and below the road.

Vertical meadows of Wild Iris.

We climb several hundred feet above the river on an increasingly narrow shelf road until I'm not having fun anymore. Bill spots me for a 12-point turnaround in the middle of the track, and we head back the way we came. I'm happy again.....

Taking the time to appreciate a natural rock garden along the track.

Staying just ahead of us along the road, this large guy gobbles a warning to stay away. No problem dude, you're pretty scary!

Still an active post office, this tiny facility is one of few tangible reminders of the Kaweah Cooperative Colony created in 1886. Unable to secure title of the land, they disbanded in 1892.

Our drive on South Ford Road begins with these interesting rocks. They're on private property - what a fun natural playground!

Several feet above the road, it's apparently very important that this boulder is on their property!

The national park is stunning, and the foothills a wonderful surprise - another special place in the broad diversity of California.

The temps are heating up quickly as we return to Fresno, California, to visit Bill's mom and more family for a couple days.