Trip Report: SEKI, Yosemite, Tahoe - Aug. 2025

Question

Just returned from a fabulous week-long family vacation to Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. 2 nights Sequoia, 3 nights Yosemite, 2 nights South Lake Tahoe. We are a family of four with boy/girl 15-year olds. First time to these places for all of us. Bit of a bucket list check-off for me (though I’ll be back). I already posted in some other threads, but also thought I’d post an official unified trip report, as much as to preserve for my own posterity as anything. But hoping others might get something from it as well. Sorry, this gets pretty long.

DAY 1: Arrive into the Fresno airport from the east coast at noon-ish on Saturday. Get our rental car and head east towards Sequoia. Planned pit stop in Sanger for lunch (Blossom Trail Café – can recommend). Roll into the Wuksachi Lodge late afternoon. We were surprised by how dry and dusty everything was, but no matter, we got used to it. Also, skies a little hazy (from fires?) which had me concerned about stargazing (not to worry). Took the rest of the day to explore around the lodge and have dinner at the lodge’s restaurant, The Peaks (big thumbs up).

DAY 2: Hiking in Sequoia Natl. Park we go. Up early (well, for us) and make it to the General Sherman parking lot before 7:30am. Big trees!!! Gaze at the Gen. Sherman (wow!). Then on to the Congress Trail, connecting to the Alta Trail (gloriously empty), and make it to the museum to refresh by mid-morning. Moro Rock Trail to that big rock. Up the rock we go. Spectacular views. Rock climbers on the edge (yikes). Shuttle back to our car and off to Lodgepole Village for lunch. Hiked the Tokopah “Fall” Trail that afternoon. Pretty trail, but not much falls in Aug. Dinner back at the Lodge (again yum). “Wonders of the Night Sky” program that night. WONDERful! Great meteor sightings, even if a scootch too hazy to see the Milky Way.

DAY 3: Off to Kings Canyon after checking out of the Wuksachi 9am-ish. See General Grant (salute!) and more big trees, then drive the whole Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Scenic indeed. Spectacularly so. I confess we sort of gave KC short shrift. Mainly, we drove and gazed, with occasional stops at various viewpoints and waterfalls, including lunch at Cedar Grove Village. Onward to Yosemite, which we got to by late afternoon.

I think even the jaded teenagers were awestruck when we entered Yosemite Valley for the first time and made a point to stop at Tunnel View. Wowza!!! Just like in the pictures I’ve seen my whole life. Checked into the Ahwahnee (the history, the location – loved it!). And mostly just explored nearby that evening. Big day ahead.

DAY 4: Up early (well, for us) to do some hiking in Yosemite Valley. Walked out of the hotel 7am-ish. Hiked the Mirror Lake loop. Nice scenic hike, but buggy -- and no real lake in Aug. (which we knew). Afterward, walked over to Curry Village to recharge. Then, wandered by foot over to the Lower Yosemite Falls viewpoint with little falls to speak of in Aug. (which we knew). Lunch at Degnan’s Kitchen (delish) and to the hotel to relax, before heading out again late afternoon….

To the Mist Trail 3pm-ish. More strenuous than I realized and than the paved path would suggest. Vernal Falls Footbridge was not much of a viewpoint (hello Aug.), but making our way to near the top of the falls was fantastic. Best waterfalls payoff of the trip. Incredible! Back to the hotel for dinner (dining room buffet – meh) and stargazing – meteors and the first time seeing the Milky Way for my kids. What a day.

DAY 5: Up early (well, for us) and leave the valley to head up to Glacier Point. Make it to the Sentinel Dome/ Taft Point Trailhead by 7:30am. We did the loop trail counter-clockwise, and it was my favorite of the trip. Spectacular views, with few hikers on the back part of the trail in the morning. Afterward, drove over to Glacier Point for more spectacular views, with lots more people.

A word on the 15-year olds: While my son is still game for hiking, my daughter is in a place where she is not a fan. That said, when we got to the top of Sentinel Dome, my daughter made a point of getting “an iconic photo” of herself there. My wife (the photographer) took shots of her with Half Dome and with El Capitan. No word on which photo she chose as iconic, but, well, yeah. :)

That afternoon we chilled out at the hotel. With taking a dip in the Merced River and some pool time worked in. Dinner at the dining room again (still meh) and more terrific stargazing.

DAY 6: Check out of the Ahwahnee around 9:30am (a little later than planned – eh hem). Off to drive the Tioga Pass. Made various stops along the way, visited Tuolumne Meadows and Soda Springs (cool). Hit a random pull-off for a secluded picnic along what I guess was the Dana Fork (lovely). Made it through to Lee Vining by mid-afternoon and to our South Lake Tahoe hotel, The Landing (loved it, with adjusted expectations), by 5/6pm-ish.

DAY 7: Lake Tahoe nothing day engaged – ha! Slept in for real. Talk of kayaking or paddle-boating never materialized. Lunch on the strip (South Lake Brewing – thumbs up). Wife and daughter got their nails done. Son and I spent a little time on the beach. Sunset dinner that night at the Riva Grill – bit of a factory, but got a great table with a view, after I rejected the first one.

DAY 8: Drive to Reno airport and home. Mission accomplished.

If anyone is still reading (ha!), THANK YOU all for the tips and advice I got here on this forum. Not just to the questions I posted, but also to all the other posts that I was regularly checking. Wouldn’t have been as good of a trip without it. An amazing trip!

(I’m going to post this in both the SEKI forum and the Yosemite forum. Hope that is moderator approved.)

Answer

Your week-long family trip covering Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe sounds absolutely fantastic! It’s great that you balanced hiking, sightseeing, and some downtime, which is especially important with teens who have different energy levels and interests.

Starting in Sequoia National Park, your schedule worked very well for first-time visitors. Early arrival at the General Sherman Tree and walking the Congress Trail was smart to avoid crowds. Moro Rock is iconic, and your note about climbers on the edge captures the thrill of that viewpoint. The Tokopah Trail is a lovely, moderate hike, even if the waterfall was light in August. Evening stargazing programs at Wuksachi Lodge are a unique highlight, and it’s wonderful that your family got to see meteors despite the slight haze.

General Sherman Tree – early morning to beat crowds.
Congress Trail & Alta Trail – quiet and scenic.
Moro Rock Trail – short but stunning panoramic views.
Tokopah Trail – moderate hike along river with minimal falls in summer.
Evening stargazing programs – unique educational experience.

In Kings Canyon, a scenic drive along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway allowed you to experience the grandeur of the park without overexertion. Visiting General Grant Tree and stopping at Cedar Grove Village for lunch gave a good mix of sightseeing and practical breaks. While you gave KC a shorter visit, this approach is reasonable given the amount of driving involved in your overall itinerary.

Yosemite clearly stole the show, and your plan to stay at the Ahwahnee was perfect for first-time visitors. Key highlights included:

Tunnel View – classic and unforgettable first glimpse of Yosemite Valley.
Mirror Lake Loop – easy hike with nice valley views, though water is seasonal.
Lower Yosemite Falls – short walk, seasonal flow in August.
Mist Trail to Vernal Falls – challenging but rewarding, great waterfall experience.
Sentinel Dome/Taft Point loop – favorite hike for panoramic views and fewer hikers.
Glacier Point – classic viewpoint, spectacular vistas.

You did a great job balancing longer hikes with relaxing time back at the hotel and enjoying Merced River and pool breaks, which is key when traveling with teens. Dining choices at Degnan’s Kitchen and the lodge restaurant added convenience, and evening stargazing provided memorable family experiences.

The drive over Tioga Pass and through Tuolumne Meadows to Lee Vining is scenic and makes the transition to Lake Tahoe enjoyable. Your South Lake Tahoe stay allowed for relaxation, light activities, and sunset dining with views, rounding out the trip nicely.

Tioga Pass & Tuolumne Meadows – scenic drive, short stops for photos and picnics.
Lee Vining – convenient gateway to Mono Lake and further east.
South Lake Tahoe – mix of beach, casual activities, and sunset dining.

Overall, your itinerary was well-paced, giving a mix of iconic sights, moderate hikes, and downtime for family enjoyment. The variety of landscapes – giant sequoias, deep valleys, high alpine meadows, and Lake Tahoe – makes this an excellent example of a classic California adventure in a short timeframe. Perfect balance of active exploration, sightseeing, and family-friendly relaxation.

Trip Report: SEKI, Yosemite, Tahoe - Aug. 2025

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