🥾 ActiveLong weekend · from San Francisco, CA
Alpine Peaks, Granite Cliffs & Wilderness Trails
Escape to soaring granite cliffs and remote alpine peaks where epic wilderness trails connect California's most breathtaking mountain landscapes.
Day 1 — Yosemite National ParkDay 2 — Inyo National ForestDay 3 — Sierra National Forest
Day 1 — Yosemite National Park
Day 1 — Yosemite National Park
🚗 5 hr 15 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
San Francisco, CA → Yosemite National Park
4 hr 44 min8:00 AM → 12:44 PM
Yosemite National Park
★ 4.8Experience some of Earth's most dramatic granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and pristine wilderness all within a few hours of San Francisco.
12:44 PM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Yosemite National Park → Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead
15 min1:44 PM → 1:59 PM
Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead
★ 4.8Hike a scenic 1.2-mile loop through pine forest to witness the thundering 320-foot cascade up close, feeling mist on your face as water crashes down granite cliffs.
1:59 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead → White Wolf Lodge Dining Room
16 min5:00 PM → 5:16 PM
White Wolf Lodge Dining Room
Savor hearty mountain cuisine in a rustic setting nestled in Yosemite's high country with authentic lodge atmosphere.
5:16 PM📍 See location
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Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
Rated 4.5★ (107 reviews) — a well-rated base for your night near Yosemite National Park.
Day 2 — Inyo National Forest
Day 2 — Inyo National Forest
🚗 3 hr 9 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Yosemite National Park → Inyo National Forest
2 hr 42 min8:00 AM → 10:42 AM
Inyo National Forest
★ 4.8Discover alpine lakes, ancient bristlecone pines, and dramatic Sierra Nevada scenery in one of California's most unspoiled mountain ranges.
10:42 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Inyo National Forest → Big Pine Creek Trailhead
21 min12:00 PM → 12:21 PM
Big Pine Creek Trailhead
★ 4.9Trek through alpine meadows and past pristine mountain lakes, ascending toward jagged Sierra peaks with panoramic views of the Inyo Range stretching across the horizon.
12:21 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Big Pine Creek Trailhead → Copper Top BBQ
6 min5:00 PM → 5:06 PM
Copper Top BBQ
★ 4.7A legendary Eastern Sierra roadside smokehouse in Big Pine — tri-tip, pork ribs, and brisket smoked low-and-slow with a view of the White Mountains. It's consistently named the best BBQ on Highway 395 and the right end to a long day of Eastern Sierra alpine hiking.
5:06 PM📍 See location
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Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp
Rated 4.9★ (189 reviews) — a well-rated base for your night near Inyo National Forest.
Day 3 — Sierra National Forest
Day 3 — Sierra National Forest
🚗 1 hr 55 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Inyo National Forest → Sierra National Forest
1 hr 39 min8:00 AM → 9:39 AM
Sierra National Forest
★ 4.8Explore over 1.3 million acres of diverse wilderness featuring high alpine meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and towering giant sequoias.
9:39 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Sierra National Forest → China Peak Mountain Resort
14 min12:00 PM → 12:14 PM
China Peak Mountain Resort
★ 4.4Carve down groomed runs through pine forests or enjoy lift-served mountain biking, with views across the Eastern Sierra and access to terrain for all skill levels.
12:14 PM📍 See location
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Evening
🚗
Drive
China Peak Mountain Resort → Lakeshore Resort Restaurant/Saloon
2 min5:00 PM → 5:02 PM
Lakeshore Resort Restaurant/Saloon
★ 4.3Relax with fresh-caught seafood and cold drinks in a laid-back lakeside setting perfect for unwinding after outdoor adventures.
5:02 PM📍 See location
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Consider staying overnight
The drive back to San Francisco, CA is 5h 28m — consider booking a night near Sierra National Forest and heading home in the morning.
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