favorite itinerary: 3 california national parks in 10 days; pinnacles, yosemite, lassen volcanic national parks
manzanita lake at lassen volcanic national park
we’re fortunate in california to have nine national parks (not to mention all the other national park sites!). and they’re pretty evenly disbursed, so just about anywhere you travel in california, you’re bound to not be too far from a national park. so far we’ve visited two-thirds of the state’s parks and have a lot of favorites from each. here’s an itinerary for three california national parks in 10 days: pinnacles, yosemite and lassen volcanic national parks. with this itinerary you’ll spend two days in pinnacles national park, two days in yosemite national park and two days in lassen volcanic national park. you’ll see these recommendations are hike-heavy. that’s because that’s what we feel is one of the best ways to see these national wonders. however, be sure to do your research as each park has it’s own museums and other attractions that are worthy stops if you have time. further, the vast majority of of national park hikes are inaccessible for a variety of disabilities. if you have questions about accessible options, please reach out and i can connect you with some resources.
10-day itinerary for northern california national parks
day 1: fly into san francisco or sacramento; drive to pinnacles national park
pinnacles national park is about 2.5 hours from san francisco and 3 hours from sacramento.
pinnacles national park is the homeland of the amah mutsun and the chalon people. both tribes continue to have relationships with the land. for the amah mutsun, condors are significant as they escort the dead to the next world.
there are extremely limited transportation options in the park and you should plan to drive throughout your visit.
pinnacles national park has two sides that are about 1.5 apart by car. i recommend spending one day on each side. despite pinnacles being a small park, it would be really challenging to do both sides in a day due to the drive between.
you should aim to see three highlights of pinnacles national park: pinnacles, talus caves, california condors. this itinerary gives you the opportunity to see all!
i recommend staying in the campground in east pinnacles. there is no other campground on either side of the park.
if you arrive and set up camp before dark, hike the bench trail from the campground. it’s a lovely walk and you can spot different animals coming out at dusk.
day 2: east pinnacles national park
visit the east pinnacles book store/visitor center. it’s small, but somehow we spent more money here than any other national park - lol!
at time of this writing bear gulch nature center is closed indefinitely. if it’s open, be sure to visit!
hike moses spring to rim trail loop. this includes traveling through bear gulch cave! read more about the pinnacles caves and their statuses here. this loop is 2.2 miles and is a *do not miss! (all trail information is here.)
hike condor gulch trail. the full trail is 3.4 miles out and back, but you can also hike 1 mile to the overlook and back for a less strenuous hike.
if you have time and it’s an option for you, hike the high peaks trail. this is where we saw the most california condors, one of the rarest birds in the world. you can connect to it from the rim trail if you are already hiking the moses spring to rim trail loop. tips on spotting condors.
day 3: west pinnacles national park
drive to west pinnacles. this drive is approximately 90 minutes from east pinnacles.
hike the juniper canyon loop. this hike is 4.3 miles and has some steep climbs, but you’re rewarded with incredible views of the pinnacles. you could hike up to the view just before the switchbacks to tunnel trail and back down for a 2.5 mile out and back hike. seeing this view is a *do not miss!
hike the balconies cave-cliffs loop. this loop is 2.4 miles and gives you another opportunity to explore the talus caves. some parts of this trail are not particularly well-marked and we passed multiple hikers who turned around to try the loop in the opposite direction. also be advised that balconies cave is quite different from the bear gulch cave as it is smaller, doesn’t have an established path and requires more climbing.
return to east pinnacles campground.
juniper canyon loop in pinnacles national park
day 4: drive to yosemite national park
make your way to yosemite national park. the drive between east pinnacles national park and the yosemite valley is about 4 hours.
yosemite national park is the homeland of the southern sierra miwuk and paiute. the southern sierra miwuk have partnered with yosemite to restore the wahhoga village. they are also currently raising funds for oak fire relief efforts. donate here.
if you are visiting yosemite in winter, check out this list of our favorite activities for winter in yosemite.
there are so many wonderful places to stay in and near yosemite national park, including 13 campgrounds. we camped outside the south end of the park. we’d love to camp in the park on our next visit!
go to the yosemite valley visitor center to get maps and a layout of the valley and beyond.
go to tunnel view to watch the sunset. get there early for parking. we went in winter a bit before golden hour and the lot never filled. however, it’s likely much busier during peak seasons.
tunnel view at sunset in yosemite national park
day 5: yosemite national park
hike mirror lake. i recommend the two mile out and back trail, especially if you’re planning to go to tuolumne meadow and lembert dome. we did this in winter and it was gorgeous! there is also the option to hike the 5 mile loop around the lake.
hike cook’s meadow. this 1 mile loop offers gorgeous views of yosemite’s top sites, including yosemite falls and half dome.
hike yosemite falls. you have a couple options. hike the lower fall trail, which is a 1 mile loop. or the columbia rock trail, which is 2 miles and offer views of the upper fall.
drive to tuolumne meadow. this is a 90 minute drive from the valley, but if weather permits, it’s worth seeing! if you have more in you, hike lembert dome for a view of the meadows. it’s 3.4 miles and offers unique scenery.
day 6: yosemite national park
drive to glacier point for sunrise (open to cars spring-fall; check conditions before you go as recent road improvements have led to closures).
hike taft point and/or sentinel dome. taft point is 2.2 miles and offers some of the best views in the park. sentinel dome is right near taft point. though it’s shorter at 1.8 miles, the elevation gain is twice that of taft point. (again, check for road closures for both of these hikes.)
hike vernal fall. though this hike is a tough climb, it’s one of yosemite’s most epic. at 3 miles, this section of the mist trail is a treat! be prepared for slippery rocks as it’s constantly wet. you also have the option to continue up the mist trail to the top of nevada fall (7.2 miles total).
hike bridalveil fall. if you’re still up for more incredible waterfall hikes, this is a fantastic one to close out your visit to yosemite. this is actually my favorite of the yosemite attractions we visited. it’s 0.5 mile and is open year-round; we visited in winter.
yosemite national park in winter
day 7: drive to lassen volcanic national park
the drive between yosemite valley and lassen volcanic national park is about 6.5 hours. stop in sacramento or mt. shasta for a break along the way!
lassen volcanic national park was a seasonal resource gathering place for the yana, yahi and atsugewi peoples. the park’s first female naturalist was selena lamar, an atsugewi tribal member, who provided cultural demonstrations.
lassen is best visited in summer. this park is prone to long seasonal road closures. we visited in early july and there was still snow and some closures!
you’ll want to be sure to see the hydrothermal features, as well as all four volcano types that exist in the park.
there are seven campgrounds in lassen, with options for all kinds of campers. we ended up camping outside the park because there was no availability at the time we visited. be sure to book early if you’re planning to stay in the park!
day 8: lassen volcanic national park
start at the kohm yah-mah-nee visitor center. (if you are in an area of the park where it is closer to get to cinder cone first, start there and follow the rest of the itinerary, stopping at the visitor center last.)
hike cinder cone. there’s no getting around the fact that cinder cone is far and out of the way of the rest of the park. however, this was by far our favorite hike in the park. this is a *do not miss! it’s so cool! you are literally hiking a volcano and have the option to go down inside the cone! the hike is 4 miles total and is strenuous. be prepared to be exposed and for a tough, slippery climb. for a shorter (though still strenuous climb), go up and back down the front of the cone. we took the longer route and the views from the back are unbeatable.
hike bumpass hell. this is another *do not miss, featuring the park’s hydrothermal features at their best. the trail is 3 miles of gorgeous views the entire way.
stop at sulphur works on your way out of the park. this is a quick stop that allows you to get up close and personal with mud pots, one of the park’s hydrothermal features. this view is accessible.
view of lassen peak from the top of cinder cone
day 9: lassen volcanic national park
hike kings creek falls, a 2.3 mile loop to 30 ft. falls. if this hike is not for you, i highly recommend that you stop for a rest in kings creek meadow, which is roadside. it is absolutely picturesque and can be viewed right from your vehicle.
visit devastated area interpretive trail. this 0.5 mile accessible trail is well worth the visit. it provides a great overview of the history and geology of the park.
spend an afternoon at manzanita lake. this lake is gorgeous and the perfect way to end a whirlwind adventure through northern california national parks. hike the 1.7 mile loop around the lake to get all the views. then rent a kayak and explore from the water. bring a picnic along, too!
return to camp.
bumpass hell in lassen volcanic national park
day 10: fly out of san francisco or sacramento
drive back down to the airport and pat yourself on the back for an adventure well done!
the drive from lassen to san francisco is about 4.5 hours and to sacramento about 3 hours.
bonus: 14-day california national parks itinerary
if you have a full two weeks you’ll have more wiggle room for travel days and can add redwood national and state parks. in this case i’d do the reverse - fly into san francisco and head to redwood national park first. then hit lassen volcanic national park, followed by yosemite national park. and finally, stop in pinnacles national park before heading back home.
hiking in redwood national park
save this pin for a 10-day norcal national parks itinerary