Triple Crown Jewels National Parks Tour
Tour 3 National Parks in 3 days!! During this 3 day, 3 night tour, you will visit Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Includes lunch, bottled water, entrance fees, and gratuities.
Triple Crown Jewels Tour – Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks
$699/Adult, 3 Day Tour
$669/Senior over 60, 3 Day Tour
$399/Child under 12, 3 Day Tour
You arrive the day before this tour and check into your hotel. We will pick you up in the morning each day to go to a different National Park. We pick up in most select hotels in Fresno near the Airport, Downtown, River Park, and all hotels near Highway 41. We do not pick up in the few hotels that are located near Highway 99. Here is a list of our pickup locations in Fresno.
Triple Crown Jewels Tour – Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks with Fresno Hotel
$999/Adult, staying in Fresno for 3 nights, double occupancy
$969/Senior over 60, staying in Fresno for 3 nights, double occupancy
$399/child under 12, Fresno for 3 nights
Triple Crown Jewels Tour with Hotel
In this option, we will choose the hotel for you. The hotel will be booked for 3 nights: the day you arrive, and two nights after that. The final day after the tour you can be dropped off at the Airport or Amtrak Station, or if you decide to stay one more night, we can book you an extra night at an additional cost. If you use this option, the first day you choose will be the day of your arrival and your tours will be on day 2, day 3, and day 4.
Triple Crown Jewels Tour – Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks with Hotel with Transportation from LA or SF
$1099/adult, includes AMTRAK from San Francisco or Los Angeles, Fresno hotel for 3 nights, double occupancy
$667/child under 12, includes AMTRAK from San Francisco or Los Angeles, Fresno hotel for 3 nights, double occupancy
SF or LA AMTRAK – Triple Crown Jewels Tour
If you choose this option, we will include the Amtrak from the Los Angeles area or the San Francisco Bay area. You can use that as a roundtrip or you can come from Los Angeles and after the tour you can go on to San Francisco or the other way around. If you use this option, the first day you choose will be the day of your Amtrak arrival and your tours will be on day 2, day 3, and day 4.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Tour Yosemite National Park
Day 2 – Tour Sequoia National Parks
Day 3 – Tour Kings Canyon National Park
We may change the order of the tours upon our discretion.
Sequoia National Park:
We visit Sequoia National Park, made famous for the Giant Sequoia Redwood tree, which is the world’s largest tree by volume. Our tour begins at the Three Rivers entrance into the Park. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the small town of Three Rivers is named after the nearby junction of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Kaweah River. We climb the majestic Moro Rock, which is a giant granite dome formation with a stairway leading to the top, which offers views of Sequoia Park and the Great Western Divide. We visit the beautiful renovated Giant Forest Museum, which gives an introduction to the Giant Sequoias, the meadows, and the human history of the area. Don’t miss the outline (on the pavement) in front of the Museum. It gives you an idea of the scale of the Sentinel Tree as if it were laying on the ground. Nearby is the Tunnel Log, which is a giant sequoia that fell across the Crescent Meadow Road in late 1937. According to the National Park Service, “The following summer, a tunnel was cut through the fallen log as a visitor attraction. When it fell, the tree stood 275 feet high (83.8 meters) and was 21 feet in diameter at the base (6.4 meters). The tree’s age when it fell has not been determined, but probably exceeded 2,000 years.” We view the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest (by volume) tree in the world, measuring over 52,500 cubic feet (1,486.6 cubic meters). we visit the Wuksachi Lodge, which is “Sequoia’s signature hotel, a striking stone-and-cedar mountain lodge situated in the heart of the park and surrounded by a mighty sequoia forest and soaring Sierra peaks” (National Park Service website).
King’s Canyon National Park:
We start with the General Grant Tree, which is the second largest tree in the world! Then, we visit Boyden Cavern, a giant underground cavern within King’s Canyon National Park. Next, we visit Roaring River Falls, a 40 foot tall waterfall dropping over a narrow ledge. Zumwalt Meadow is next on our agenda. This 1.5 mile gentle hike allows you to view the Kings River with vast granite walls and green meadows as your backdrop. Finally, we take a beautiful drive to Road’s End, following along the King’s Canyon Scenic Byway.
Yosemite National Park:
Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley
We depart Fresno between 5:15am and 5:45am in Summer and between 7:00am and 8:00am in Winter. As soon as we leave Fresno, we view the beautiful landscapes of Madera County as we climb the foothills and pass through Coarsegold and arrive in Oakhurst. Oakhurst departure is 6:45am in Summer and between 8:00am and 9:00am in Winter. From Oakhurst we have the option to go from Bass Lake/ Fish Camp and enter the Park from the South Gate, traveling on what we call the Mountain View Drive) OR we may go around from Mariposa/Midpines, traveling on what we call the River View Drive), which is California State’s Scenic Highway along the Merced River all the way into Yosemite Valley through the Arch Rock Entrance Station. It all depends on where our guests are today.
At Chinquapin, we have the option to go into Yosemite Valley first or Glacier Point first. If there is heavy traffic from the peak season or it is a weekend, we prefer to visit Yosemite Valley first, then go to Glacier Point for our picnic lunch. If we go to Glacier Point first, our lunch break is at Yosemite Falls, and if we go to Yosemite Valley first, our lunch break is at Glacier Point.
From Chinquapin, we turn to climb up to Glacier Point where we will stop for 30-45 minutes. At this point if you are going to hike on the 4 Mile Trail, you will start here and the rest of the guests will stay in the vehicle as we drive down to Yosemite Valley. NOTE: Depending on our schedule and conditions, we may opt to visit Glacier Point after Yosemite Valley.
As we climb up to Glacier Point, we see several trailheads: McGurk Meadow, Ostrander Lake, Bridalveil Creek, Dewey Point. We pass the Badger Pass ski area, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point trailhead and Washburn Point.
Glacier Point is an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and the Yosemite High Country. This viewpoint is accessible by smaller vehicles from approximately late May through October of November. We are among the very few companies that can visit Glacier Point as we keep our group sizes small and travel in smaller vehicles. Big buses are not allowed here. The short walk to Glacier Point will reward you with a breathtaking view of both Yosemite Valley and the Yosemite High Country, which is part of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
Making the Yosemite Y at Tunnel View
When we reach Yosemite Valley, we will stop at Tunnel View to see the jaw dropping view of the Valley as we come out of the Tunnel. We will stop here for 10-15 minutes and point out our view of Clouds Rest, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. This is also the trailhead for Inspiration Point, which is located on the old stagecoach road into Yosemite Valley. Shortly after, we continue driving to visit El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls for 10 minutes. Time permitting we may walk to the base of the waterfalls or continue our journey in Yosemite Valley to see Cathedral Rocks on our right and Yosemite Falls on our left, Yosemite Chapel on the right. We will stop at Sentinel Bridge to see a breathtaking view of Half Dome, and take the iconic picture of Half Dome with its reflection in the Merced River. We will continue to drive to Yosemite Lodge. You will have time to walk to the base of Yosemite Falls, visit the Souvenir shop, use restrooms and get a cup of joe at Starbucks if you wish.
When we leave here we will stop in front of El Capitan, Spanish for “The Captain”. El Capitan rises over 3000 feet from the Valley Floor and is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. Hopefully we will be able to spot the rock climbers who come to scale the sheer granite face. We have another stop at Valley View before we start heading back. Besides these main stops there may be other stops depending on the time we have, and what the group prefers.
Consider purchasing our exclusive Yosemite T-shirt! Only $14.99. Available when you book your tour online.
Our guides are all local and going to Yosemite is their passion. Each one of them brings their own personal experiences, stories and secret spots to share with you. They are delighted to meet you and wish to show you why this area of the world is a very special place.
Disclaimer: Sometimes due to scheduling issues, the hiking portion may be changed to go in the uphill direction. The duration of the Tour can vary due to weather, traffic, and how much fun we are having.
OPTIONAL FOUR MILE TRAIL HIKE
At Glacier Point, guests who are looking for hiking time have the option to hike down the Four Mile Trail, which will end on Southside Drive, where they can cross Swinging Bridge and follow the trail to meet us at Yosemite Valley Lodge.
The Four Mile Trail is about 5 miles from Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley Lodge. Most of the time we offer the option of hiking down from Glacier Point to the Valley but sometimes due to scheduling we may offer the option to hike up to Glacier Point from the Valley. The elevation at Glacier Point is 7200 ft and the Yosemite Valley is at 4000 ft elevation. In 2016 President Obama and his family hiked this spectacular trail and only Crossroads Tours offers this option to you.
Crossroads Tours is not offering a personal guided hike and by accepting to hike on the Four Mile Trail or any other trails you are releasing Crossroads Tours from any liability. This hike is STRENUOUS and going downhill is very steep at some places and you must be prepared with appropriate clothing, shoes, walking stick, water and whatever else you may require. It takes about 2-3 hours hiking downhill. Crossroads Tours will allow you 4 hours maximum to reach the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Beyond 4 hours Crossroads may not be able to standby for you and you may have to find other transportation back. If Crossroads has to wait for you the cost will be $ 95 an hour which will be calculated after 4 hours.
Need a lift?
In need of transportation between San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno, Oakhurst, Fish Camp, Coarsegold, Madera, Mariposa, Yosemite Valley, and Tuolumne Meadows areas? We offer comfortable shuttle service to and from these areas, including deluxe limousine service. Check us out here.