Where are you going in 2026?

[JohnC]

I thought I'd throw this out there to see where people may be going and perhaps to inspire others.

This morning I booked the Lower Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley for the last week of April.

From mid May through the first week of June I will be splitting time between Mammoth Campground and Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone NP and then on to Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton NP. Depending upon how I feel I may add a stop in either Idaho or the Eastern Sierra in Calif on my way home.

Not sure yet where I will meander in the fall. My biggest problem seems to be the fact that you cannot be in different places at the same time. Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and the Eastern Sierra are all under consideration along with anything else I can come up with.

And if I can find a place while avoiding heat and people in the summertime, that could be an option as well.

I apologize to those of you still working 50 weeks a year.

 

[TheSongDogHouse]

You are an inspiration @JohnC !
The photography too!

Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, Painted Desert, the Kaibab cool off in the fall. It takes a certain eye to discern the desert mystery but you have it. The North Rim burnt up earlier...after the rain the deer and elk will be out feasting on green shoots...life goes on and tourists will be gone... until the campgrounds are rebuilt.

The spring bloom in Death Valley may be epic, if the atmospheric river continues.

Ask @Jenn and @SethB about the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula, and so on...I think Sasquatch is ready for his photo op.

 

[JohnC]

You are an inspiration @JohnC !
The photography too!

Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, Painted Desert, the Kaibab cool off in the fall. It takes a certain eye to discern the desert mystery but you have it. The North Rim burnt up earlier...after the rain the deer and elk will be out feasting on green shoots...life goes on and tourists will be gone... until the campgrounds are rebuilt.

The spring bloom in Death Valley may be epic, if the atmospheric river continues.

Ask @Jenn and @SethB about the Cascades and Olympic Peninsula, and so on...I think Sasquatch is ready for his photo op.

The north rim will be evaluated in April before the government decides what may or may not open. It would be nice if the campground opened but I’m doubting it will. Pretty sure they’d need utilities to have employees on site.

 

[TheSongDogHouse]

Ya I'm thinking go in from Kanab to Jacobs Lake ...there is USFS land north of the park and dirt roads that lead west to overlooks on the Grand Canyon. 89 closed now and reopens in May, so it would be no go to go further east until then.

I was glad I visited in 2020, saw the Lodge, walked all over and down part of the trails, camped along the Arizona Trail area.

Status of the North Rim - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Jenn]

I thought I'd throw this out there to see where people may be going and perhaps to inspire others.

This morning I booked the Lower Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley for the last week of April.

From mid May through the first week of June I will be splitting time between Mammoth Campground and Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone NP and then on to Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton NP. Depending upon how I feel I may add a stop in either Idaho or the Eastern Sierra in Calif on my way home.

Not sure yet where I will meander in the fall. My biggest problem seems to be the fact that you cannot be in different places at the same time. Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and the Eastern Sierra are all under consideration along with anything else I can come up with.

And if I can find a place while avoiding heat and people in the summertime, that could be an option as well.

I apologize to those of you still working 50 weeks a year.

I've been thinking about this. Thank you for the nudge. Now I'm realllly going to be thinking about it.
Early May I'm going into California via I80...visit family and then noodle north to WA. There is a road that goes up eastern CA, I think it's 385?. I've never been up that road to get north but need to look up and see what camping opportunities are.
Once I get to my camp on whidbey island I tend to not leave. There is so much to do there that mostly involves sitting around watching the animals and birds and trees and oceans that I never want to leave. There are 3 state parks to roam around, beaches to walk, ferries to ride that I dont roam farther than that.
I was thinking about getting over to the Olympic peninsula in September or October.

 

[JohnC]

I've been thinking about this. Thank you for the nudge. Now I'm realllly going to be thinking about it.
Early May I'm going into California via I80...visit family and then noodle north to WA. There is a road that goes up eastern CA, I think it's 385?. I've never been up that road to get north but need to look up and see what camping opportunities are.
Once I get to my camp on whidbey island I tend to not leave. There is so much to do there that mostly involves sitting around watching the animals and birds and trees and oceans that I never want to leave. There are 3 state parks to roam around, beaches to walk, ferries to ride that I dont roam farther than that.
I was thinking about getting over to the Olympic peninsula in September or October.

395 runs up and down the Eastern Sierra with all kinds of great places to see and camp depending on your preference and time of year. But if you’re entering California from I80 aren’t you already going south to get to CA?

I can give you details along 395 if you decide to spend some time there. Just let me know.

Also, if you’re going up or down CA along the west coast the Redwoods are a great place to stop and visit. I’ve been there a few times as well.

 

[JohnC]

Ya I'm thinking go in from Kanab to Jacobs Lake ...there is USFS land north of the park and dirt roads that lead west to overlooks on the Grand Canyon. 89 closed now and reopens in May, so it would be no go to go further east until then.

I was glad I visited in 2020, saw the Lodge, walked all over and down part of the trails, camped along the Arizona Trail area.

Status of the North Rim - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

I was there in 2016. I think 89 is the only way in and out. And until they have gas in the park again I think Jacob’s lake is the nearest gas to the campgrounds. Just another reason I’m doubtful they will open it up to habitation next summer.