On Friday morning, we planned a morning hike to Tokopah Falls. All the reviews I had read suggested going early in the morning, so we were up and on the trail by 8:30.
Tokopah Falls Trail: 1.7 miles to the waterfall
The Sierra Nevadas had so much snow over the winter that the rivers were rushing and very full. Signs everywhere warned that they were very dangerous, so we stayed well back.
These two can't resist scrambling up a rock when they find one.
Wildflowers
Panoramic view
We found a tiny little stream and let the boys touch the icy cold water.
Love Will's expression!
So gorgeous
Shoe tying break
The trail map told us that when we left the forest, we'd be getting close to the falls and the end of the trail. These boulders are massive!
We found the falls! It was a long hike up to the top, but it was so worth it.
We stayed at the top of the trail for about 20 minutes, snacking and sketching and just enjoying the beauty around us.
Another panoramic view
The hike up to Tokopah Falls was one of our favorites of the trip. It was just so beautiful.
Selfie
This was the aftermath of the hike -- our legs and feet were so filthy!
After lunch and some downtime, we headed out for one last short hike around Crescent Meadow, which John Muir called "the gem of the Sierras." And boy, wasn't he right -- this meadow was gorgeous!
From the minute we arrived at Sequoia, Gene told us that his plan was to see a black bear. We knew meadows were our best chance to see a bear, so as we left our room, Gene told us he was off to "eat granola with a bear." As soon as we got on the Crescent Meadow trail, a father and son stopped us and told us there was a bear up ahead in the meadow. Really??? We came to a clearing where people were gathered, looking at -- the bear? No, it was a marmot! Can you see its head poking up above the log?
And another log was teeming with ladybugs. But there was no bear in this meadow.
We walked a bit further on to Log Meadow. Log and Crescent Meadows are two of the largest, most beautiful meadows in the park. Each is about 1/2 mile long.
Can you see the black bear?
At one point, he started leaving the meadow and walking up a fallen log towards the trail. (Maybe because some lady on the trail was munching an apple -- not a smart thing to do with a bear nearby!).
Black bear!! And the one day I left my big camera back in the room. These are just cell phone pics.
A highlight of the trip, for sure!
The trail continued around Tharp's Log, which pioneer Hale Tharp built his cabin out of a hollowed out sequoia tree. This is the oldest pioneer cabin in the park.
We saw several of these insects over the course of our visit.
Sequoias everywhere
These wildflower-filled meadows, surrounded by giant sequoias, are truly some of the most beautiful, special places in the park. No wonder the bears and the marmots and all the insects are all hanging out there!
Next up, our visit to Kings Canyon!
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