NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Planning your trip to Hetch Hetchy Valley

By Dan Blackburn
02:03 PM PDT, August 28, 2009

THE BEST WAY

From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north to California Highway 99 to Merced. In Merced, exit Highway 99 and pick up County Road J59 north toward Lagrange. In Lagrange, take J132 east toward Coulterville. Then pick up the Priest/Coulterville Road, which zigzags its way up to California Highway 120 just three miles short of the historic gateway town of Groveland. Continue north on 120 to Evergreen Road, which takes you into the campground, the lodge and Camp Mather, where it dead-ends into Hetch Hetchy Road on the way to the dam. It is a lovely drive from Merced on. Be sure to stop in Groveland for gasoline (there is none in Hetch Hetchy), stretch your legs and visit the Mountain Sage Visitors Center and photographer Robb Hirsch's excellent gallery.

WHERE TO STAY

Dimond O Campground, (888) 448-1474 or www.recreation.gov. $19 a night.

Evergreen Lodge: (800) 935-6343; www.evergreenlodge.com. Room rates from $99. Custom camping $55 to $85.

RIVER RAFTING

Zephyr Whitewater

Expeditions, (800) 431-3636, www.zrafting.com. One-day trips are $230 for adults and $210 for kids 12 to 17, $240 and $220 on weekends. Two- and three-day trips available.

TO LEARN MORE

National Park Service Hetch Hetchy ranger station, (209) 379-1922. Stanislaus National Forest Groveland District, (209) 962-7825.

Where am I?

Should we take offense, order a drink, or what? That depends, of course, on where you think these words turned up.

National World War II Museum

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans dedicates its latest building.

My Trips
Create New

Subscribe to the Daily Deal blog Daily Travel & DealBlog

Yosemite: Curry Village ice rink opens today
Whether you're on the ice to pirouette, or to practice skating in a straight line without c...
Read more »

SIGN UP Newsletter_icons

Taking restless Southern California on vacation

Los Angeles Times e-mail newsletter, delivered every Thursday


Expedia
  • Departing from:
    Depart:
  • Going to:
    Return:

Subscribe to this section    

Subscribe to
Save and share