Where is sierra nevada

The John Muir Trail is one of the most popular hiking routes in the region. It was funded in and finished in The Sierra Nevada is home to a lot of interesting animal life. Black bears inhabit a large portion of the range, as does the more reclusive grizzly bear.

The mule deer and the mountain lion also live in the foothills. Many animal species are in decline, however. And there are said to be only 50 Sierra Nevada Red Foxes remaining. Yosemite Falls, found in the Sierra Nevada, is the tallest waterfall in the United States, and has a vertical drop of 2, feet. People also read How to best view Niagara Falls However commercialised Niagara Falls has become, it is still a magnificent waterfall that has to be seen to be believed and a trip to […].

However, the northern parts of the Sierras, which are heading towards the Cascades , have a few high volcanic peaks, like Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen. The Sierras — especially the foothills — became populated by white settlers around due to the gold rush. This is when California became a state. Altitude in the Sierra Mountains results in the climate being not as hot as it would be at sea level.

Snow can come at almost any time of the year, and temperatures can change quickly. As you go up into the mountains, it is forested until you reach the tops of the higher peaks. In these higher regions, there are no forests.

The lower parts of the Sierra Mountains known as the "foothills" can get very hot and climatically have quite a lot in common with the Central Valley and the East Bay. Reno mostly flies throughout the continental United States. Other destinations are available during the summer. These roads can close in winter, however, and some of them close for large portions of the year.

Although roads such as the I and US make travel in parts of the mountains relatively easy, there are several things to consider when traveling in the Sierras:.

Yes, traveling in the Sierras is much more difficult and requires more planning than most places. Generally, stick to state and national routes when possible - you can know two things with almost any California state routes:. On maps of the Sierra, some roads will be marked "Closed in winter. You would be wrong. What Californians are referring to is the time of year when it snows in the Sierra. Snow can begin as early as October, and last as late as May.

Roads may be closed as late as July. When snow falls in mid October, it usually kills a few unprepared backpackers in the Sierra who hadn't carefully checked the weather reports.

The itinerary along the eastern ridge of the Sierra Nevada is marked by a sequence of natural wonders, a route framed by beautiful snow-capped peaks that allow you to admire some of the highest mountains in America, crystal clear lakes and extraordinary natural beauty created by volcanic activity. In this area you will find 2 national monuments, the Devils Postpile National Monument , with its peculiar hexagon-shaped rocky pillars, and the Manzanar National Historic Site , the concentration camp where thousands of Japanese Americans were sent during World War II.

In addition to the two national monuments mentioned, this area has much more to offer, such as the surreal Mono Lake , with its striking tufa formations emerging above the surface, Bodie , one of the best preserved western towns in the United States, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest , the forest with the oldest trees in the world, the rounded hills of Alabama Hills near Lone Pine which was used as a film set for many western movies or the many hot springs framed by the mountains for example, Hilltop Hot Springs.

For a full list, see my article about the Eastern Sierra. This area of the Sierra Nevada is crossed in order to travel from Yosemite to Death Valley , so if you plan to visit the two parks in your itinerary, you will definitely pass through it.

In the northernmost part of Sierra Nevada , you will find the fourth national park in the mountain range, Lassen Volcanic National Park , the lesser-known park full of surprises where lava pools, calderas and fumaroles await you, creating a magnificent contrast with the clear blue lakes and the surrounding green conifer forests.

This national park is named after Lassen Peak , one of the largest domed volcanoes in the world. The road through the park allows you to visit the area effortlessly, but you have to pay attention to road closures, because Lassen Park Rd closes when the first snowfall of the season comes. I suggest you read carefully our guide on how to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park in order not to run into unpleasant surprises. Another gem on the northern side of the Sierra Nevada is Lake Tahoe , one of the most popular lakes in the United States.

As you drive on the scenic road that runs along the entire lake, you will be immediately struck by the picturesque landscape and splendid color contrast that the emerald color of the water forms with the surrounding forests and snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

The small bay of Emerald Bay State Park in the cover picture is probably the best place to test your photographic talents. If you want to circumnavigate the shore of this lake and enjoy its breathtaking views, read our article on how to visit Lake Tahoe , where you will also find information about all the best places to stop along the way.

These are two main attractions in the northern region of the Sierra Nevada, but if you explore the whole area, you will discover that there are many other places of interest, such as some small towns that are evidence of the Gold Rush which we talk about in the paragraph below and some little known natural wonders, such as Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park , where you will find hills with unique color patterns from white to reddish and the incredible remains of the mining town.

The northern section of the Sierra Nevada is actually more difficult to include in the classic road trips, since it is rather inconvenient to connect it to the other standard road trip destinations on the West Coast.

It was when the carpenter James Marshall found a gold nugget in the American River. That day would indelibly mark the destiny of California, which owes its identity to the epic Gold Rush. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada there are towns and cities that are the safeguard of the history of the Gold Rush. In the midth century, a crowd of people in search of fortune flocked to this area. When you visit Gold Country, you will take a step back in time.