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My son and new daughter in law will be taking a train (Amtrak Coast Starlight) between LA and Seattle in May with opportunities to get off whenever they would like. They are adventurous and looking for trails, sights to see, including overnights requiring a rental car. For instance, they want to do Half Dome, which I understand opens in early May. The only concern would be the amount of snow remaining in mid-May. Suggestions? They are from Indiana and everything West Coast will be new to them.
The only concern? No, the OTHER concern would be the permit. You need one to day hike Half Dome. The cables MIGHT be up in mid-May, if winter concerns are past – if they are not the cables will remain down, until the ICE on the dome and on the Mist Trail are melted out.
As for trails… they are legion. There are tons of great places along the coast, which will be totally unaffected by the need for chains on the car and snowshoes/traction devices — like Point Reyes, Ventana Wilderness, Andrew Molera SP, Muir Woods, Marin headlands, any of the legion redwood parks such as Big Basin… Other early season adventures could include sequoia hikes/snowshoes depending on the progress of the melt.
Living on the west coast since I was born has made me spoiled. But in all the areas I’ve seen so far from Mexico to British Columbia (and tiny parts of Alaska), nothing has impressed me like Crater Lake. I know there are a number of trails around the lake, however, I’ve never hiked them (always gone in a vehicle). Depending on snow-fall, May can be a gorgeous time of year to go there. The Three Sisters, north of Crater Lake, are also gorgeous, and trail ridden.
The reason I’m mentioning the Cascades, is that May might still be quite early in the Season for the Sierra. Since the Cascade trails are at a relatively lower altitude, that is the only reason I bring it up.
Very helpful comments, thanks everyone. Sounds like they need to stay out of the mountains in May unless they are prepared for ice and snow, which they won’t be, and stay along the coast. Top recommendations for coastal parks from San Fran up to Washington?
are you overnighting as in backpacking?
Columbia Gorge is good in May, not so much backpacking but that’s possible. Check out Multnomah Falls, go up Eagle Creek, busy on weekends especially if weather’s good
Rogue River is a nice backpack. Not sure if that’s the one place I’d take someone from Indiana to.
Beach of the Olympic Peninsula is pretty nice and unique. Many miles of wilderness beach.
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