California Coast, Pinnacles & Yosemite National Parks

ahschneid
Nov 21
5 min read

On 13 November 2025 we arrived in Paicines California to stay at Thousand Trails San Benito. We had set up in the rain the morning we left and it was raining when we arrived. Even though we left the rain forests of Washington and Oregon, we have had record-setting rain in California. We lucked out on Friday 14 November when we drove out to Monterey Bay CA to see the coast. We had sunshine for our drive from Monterey Bay all the way to Big Sur where a landslide closed the road. We took a side trip to see Carmel by the Sea along the way and that was like another world. The homes along the shore are beautiful and historic. We really enjoyed especially that part of the California coastline.

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Pebble Beach Golf course

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Naval Facility Point Sur was one of 30 secret sites worldwide that were built during the Cold War to detect Soviet submarines. In 1958, the U.S. Navy built a Naval Facility ½ mile south of Point Sur on the Big Sur coast to provide submarine surveillance. Currently part of the California State Park system.

Hwy 1 between Monterey Bay and Big Sur California 14 November 2025

Point Sur Lighthouse

On 15 November we visited Pinnacles National Park. The ranger at the gate was all smiles and happy to be back at work. It was raining again, so we drove mostly to see it. Steve did a hike to a bat cave, but Anita opted not to with a touch of Vertigo that day. There were lots of folks hiking in the light rain and Steve was one of them. He came back to the truck in an hour and said he hadn’t gone inside the cave but that he enjoyed the hike. He got some good pictures.

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

Steve's hike to the bat cave...

Pinnacles National Park California - 15 November 2025

That afternoon we got the laundry done and attended mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tres Pinos CA at 5pm. The sun sets by 5pm, so we drove home in pitch dark a little after 6pm. It was not fun. With light rain, windy and bumpy roads and no lights, we were happy to get home.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Tres Pinos CA - 15 November 2025

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Tres Pinos CA - 15 November 2025

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Tres Pinos CA - 15 November 2025

Sunday 16 November, we drove to Groveland California to stay at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes Resort. Again we drove in rain all the way and set up our campsite in puddles of water. At least it wasn’t raining when we set up.

Monday 17 November 2025 we went into Yosemite National Park. We entered from Hwy 120 west and drove through the park on Hwy 120. Tioga Pass was closed for the season. Our drive took us to the valley with views of Bridal Veil Falls and El Capitan along the way. We reached an elevation of 6,192 feet before descending to the valley and the temps got down to 32. After lunch we decided we’d better head home before the roads got too bad since it had started snowing at the higher elevations while we were in the park. We just dealt with rain at the lower elevations. We walked the half mile round trip with our umbrellas to see Bridal Veil Falls along with lots of other crazy people. The park was actually very busy with the lodging facilities being full and restaurants open. The park’s Visitor Center is closed for the season, but there was a ranger at the gate who gave us a map and informed us that there might be snow at the top of the pass. She also said their park was severely hurt by the shutdown.