Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite National Park

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Jim Hildreth
Jim Hildreth
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3 out of 5
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5
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Editor Pick

One Day in Yosemite

  • October 18, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
One Day in Yosemite

Another place championed by John Muir, it could be the world’s famous valley. There’s far more here, although the crowds that flock to this park concentrate on the valley floor. It’s not hard to see why: whether we gazed down and over Yosemite Valley from Washburn or Glacier Point, or looked down the full length of the Valley from Tunnel View, or stood in the Merced River and gaped up at the walls all around us, this place is so beautiful it’s nearly surreal.

We spent less than 24 hours here, but we loved it. And we saw a lot. We stayed at Wawona Hotel, which I heartily recommend as an alternative to valley lodging in high volume summer season. You’ll do more driving, but it's relaxed and pleasant, with a different feel. There are attractions at this southern end of the park, too: the famous Mariposa Grove of sequoias is about eight miles away, and (like so many things at Yosemite) worth an early morning visit before the crowds arrive.

From here, it’s a good 90 minutes into the heart of the park, but that hardly felt like wasted time. We turned up Glacier Point Road for the famous and spectacular view out over the Valley from the southern side. It shouldn’t be missed, and few people miss it. Retracing our steps, we finally turned east into Yosemite Valley, joining more folks at Tunnel View, site of the famous Ansel Adams photograph that is Yosemite to most people around the world.

In the valley itself, we waded in the Merced River, fought crowds at Bridalveil Falls, visited the recreated Native American Village, gave ourselves a tour of the Awahnee, and felt torn between the amazing beauty of the surroundings and the people everywhere. Even with the crowds, it’s an unforgettable place, and it looked absolutely gorgeous under beautiful clear blue skies.

Leaving the Valley, we saw a bear near Oak Grove, and then headed over the Tioga Road. This is a spectacular drive, which would be the highlight of any other trip that didn’t have to compete with Yosemite Valley. It continuously climbs to Tioga Pass, where you cross the Sierras and leave the park. There’s beautiful mountains, gorgeous meadows, alpine lakes, and the terrific view at Olmstead Point.

Getting Around
There aren’t many roads in Yosemite, and with over 4 million visitors a year, that means the pavement is crowded. There’s one route along the park's eastern edge, from the south at Oakhurst to Wawona to the Valley Entrance and then to Hetch Hetchy, where it dead ends. The other main entrance off Highway 120 puts you on this road north of the Valley. This same road gives access to a spur to Glacier Point on the valley’s south side, the dead end road in to the Valley, and then the Tioga Road past Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows and through Tioga Pass to the eastern side of the Sierras. That’s it for roads.

A shuttle runs throughout the Valley, and is a necessity for getting around. If you’re tempted to drive your car and avoid waiting for the bus, don’t do it. Get there early, abandon your vehicle, and ride the shuttles all day. Otherwise you’ll spend time searching for parking spaces and growing frustrated that you’re not seeing anything. We stopped at Bridalveil Falls as we entered the valley at 11am, and spent 15 minutes circling the few hundred parking spaces before pulling into a questionable spot. The day use parking is just south of Yosemite Village. It’s so large it reminded me of parking at a state fair or a Big Ten football game; not an experience I’d expected at a National Park.

The Valley Shuttle Bus loops through 20 stops from Yosemite Lodge past the Visitor Center, out to Day Use Parking, and then east to Curry Village. Past Curry, only the shuttle is allowed on a loop that includes the trailheads to Vernal Falls and Half Dome as well as Mirror Lake.

A separate shuttle runs from Wawona to Mariposa Grove daily. A third covers the Tioga Road from Tioga Pass at the park entrance to Olmsted Point, with stops at Tuolumne Meadows and other trailheads. Parking lots here are small, so even though there’s fewer people up here, the shuttle still makes sense.

Walking wasn’t as pleasant an option as I’d thought. We hoofed it from the Valley Visitor center to the Ahwahnee, after having trouble finding the bus and figuring it couldn’t be that far. It was, and it had far more in common with walking city streets than I’d imagined possible. Next time, I’ll find the bus and wait for it, and save my walking for the trails.

Lodging Options
There’s a lot of people to house in Yosemite, so make your reservations early. The high demand keeps prices high, too. In the Valley and in the stratosphere, there’s the spectacular Ahwahnee, whose stone and wood arts-and-crafts design is worth a stop (and perhaps a drink on the patio). Rooms here (without breakfast) will run $482 a night in summer 2009 (throw in another $55 for a morning meal). At the other end in the valley, the cinderblock-framed ‘units’ at Housekeeping Camp run $76 a night, and the canvas tents at Curry Village are $110 a night with breakfast; $95 with no food.

If you’re looking for an actual room, in the middle of the price range are the cabins and modest rooms at Curry Village, running $140-$180. These are in high demand, though. There’s also the more upscale Yosemite Lodge at the Falls for $207 a night.

Outside the Valley, there’s Wawona Hotel for a more reasonable $140 with breakfast; $208 for rooms with private bath. There’s a lot of motels in Oakhurst, which is probably 2 hours from the Valley without killer traffic. I loved Wawona, but it is a bit of a haul to get to and from the rest of park. I’d be willing to put up with the drive, and the shared bath, for the quality of the experience.

And there’s camping. There are 13 campgrounds in the park, along the Valley Floor, by Wawona, on the Tioga Road, and in the backcountry. Reservations are strongly recommended; in fact, they’re required at six of the campgrounds. Things are particularly tight in May and June, because not all campgrounds open at the same time. Reservations open four months out (i.e., you can book for June 15-July 14 starting on February 15).

From journal California Bold Rush

Yexplore Hiking in Yosemite

  • January 15, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by nycallmylife from brooklyn, New York
Amazing X 3! The guide gave us total confidence and taught us a lot on the way. We saw some sights that would have been never wracking if we had to find our way alone. He was great and it was a great adventure.

From journal Hiking in Yosemite

Editor Pick

Yosemite in a Day By Motorcoach

  • April 6, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by lilangel from Ocala, Florida
Yosemite in a Day By Motorcoach

The highlight of my trip by far was our tour of Yosemite National Park. When we first booked the tour I was a little concerned about the length of the tour (14 hrs) and the amount of money it cost ($125). However, shortly after entering the park, all concerns melted away.

The morning began early with the Gray Line bus picking us up outside our hotel. We then traveled across the Bay Bridge, through Oakland, and then across the Central Valley to reach Yosemite. We stopped for Breakfast at a small, family owned store before continuing on toward the park. As we drove we also encountered wind generators (something a native Floridian seldom sees) and the California Aqueduct. Although the driver was a little "corny" at times, he was well informed and did have some interesting tidbits to add to the drive.

We arrived in the park around 11:30. Our first stop was the overlook featured in one of my pictures. This gave us an introduction to the rock formations and we were immediately in awe. After pausing to take pictures and pose, we reboarded the bus and headed to a visitor center near the base of Yosemite Falls.

At the visitor center we divided up and were given ~3 hrs to explore the area. My friends and I grabbed lunch at the nearby cafeteria. Burgers, pizza, salads, etc. were available for less than $10 and the food was reasonably tasty.

After lunch, we explored Yosemite Falls and the stream nearby. We were also free to take trams to other locations. We opted against this because of the limited time frame, but others on the tour used them with no problem.

Once we regrouped, we stopped briefly at 2 or 3 more locations for photographs and then headed out of the park. The trip back across the Central Valley was a little uncomfortable in late July. The temperatures were extremely hot and the A/C on the bus was no match. We paused briefly for a bite to eat on the way home and then headed back to SF. We arrived back at the hotel around 9pm that night.

The day was definitely long. The tour was pricey and our time in the park was limited. However, I would not trade that day for anything in the world. Yosemite is by far one of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen. Standing in the Valley is like standing in the middle of a 360 degree post card. Pictures and words do not do the park justice. One must truly experience it for his/herself.

More information is available on the tour at www.grayline.com or by phone at (415) 434-8687. If traveling on the tour, remember to bring plenty of film/memory space for your camera and a little spending money for food and souvenirs. Also try to dress in layers so that you can add or remove articles according to fluctuating temperatures. Finally, bring something to do to avoid boredom on the drive.

From journal Are you Going to San Francisco?

Yosemite

  • February 10, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Emily May from Pensacola, Florida
Yosemite

The most visited National Park in the US, due not only to its proximity to L.A., but because of its wonderful scenery and wide variety of activities available for all age and skill levels. I spent just a few short hours inside the park, but I vow to go back. The main drive through the valley of the park has a little bit of everything; waterfalls, cliffs, mountains, rivers, and beautiful rock work to marvel at as you drive past. As with many national parks the drive may be a bit unnerving; the sharp drop-off and the guard rail on one side, the cliff hugging the other. Just this view is enough to entice me, once you enter the valley. Bridalveil falls is an easy walk that takes you near the base of the waterfall. It's said that as the mist hits you, you will find your own true love. As with many myths, take this with a grain of salt, but it's nice to be romantic on vacation.

The falls themselves are wispy and quite tall, definitely worth the short trip up to the base. Along the drive you will cross a river, maybe spot the campers using the grilling stations and picnic tables, and taking advantage of the bridge spanning the river to jump in for a swim. Unfortunately, I tried to venture a bit off to the side of the main area. I was soon driven back, due to the mass of mosquitoes. Within five minutes, I had about twenty bites so don't forget your bug spray, especially during July. Marvelous views, adventure waiting just around the corner, and although crowded, there is always a little space available for yourself.

From journal Seattle to Florida... and Everything in Between

Yosemite National Park

  • December 29, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Jim Hildreth from Sonora, California
Yosemite National Park

Having a passion for visiting Yosemite and playing Cajun Zydeco Music, I was thrilled when learning the Yosemite Lodge hired our band, the Blues Box Bayou Band, to play 4 nights at the Yosemite Lodge that included New Years 2006.

The travel from Sonora via Hwy 120 was a perfect day. With a stopover in Groveland for a warm cup of coffee, the trip was more pleasurable, as it was a day that was filled with rain and few visitors heading towards the park. A CD played in the background as I inched up the hill, seeing fall colors that were fading and the feel and look of winter.

As I climbed closer and going through some granite tunnels, the panoramic views of cascading water falls began to appear, and the backgound of El Capitan was welcoming me home. Being a visiting musician, the Yosemite Lodge treats us well; the only discomfort is travelling with other musicians and four guys to a room. Sorry, not romantic.

Over and over, visitors were worldwide, and the amount of families sharing a post-Christmas was heartwarming. The patrons loved the music; however, the best part was only beginnng, as each of us had all day to explore, and for me, it was the morning walks for the sites and sounds of this crown jewel. Armed with a fresh breakfast and coffee, my camera caputured every moment of that morning walk.

Our days included spontaneous laughter, music, and the sharing of memories of Yosemite. Our nights are filled with entertainment and our days of exploring by foot this beauty.  I told Yosemite managment, "You guys have it all wrong--I would pay you to have this experience."

From journal 4 Days in Yosemite

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