Yosemite
The grandeur of Yosemite is showcased throughout many parts of the park. The most iconic moments are in Yosemite Valley. Everywhere you look is a “wow” moment. However each of the sections gives you a different feel of the park. Tuolomne Meadows provides more leisurely, sprawling adventures, whilst Yosemite Valley offers the more thrilling moments most people are looking for. Pictured below is near the Yosemite Falls shuttle bus stop.
Important Tips:
You will need a pass (on top of the national park pass if you have that) to get into the park during the summer/peak months! Book this way in advance. If you are wanting to hike Half Dome you will need to get a pass for that ahead of time too.
The entrances start to get backed up after 9am in October. Peak season in the summer, get there around or before 7-8am. I lived in Santa Cruz and started my drive around 4am each time I visited (4-5 hours to get there), and only had to wait about 10 minutes to get into the park during the off-season months.
Tioga Road is closed from around November to around May for the winter.
The best time to experience Yosemite is in the spring, around April, when the snow starts to melt, it’s not too hot or too cold, and it’s not as crowded as it gets in the summer. The waterfalls are also ever-flowing this time of year.
On your way to the park from the west coast, Mariposa is a cute small town to stop and get a coffee and bathroom break at Sticks Coffee. I loved their oat milk vanilla latte. They have other very interesting flavors as well. I also absolutely loved their breakfast menu. Be sure to get gas in this town as this may be your last stop for a while!
Yosemite Valley
The Valley is the heart of Yosemite, with the infamous Tunnel View, Firefalls in late February, plentiful amounts of waterfalls and hikes.
Tunnel View
The first time I went to Yosemite, I only did the Tioga Road portion (see below) due to it being close to wintertime and wanting to explore that part of Yosemite as much as I could. After I went, my cousin asked if I had been to Tunnel View. I said I thought so but wasn’t sure. His response, “You would know, so you probably didn’t see it.” He was absolutely right. This is one of the most breathtaking scenes you will experience in the U.S. There are hikes that start from here which you can do. In the popular months in Yosemite (summertime), be sure to get here super early if you want a parking spot.
Mirror Lake Trail
This 4.4 mile easy/moderate hike from Curry Village takes you to the foothills of Half Dome on the right, and North Dome on the left. I felt like I was walking next to rock monsters and I even kept reminiscing of the movie Space Jam while strolling through this area. This was a top-rated hike by one of my friends who was also a traveling hand therapist. She recommended this hike and North Dome from Tioga Road as the 2 best trails in Yosemite. This trail is the easier of the two.
Firefalls
The waterfall known as Horsetail Falls, which is to the right hand side off of El Capitan, shows off in all of its glory in mid-February each year. As the sun sets in the Valley, it shines its orange and red rays onto Horsetail Falls turning it into what is also known as the Firefalls. It was thrilling to be a part of this event with hundreds if not a thousand of other photographers. We all left our hotels and parked cars around the same time and almost walked in a sort of “stampede” if you will to El Capitan. There really is no “best spot,” but I made a friend and we searched until we found what we considered to be the “best spot.” The show lasts about 15-20 minutes, and then all of a sudden the cold rolls in. I recommend bringing camp chairs, snacks and drinks, and toe and hand warmers (with mittens/gloves and warm socks) as this time of the year is frigid after the sun sets! The walk back to the hotel almost became a sprint so I could make it to the warm zone. Make friends, have fun, and enjoy the show; I sure did! *This was my first stop on my third road trip from Santa Cruz, California to Salt Lake City, Utah. The next stop was Sequoia National Park.
Mist Trail
In the wintertime, this was one of the only trails that was open. I recommend using microspikes and then glissading back down the hills as you head back to the Valley. We made it to the footbridge to get a far away view of Vernal Falls.
Tioga Pass*
This road (or pass as the locals call it) leads to majestic views and an amazing hike with views of Half Dome. *It is closed around November-March due to dangerous driving conditions.
North Dome Trail
This hike was spectacular, giving amazing views on the northside of Half Dome when you get 4 miles in. The beginning of this trail was easy; it was in the woods with very tall trees, lots of chipmunks, and very loud squirrels (haha!). As this was my very first “long” solo hike, I sang “The Ants Go Marching One By One….” during this section of the trail. Turns out I am very entertaining with myself! The trail then goes upwards and takes you to the top of the mountain. It is easy to get lost in this section, so I followed the All Trails navigation part of the app to a “T.” The directions had me go through the woods to zigzag down vs going straight down from the top of that mountain (you will see when you get there). I stopped at almost exactly the 4-mile mark and did not feel the need to go any further as I got majestic views of Half Dome from there. This was a great area for pictures and to stop for a lunch break. For me, in total it was a moderately difficult 8-mile hike. Others I passed by described it as moderately hard if you go to the 5-mile mark at the end. I recommend bringing binoculars or a really good zoom-in camera so you can see the rock climbers climbing up the side of Half Dome, and the hikers climbing the top of it. Out of the top hikes in Yosemite, this is one of the best that are of moderate difficulty. Overall I recommend this hike and/or Mirror Lake trail.
Tuolomne Meadows
Tuolomne Meadows is a beautiful, relaxing area to be creative in. It is a grassy area along a beautiful flowing river with backdrop of the large Yosemite mountain tops. I would have loved to picnic here if I had more time! Beyond Tuolomne Meadow is Mono Lake. I kept hearing from people that I need to go to this lake; I wish I had. After I saw pictures, I was disappointed that I had not made more of an effort to get there.
Badger Pass
This southernmost area of Yosemite National Park is known for its wintertime activities of skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Here we decided to go snowshoeing on the Old Badger Pass Summit trail.
Where to Stay & Where to Eat
Yosemite Valley Lodge
This lodge is a more expensive option, but worth it for the convenience and the scenery. One of the rooms I was in had a stellar view of Yosemite Falls (see below). There are also great dining options here, including the Mountain Room (more upscale dining but with fabulous food), and the Mountain Room Lounge (more laid-back like a ski resort/lodge type of style with a fireplace and a bar).
Groveland
All Seasons Groveland Inn
I stayed overnight here in the All Seasons Groveland Inn in the cute small town of Groveland. It has 4 rooms that are named based on famous hikes of Yosemite National Park and they are adorably decorated based on these themes. It also has a rich history.
When here, there are a few restaurants that are within walking distance to the hotel. Cocina Muchisimo is a delicious Mexican restaurant. They are very efficient and quick at serving the meals, the food was delicious and perfect for an after-hike meal! Another happening place here is the Saloon; it is the oldest standing saloon in California!
Five Butterflies AirBNB
This beautiful 1-bedroom suite was perfect for a nice relaxing getaway with a living room and kitchenette. The hosts, Buffy and Chip, were so kind, courteous, and a pleasure to meet!
