The Inspiration to all US National Parks; Make sure you schedule enough time in Yosemite, you will be gutted if you don’t absorb a lot of what Yosemite has to offer. Yosemite wasn’t the first national park, that title goes to Yellowstone, but, it was the first place the US government protected due to its natural beauty, inspiring the idea of national parks. What is largely forgotten about when the governments decided to create national parks is that they didn't own the land, the land rights were that of indigenous communities. The parks may be beautiful but the way they were created wasn't, nature was protected but not the people, and even then not protected the way indigenous communities remember the land. The inhabited wilderness had to be made uninhabited before it could be preserved. Many indigenous communities had once again been forcefully removed from their sacred ancestral homeland. The irony, many were some of the first advocators for the lands protection, before John Muir who's racist legacy exists throughout the outdoor industry. Should native tribes not have a role to play in the parks management and profits, whilst simultaneously protecting the important ecosystems? Some indigenous communities are working with the NPS through cultural programmes to preserve their heritage, we only hope that this progress can continue and go further.
So whilst you explore this serene landscape, remember in who's footsteps you follow, who's beautiful land we are helping to protect, and advocate for their rights.
Opt to book a cabin in the woods or bring a tent and go camping. Camping is popular in Yosemite and its top sites are highly sought after, to get a chance at one the lucrative spaces you’ll have to enter a lottery system. Make sure your bear knowledge is top notch, don’t approach them, they're wild animals, take a photo but don’t get closer, a lot of them are used to humans, so know how to act! A common myth is that Yosemite is home to the grizzly bear, its not, instead you may encounter a blackbear, don't move through the bear habitat silently as this will avoid surprising the bear. Increase your distance between you and the bear but don't run away. Also, know how to distinguish the 2 different type of bear charges, fight back in a bear attack with a blackbear, and know how to store any food especially if you’re camping, please remain calm, bear attacks are very uncommon.
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!"
– Dr. Seuss
Things to do in Yosemite:
Go fishing.
Ride horses.
Go on a bike ride.
Go rock climbing in the home of rock climbing, follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s best but with increasing numbers of climbers try to reduce your impact where possible, and protect the wilderness.
In the summer, cool off and go swimming in Merced river or Tenaya Lake.
Pull over at some of Yosemite’s best viewpoints as you drive through the iconic Tunnel View, this is debatably the most famous view of Yosemite and rightly so, it will blow you away and you don’t have to even hike to see it. It has a lot of competition as the best view but it holds its own and is up there with one of the best views in the park and maybe in the world.
Catch sunrise, golden hour and sunset in Yosemite and let’s not forget the starry night sky. You may even catch a rainbow at night, during late spring, as the snow melts near some of Yosemite's waterfalls. Check out the view of El Capitan and Half dome at sunset to see them glowing as though they are engulfed by fire. Time your trip to Yosemite right and you’ll see a similar phenomenon happen at Horsetail falls, as the sunlight disappears it will look like the waterfall has turned into a firefall. It is important to note all roads are open all year round.
Oh and of course go hiking.
How to get around?
There is a free eco shuttle bus service that will get you to a number of main sights and trailheads in the park, then to get further out there is a bus route you will have to pay for, then there are other areas of the park but to access you will need a car. Buses do not run all year round and are available during peak season, you’ll also find a number of roads and trails are closed until the snow has melted away, or you’ll have to ski there. Yosemite is generally split into 5 areas, it can take upwards of 2 hours to travel between each section of the park, so plan your hikes and viewpoints sensibly, and go to an area or two a day.
Yosemite Valley
During the time I was in Yosemite, California, not uncommonly, was experiencing a drought. This meant very few of the waterfalls were well, lets say 'falling' and most were evaporating up instead. We planned to do Bridalveil falls hike but subsequently opted not to do this hike as the main attraction didn’t exist.
For an easy hike whilst in Yosemite Valley check out Sentinel Meadow and Cook's Meadow loop, done separately or together. As you walk on the valley floor look up and marvel at the dramatic granite sides that encompass you. Stop at the swinging bridge and in the summer take a dip in the Merced River. You’ll also get some great views of Yosemite Falls, opt to take the loop to lower Yosemite Falls for a closer look or if you’re feeling up for it and have the time, trek to Upper Yosemite Falls.
Good news, California is largely considered to no longer be in drought and Yosemite waterfalls are back in their full glory.
Glacier Point Road
Glacier Point is a must for any hiking ability, there may be crowds but you’ll still get an uninterrupted panoramic view of the park and it's a view that is not to be missed. For Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, I would recommend linking up the two trails to form an optional larger loop, this was my favourite hike of the trip. The hike is graded as moderate and I’d say it’s doable by all, until reaching the last part of the Sentinel Dome trail, as you near the top, the path disappears and you must choose where to scramble up the steep smooth yet rugged granite rock face to reach the summit. It’s worth it though, you’ll get a 360 degree view and there's room at the top to walk around and take it all in. I could have stayed up there for hours. It is by many, considered an underrated view of the park, and shows you don’t need to do a strenuous hike to get those magical rewarding uncrowded scenic vistas.
Mariposa Grove Yosemite West
Mariposa Grove, the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite, home to over 500 mature sequoias. It was closed for 3 years, between 2015 and 2018, for a restoration project. My visit fell during this time. So, instead we headed to Tuolumne Grove, to see the famous redwoods. This sequoia grove only holds a minuscule portion of the sequoia trees Mariposa has on offer, but you can still marvel in their size, as you feel tiny beneath. Both groves have old sequoias carved out so you can walk through them, giving you a true appreciation of their grandeur and magnitude. You may see some sequoias burnt, this is not necessarily due to an uncontrolled wildfire, as part of their management and forestry regeneration there are controlled fires in order for the sequoia to reproduce.
There are several trail route options at Mariposa Grove with varying difficulty. Starting from the Big Tree Loop listed above at 0.3 miles to a moderate Grizzly Giant Loop Trail 2 miles taking 1.5 hours, to the strenuous trails of Guardians Loop and Mariposa Grove taking 6.5 miles and 4-6 and 7 miles 4-6 hours respectively.
On a normal day Tuolumne or Merced grove are the only two spots in Yosemite where you might find redwoods to yourself or at least a lot less crowded than Mariposa, but during the temporary closure of Mariposa Grove, everyone flocked to these groves to not miss out on witnessing the giant sequoia trees. Unlike Mariposa, Tuolumne Grove just has the one trail, and with a descent and ascent of 500ft, it is designated moderate, take your time, take enough water and you’ll be fine, there plenty of shade due to the trees and will feel comparatively cooler in summer months than other hikes on the guide.
In the groves you’ll find giant redwood cones (like pine cones), it is kindly asked you don’t take anything away from the park, we still saw multiple people doing so it’s important to remember;
‘Take only photos, leave only footprints, and kill nothing but time’
-Alliyyah Eniat
Tuolumne Meadows
Head to Tuolumne meadows, it will be a stark contrast to Yosemite Valley, that by now you’ve probably see from a lot of angles but are still not bored of, how could you be? At 8600ft you’ll be in one of the highest meadows in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Perhaps the most tranquil part of the park, at least I thought so, it’s definitely where we saw the clouds disperse and a lot less traffic. Although when you’re stuck in traffic in Yosemite at least you’ve got a view. Choose a trail with lakes in the high sierra and gaze at the reflection of the mountains within. For an easy trail, a beach to relax and postcard views head to Tenaya Lake. It’s a long way from the most populated area, Yosemite Valley, so does not entice as many crowds as say Cook’s Meadow or Lower Yosemite falls but don’t expect to be the only ones there, we passed several other hikes and families but easily got photos with no one in them.
I’d like to return to Yosemite one day, a half dome permit in hand and watch the sunrise from the top, but as for the hikes I’ve already done, from those listed above, in Yosemite, the Sentinel Dome trail had to be my favourite.
There are a number of top viewpoints within the park which don’t require hiking:
Tunnel View - The most famous view of Yosemite and rightly so (Pictured above no.1)
Valley View
Glacier Point - One of the best views of Half Dome
Tenaya Lake
Olmsted Point - On Tioga Pass, a unique view of the northern side of Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Lake (Pictured above no.2)
Sentinel Bridge
Socks and Sandals
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