Destinations
Insider’s Guide to Yosemite
Yosemite National Park, in Central California, is one of the most popular natural destinations in the Western US for its undeniably awesome sights. Summertime is high season at Yosemite, with warmer weather bringing traffic jams to the main roads.
Yosemite Valley covers a fraction of the park’s area, but it is the only section that most visitors see. The popular high waterfalls are a main attraction, as are some of the rock formations, such as the famed El Capitan.
For people who want to experience the grand scale of Yosemite’s landscapes without contending with carnival-like summertime crowds, there are more than a few strategies for escaping the crush of vehicles and sightseers.
If you still want to see the sequoias and rock formations, the best option is to visit the park off-season. Taking a Yosemite trip after Labor Day should lead to a reasonably solitary experience. If that is not possible, it is best to arrive at the park early in the morning (or get out of your tent and on the road early if you are staying in the park). Getting up with the sun (or taking advantage of the day’s last light if you are not a morning person) will lead to a relatively crowd-free time in front of Yosemite’s popular sites.
Another way to experience the park is to get out of Yosemite Valley and explore the landscapes that make up the other 99% of the park. These backcountry spots are not quite as accessible and the sights not as well-known, but are no less stunning.
Hetch Hetchy Valley is equally as beautiful as Yosemite, though the reservoir that was created by the O’Shaugnessy Dam slightly dampens the “out in nature” experience. The valley is the starting point for some spectacular hiking trails in the park as well. These range from long (a nearly 14-mile trek near Rancheria Falls offers tremendous views of the valley, for instance) to short hikes into areas surrounding the river both above and below the dam.
Miraposa Grove is the most accessible stand of Giant Sequoias. However, the Tuolumne and Merced Groves are equally impressive, but because they are further from the park’s entrance, they are not as visited.
Congested roads are part of the summertime experience at Yosemite, but only a fraction of the park is accessible by car. The lengthy John Muir Trail winds through the park (and continues outside of Yosemite as well). This path offers an excellent way for trekkers and nature-lovers to see the true beauty of the park without frequently battling crowds.
The city of Fresno is two hours away, making day trips possible. Hotels near the park fill up quickly, but campgrounds inside the park fill up even faster. In order to have a place to pitch your tent during a summertime visit, it is necessary to reserve a spot well in advance (several months at least). Another option is to camp outside the park. US National Forests are located around Yosemite and some offer camping, as do privately-owned campgrounds. Both the Big Sandy and Cherry Valley Campgrounds feature natural settings and secluded sites, unlike the stereotypical KOA and RV lots that visitors might expect. Again though, it is best to plan ahead and reserve a camping space as early as possible. For serious hikers, there are several walk-in campgrounds in Yosemite’s backcountry. A complete list of campgrounds can be found on Yosemite’s website.
Yosemite National Park’s landscapes can be enjoyed without having to experience traffic jams or thick crowds. You simply have to get up early, go off-season or go off the beaten path.
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