You had me at Yosemite.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
John Muir
Exploring Yosemite: A Journey Through Nature's Marvels
Yosemite, located in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, was the third national park on our itinerary. Spanning 1,200 square miles, only a small portion of Yosemite is visited by tourists. In 1890, Congress designated Yosemite as the third national park in the United States, after Yellowstone and Sequoia. Glaciers carved out Yosemite Valley over thousands of years, and two glaciers still exist in the park today.
For our Yosemite visit, we stayed at High Sierra RV and Mobile Park in Oakhurst (https://highsierrarv.com/). Although it wasn't glamorous and the sites were close together, we didn't mind the trade-off for being closer to the park. We had heard that traffic could be bad at the South Entrance (via Highway 41 and Oakhurst), but we weren't prepared for a 90-minute wait at 7:45 am! (Side note: when leaving the park at 2:30 pm, the line was double the length, and I couldn't imagine waiting 2-3 hours to enter. Plan accordingly!) Yosemite also requires reservations to enter the park. Unfortunately, since our timeframe for Yosemite had been moved multiple times, we only had one day left on our reservation to soak up all things Yosemite.
Yosemite is home to Yosemite Falls, which is 2,425 feet tall and made up of three separate drops, making it the tallest waterfall in North America. Lower Yosemite Falls is probably the easiest of the Yosemite National Park hikes. It’s an almost flat, 1-mile-long round trip on a path to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls. As you walk down the path, you get a fantastic view of Upper Yosemite Falls as it cascades into Lower Yosemite Falls. We spent about two hours scrambling rocks along the stream, feeling the mist of the falls. It was a gorgeous view with mountains on one end and the waterfall on the other. We watched multiple people rappel off the top of the falls!
The Highway 41 Wawona Scenic Drive is one of the best scenic drives in the park. Here are some of our favorite stops along the way:
Tunnel View: When driving through Yosemite from the south gate down to the valley, you’ll pass through Wawona Tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, you'll reach Tunnel View! Bridalveil Falls plunges over the top down into the forested valley. Here, you’ll get your classic view of El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rocks, and Cathedral Peak. El Capitan is the world's largest solid block of granite.
HWY 120 Viewpoint: Our first look at Yosemite Valley was from this viewpoint, just as we came out of the tunnel on HWY 120 coming into the valley from the East Gate Entrance. You could see the Merced River winding through the valley, the jagged granite peaks of the mountains, and, in the distance, Bridalveil Falls.
Valley View: This viewpoint appears on your left as you drive out of the valley on the way to Hwy 41. Unlike the other views that look down on the valley, this one looks up the valley from the banks of the Merced River. It offers a beautiful and unique perspective.
Glacier Point Overlook: Known as one of the best views in Yosemite, and possibly the country, Glacier Point offers a stunning view of the Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite’s High Country.
We were limited on time, and the kids were starting to get restless after lunch, so we left around 2:30 pm. I could see spending multiple days here and was hoping more reservation slots would open up for us to enjoy an extra day. Here are some spots I had hoped to visit but did not get to this trip:
Bridalveil Falls: Opposite El Capitan, one of the most famous cliff faces in Yosemite. I've heard that Bridalveil Falls Trail is pretty and one of the easiest hikes in Yosemite with kids. Streams are running, and there are plenty of rocks for kids to climb.
Vernal Falls: One of the most popular Yosemite attractions and hikes. From moss-covered rocks lining the path to valley views and spraying waterfalls, this hike has it all. You have various options, from shorter to longer, and less strenuous. The hike to the top of Vernal Falls takes you along the Mist Trail. Vernal Falls thunders 317 feet down and sprays you as you walk the 600 stone steps beside it. It's a dramatic walk.
Mirror Lake: The trail is flat, easy, and follows Tenaya Creek. It offers views of Half Dome and Mount Watkins. Mirror Lake is another popular spot in Yosemite. Go early to avoid the crowds.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias: The largest sequoia grove in the park, with over 500 mature trees, via the Grizzly Loop Trail.
Despite our limited time, the national park was spectacular, but two activities topped our favorites list:
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad: Enjoy a fun train ride near the south gate of Yosemite National Park aboard historic locomotives. Before the festivities of the night, the kids went gold panning in authentic sluice boxes. Mr. McNugget taught them the proper techniques just like the 49ers used. Each kid found specks of real gold as a souvenir, worth about $8! The popular moonlight special ($47-79/person) offers a NY steak or chicken BBQ dinner (the kids picked hot dogs) at the station with live music before the train ride. Then, you take your seat on the logger steam train for an excursion narrated by the conductor. Step off the train during a stopover at Lewis Creek Canyon for some fun and entertainment featuring live music. The musicians were amazing and kept everyone entertained. It truly brought joy to my heart to see Foster dancing on top of a tree stump. Hear the whistle blow and see the Shay’s firebox glow under the night sky on our trip back to the station! (https://ymsprr.com/)
Yosemite Adventure Company: With another day to explore the Yosemite area and unable to get into the park due to unavailable reservations, we discovered the rugged beauty of Yosemite with thrilling off-road UTV Rentals! It truly was an adventure of a lifetime with our UTV rental through the stunning Sierra Mountains. Sabrina was our guide and a blessing to have with us. She guided us through the rugged terrain, including granite plains and creeks, and took us to breathtaking views. The kids enjoyed traversing the creeks in the UTV. My daredevil side was fully enthralled as we gunned it around the curves and slid while spraying dirt. We were filthy by the end of our adventure! Ask for Sabrina at Yosemite Adventure Co! (https://yosemiteadventureco.com/)
If you are heading to Yosemite, plan ahead and snag those reservations for the park and activities early!
Next stop: Lake Tahoe, one of my bucket list spots!
