tie-Oh-gah Pass. Some tips from someone who goes every year. NEVER go on a weekend or near a holiday. The best time to visit is late April to May. The falls are at their best and the weather is usually cool. Staying in the valley requires reservations about a year in advance. The tent cablns in Curry Village are the most affordable. Next best is Yosemite Lodge. As said in the video, the Awahnee is only for those who can afford a five star resort. Best option. Stay three nights and take side trips up to the Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point.
I live in the Foothills of Yosemite. My advice is bring warm clothes when you walk up to the falls. We had a lot of snow this year. The waterfalls are magnificent; however, you are looking at melting snow. It is very cold. Even if it is hot at the parking lot it will not be at the Falls. The Southern enters is about an hour away from the Valley, Restaurants, motels, shops, etc. you might eat breakfast before ahead into Yosemite. Remember the bears are not tame. Bears can run much faster than people. So trying get a photo with your kids next to a bear is very dangerous. Don’t feed the wildlife. People food is bad for animals. If the wildlife doesn’t fear humans they become dangerous and will put down if hurt someone. Yosemite is so beautiful mo matter when you go. Every season has a lot to offer.
Wow, This place is amazing and This place is really beautiful. Yeah, There are big mountains, The mountains are high, There are so many forests, The forests are green, There are big meadows, There are big waterfalls and There's a great river and The river flows. Well, This is a beautiful place in the world and This video is definitely worth watching because I feel like I'm in this place. Thank you so much for this video, You're so wise and I really appreciate it. Greetings from Lima, Peru. 🇵🇪🦙🇵🇪🦙🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸🗽🏞️⛰️🏞️⛰️🏔️🌲🌲🌲🙂👍
Great informative video. You brought up many good points. I do agree with you. The best time to visit the park, late oct, early November. Less crowds, great weather. Thanks again for the video
Yosemite is one of my all time favorite National parks! Did you know, according to legends of the local Ahwahneechee people, at Yosemite Falls…the base of the pool is haunted by several witches?!!! 🧙♀🧙🧙♀
Other things that "no one tells you": -There are a couple most excellent clothing optional sites in The Valley that can be scrambled to. -90% of everyone that goes to the park, go to the valley. -of the other 10%, most of the action is out of Tuolumne Meadows. Other backcountry entrances are very worthy to avoid crowds while still providing wonderful alpine experiences. -Serious hikers don't usually start hikes in The Valley if possible. They may end hikes there. -This guide is an excellent overview. -Using the pronunciation of Mt "Lyell" or "Tioga" Pass used here would not be optimum. HTH
Thank you soo much for this informative video! We are actually going next Wednesday and I’ve been preparing and picking / choosing what hikes to go to since we will be there for about a day and a half!! I cant wait to experience this for myself 🥰
...After May 20 an Entry Reservation is required. Entry fees have been very high at $20-25 per car and $300 for each 45ft sf tour bus even with only 1 passenger. I just got a $10 Lifetime Pass to all the National Parks .Call NPS to see if you can buy an Annual or Lifetime Pass and save. Prices for food and lodging are very very high inside Yosemite and other NPS, as she said, so recommend staying in Lee Vining or Mammoth on East side or Oakhurst on West side.
I am hiking half dome later in the year and your video is quite informative, covering a lot of different things. I found it useful. Thanks for posting.
Wow that is one big line. That is why we enter on tioga we have never seen a line there but is a long drive to the valley and only open during the summer. I notice is the less crowded part of the park and one of the most beautiful. Thanks for video I will check out that hotel next time
Thanks alot really very good information. I like it when u said November is quite as I'm planning on mid November with my little 2 years kid. Thanks alot for the video again. :)
Valley and Grove were set aside by Lincoln in 1864 as the 'Yosemite Grant' for the state of CA to protect during the Civil War. So federal protection of the Valley precedes Yellowstone.
FYI we had reservations at Yosemite Lodge in the middle of January several years ago and the day before we went up we called and were able to upgrade to The Awhanee Hotel for about $80! So check into it if to see if there are vacancies at the last minute! We’ve also tent camped there over the years so the whole range of experiences is so cool! It is so beautiful a breathtaking gem on Earth!
Hi I am going in a few weeks (staying in Yosemite lodge) How did you go about upgrading? Did you call the lodge directly and enquire or did you call the Awhanee hotel?
@@zoehammond2685 It’s been about 10 years ago, so I’m sorry if I get it wrong, but I’m pretty sure I called the Awhanee. But I believe all the hotels in Yosemite are linked in their booking process. Good luck! Enjoy the winter quiet and beauty!
Oakhurst and Mariposa are about an hour away via VERY curvy roads so I urge everyone to stay inside the Park or in El Portal right outside the Park on Hwy 140.
...for a treat ,see if you can get earliest breakfast resys to Ahwahnee Hotel dining room and ask for a "deuce table for 2 on South wall and best view." Private rentals at Yosemite West near Chinquapin and many in Wawona, private cabins for rent inside a national park. Consider Wawona Hotel, expensive, if you can afford it.
Yosemite is the most beautiful national park. The best time to visit the part is in May. The snowmelt has the falls running at their peak. I use to live 35 miles away from the park and visited every year. It is that beautiful. Yosemite meadow area is another beautiful area worth checking out. If you have heart issues or not please re ember because of the elevation the air is a lot thinner and to slow down to catch your breath and the view. Take time to commune with God while you enjoy his beautiful works. God bless
In the 60's and 70's, I walked the trail past Vernal Falls and on to the top of Half Dome, usually with a younger brother. The first time, we did the hike in one day, but after that, divided it into a two day hike, spending the night in the Little Yosemite Valley. In those days, didn't have a tent and simply threw our sleeping bags down on a piece of plastic and slept on the ground....and did this a total of six times, the last one in 1980. Now, I read David Paulides missing 411 cases, with the largest number occuring in Yosemite and it kind of gives me the creeps. These people are never found and WHAT happens to all of them?
I really love your video. I’m traveling there with my elderly parents, and dog. Just curious, are there restrooms easily accessible once you enter the park? We are entering through the south entrance.
Great video! One of my favorite tips is about getting into the Valley. I prefer the train/bus method! Where I live in the Bay Area, the Amtrak train leaves around 7am and then transfers to Merced, from there you take a Yarts bus into the Valley. You get to Curry Village a little after 1pm leaving plenty of time for activities before dark! The best part about taking this method into the park is that you aren't crammed into a car, have bathrooms on board, and really spend time looking out the window without the stress of driving!
Hi Jay. Hope you could give some tips here. If I am arriving Yosemite from Lee Vining, where could I take the bus from assuming Tioga Road is open by June?
...Amtrak trains are usually late on rented bumpy freight train owned tracks. I did that Merced to YV bus company thing and most guests stayed 2 nights or 3 nights, not 1 night or 1 day, with advance reservations. Also rode the old Mammoth Mountain to YV daily bus, but may no longer be operational. Call NPS. Latest big biz "concessionaire" in YNP was kicked out of Muir Woods NM for unsafe food handling, poor supervision, etc. so steady decline from Curry family, to MCA of LA, to DN of NY, to ...Aramark. Wonder if Biden and new native DOI director woman can produce any benefit??
Question! So if I take the Yarts/bus into the park, does it just drop you off at the entrance and then you're on your own? Or do they have a shuttle that will take you from 1 location to another? Asking cause I was going to drive in tomorrow but JUST found out you need a reservation if driving in. Wtf.
Hi there!! New friend here and loved your video! Great content on this channel. Planning to go to Yosemite!! Wish you the very best. Would love to stay connected. Much Love from us. God bless you❤️❤️❤️
great inputs! what satellite phone would you recommend? or any alternative to them cos they're pretty expensive. travelling in february to see horsetail falls (hopefully) and do some astrophotography stuff.. A 2 day itinerary 1st time visit. hoping to have a great experience.
we’re going in the beginning of june! how’s the weather around that time? we’re coming from Portland OR 🌲 and I’m very excited for our road-trip 🤍 I’m planning this trip in advance and wanna get well prepared before we hit the road.
Amazing! It will be warm and sunny - around the 80s during the day and 50s at night, and if you are going high in elevation bring layers! Enjoy Yosemite!
Sadly, Yosemite isn’t what it used to be. It’s turned into another Disneyland. Far too many people during peak tourist time. Yosemite needs to start requiring reservations to visit and limit the number of guests per day to avoid the football stadium crowds and noise.
...it's only in Summer, 3 months, and only the 7 Sq mi Valley in a NP of over 1000 Sq miles. Gross mismanagement from sexual harassment of female Rangers to out of control prescribed burns to gate fees not used in park to maintain and fill potholes, etc. Let's not make this a rich elitist park like in the past or military RnR center. Removing Upper and Lower River Campgrounds was a mistake when all that was needed was to stop selling firewood and allowing open wood campfires in the Valley. Most college grads could have managed this park better, more honestly and openly. What a fiasco the Yosemite Master Plan process was ...for years.
only 3 months of Summer and only 7 Sq miles of the Valley when park is over1000 Sq miles. 1864 and President Lincoln ,during the awful Civil War, first to protect usa park land.
@@mrcal48boy The DC government is always closing campgrounds, all over the States. The administration of the parks do not like us peons disturbing their parks. At the same time they are closing trails and campgrounds, they are moving in more park employees to live within the park. The fate of most parks is to end up like the Grand Canyon park. The main area is literally a town for employees and hangers on. I am saying all this from experience, I am almost 80 and I have been going to the parks out west since I was 21.
I was there last October and it was not crowded at all. Had a wonderful time and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. I can’t wait to return someday God willing.
BE WARNED......YOSEMITE IS ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING OF ALL THE NATIONAL PARKS.........IT GETS THE MOST VISITORS.......BUT ?...............IT ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MISSING PEOPLE.........
The Holiday Inn express is great for kids! Just minutes from the Oakhurst entrance. The evergreen lodge is good is you want to completely unplug and have more of a lodge experience.
Glacier point road will be closed when I go, :( its my favorite sunset view point, but I do not feel comfortable hiking back down after sunset. If there any other place you recommend to watch the sunset that will be easy to get to either by car or close to the valley? So bummed the road will be closed.
Get there before the sun come up and leave after the sun goes down or you will spend your whole day stuck in traffic taking pictures from your car while stuck in the same spot for 30 minutes. Unless you can go on an off-season weekday then enjoy.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Oakhurst and it was very dog friendly. You can stay on the first floor and have easy access to take your dogs out: www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/oakhurst/oakyo/hoteldetail. Be aware that some trails in Yosemite prohibit dogs so check to the ones that allow them first.
According to the NPS website, you will need a reservation May 20-September 30, 2022 www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm Otherwise just enter through the entrance and pay the entrance fee.
Hi there! Good info! Since Glacier Point Road is closed till 2023, any ideas how we may enjoy a spectacular view like that of Glacier Point? Any other such scenic high points (without hiking much or no hiking)? :D
I suggest Olmstead Point on the Tioga Road. It's not Glacier Point, but it still has spectacular views, including Half Dome from the NE, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Lake, etc.
...4 entrances. not "5" as Hetch Hetchy is a dead -end inside YNP. Mispronounced "Tioga"...I worked and lived 10 years inside YNP 1974 to 1984. Don't consider the Ahwahnee Hotel "5 star" because of low paid park employees by Aramark, main biz in YNP. Suggest you get an Annual Pass, mine was $10 for Senior Lifetime! Also eat and lodge in Oakhurst or Yosemite West or Wawona private cabins or Madera and use car fast 120. Or on E side stay in Lee Vining or Mammoth, much much cheaper than inside park food and lodging! Road repair NOW on 120 and Glacier Point Road, call YNP for delay times. (August 2022)
...I drove local bus on 4 highways, 120W, 120E, 140 from Merced, 41 from Fresno. 10 years living in the Valley. Hetchy is a dead end at the dam. But it's a free country still today, so you can have any opinion.
I'm planning on a visit to Yosemite this November (11th - 13th), staying at evergreen lodge, windering what the drive is like from the lodge to yosemite, is it high altitude or treacherous? I was told i had to take the 120. Also, i was planning on hiking part of the Mist trail, either to the footbridge or up to Vernal Falls. Any tips or suggestions? Thank you!
The road had a lot of hairpin turns, and hardly any working gps. I recommend doing it in daylight. I did the drive at night and it was a little scary not gonna lie. The evergreen lodge is a great choice! Such a restful place, I really miss that place!
@RunTheAtlas Thanks good to know! I'm thinking of maybe changing my reservation to stay at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal instead, it seems a bit closer to the entrance of Yosemite and not as scary of a drive, any advice on that option? I'm just wanting a safer (daylight) drive, a couple of years ago I went to Yosemite (from the Oakhurst side Hwy 41) and that road coming out of Yosemite back down was pretty high up and scary, no guard rails and hairpin turns.
That is in a great location. I recommend taking Highway 140 into the park - it follows the river canyon into the park and is the least curvy of the drives. The Oakhurst hwy 41 is super curvy - I had to go very slow on that road and it took forever to get to the canyon. Driving here in the daytime is fine, but nighttime can def be a bit hairy.
...I followed the official YNP bear patrol Ranger nightly, Tom, and Valley bears as a wannabe Ranger,back in 1970s, at 100yards safe distance. Awoke campers tried banging on pots and pans and yelling and screaming, but that's boring old play to these, straight to the food cooler black bears. Don't park in the Curry ,apple orchard, parking lot in Autumn with all the ripe apples. if you do, will your car insurance cover a bear peeling down your car door easily? I used red hot chili powder on my car doors, since the NPS would not put up gated fencing. in 10 years, I saw 1000s of night time bear damaged car doors. They can out run you and sows are extremely protective of their young cubs. I wear a small bell, so they can hear me coming. if I hear them, I slowly back far away and take another trail. Many bears have been narc-ed, killed, and tossed over Turtle Dome cliffs one reporter says, so we need to be respectful of their presence and power over us even in a NP. Once on hwy 120 from sf we passed tiny Crane Flat Meadow in the Spring with a big bear right in the middle."Stop! Open the door and let us out!" shouts. No way, too dangerous."Can you at least have him stand up and wave to us?!" How. At Yosemite Lodge for usual 3 hours, I warned all 50 to stay on trails, beware of bears, and stay out of the Meadows high grass. At pick up, the same 2 old East coast women told me, "we didn't do what you told us to do. And walking in the meadow tall grass we came within 10 feet of a mama bear and her 2 cubs, eating grass...and got lots of close-up pictures!!" Not ignorance and death, but high risk behavior and near death. Tour bus Driver-Guide paid much better with similar jerk mgmt, so did that instead. May Lake High Sierra Camp parking lot had every car bear ripped and on walk in to hike Mt Hoffman I asked those walking out, "Do you have full car insurance?" Many did not, could not afford it.($21B overpaid each year in USA mandatory now car insurance premiums. )
@@mrcal48boy The black bear and cubs thing is a little bit of a myth. I have come upon them before and usually the momma hightails it off, cubs climb a little bit up a tree.
... read pack bells are now Outlawed! Tent off veg., on gravel or granite!? Rumor trout stocking was stopped. Where's the fun in all that!? Mariposa Grove burned because YNP did not fuel reduce thickets of non redwoods! Another Grove to W also! By the by, 2 computer experts tell me Ai has the potential to be Terrible, like Dark Ages 1000 years, but no one will talk honestly about how bad this tech might be for Societies. They both fear the most profitable, Worst outcome.
Im from dublin ireland and anything ive read about this place is scary people going missing never found unknown creature attacks on hikers children being kidnapped by unseen forces etc But it looks so beutiful has anyone had any weird experiences??
Been many times. Nothing scary ever happened to me (besides almost getting run over by a deer when I was a baby). The park is very safe feeling. I’ve even hitch hiked and felt perfectly safe there. There are a lot of people that visit the park so someone is bound to have a bad experience.
Nothing scary about it. Of course as in all places you have to follow rules never wonder outside trails or swin in prohibited waters. Park is safe if you follow the rules.
The stressful thing is driving to get to the visitor's center. No one tells you that but it's very challenging. Other stuff you need to be careful. I did not experience such things.
One thing you didn't mention is that if you want to see the waterfalls in the valley or anywhere you need to go in the spring and early summer when they're at their best due to snowmelt. They go down to a trickle in the late summer. The beginning of June is good, the crowds aren't bad yet and the waterfalls are spectacular.
@@musicsavant1079 It'll still get pretty cold in April, and the snowmelt won't really be started yet for the waterfalls. I was there on my honeymoon in early June. Waterfalls and weather were wonderful. Summer is fun when it's warmer, and any season in Yosemite is magical, but it's a trade off if you want to see the waterfalls at their best.
Hello! Thank you for making this video. I am going in mid August with a campervan, coming from lake Tahoe. Where do you think I can stay in or near the park if I have not reserved a place to park and sleep ? Thank you! I do have an America the beautiful annual pass, do I need to still get any other pas ? Thanks
There's a alarming amount t of folks that have disappeared and went missing in Yosemite I always am fascinated and curious to what's happening to people
There is NOT an "alarming amount of folks that have disappeared and went missing in Yosemite." In fact, there are very, very few. If you just drive around the park, the odds of disappearing are virtually zero. If you hike on trails, have the proper gear (including a map, food, water, etc.), and don't do anything stupid, the odds of disappearing are also virtually zero. I have visited Yosemite around 200 times in my life. I have done driving visits, I done hiking visits, I have camped, and I have stayed in lodges. I know people who have visited even more times than I have. None of us have disappeared. Just remember that the news only reports bad and unusual events. So, the report of one person going missing does not imply that the 4 million other annual visitors have also disappeared. SMH
