patrick.net

Hope you have reservations. You can't even drive through Yosemite Valley without them.

Yes, have reservations, long time in the making.

I’ve also heard that during peak hours, people aren’t allowed in without reservations.

BayArea says

I’ve also heard that during peak hours, people aren’t allowed in without reservations.

I learned that the hard way. Two weeks ago we tried to go through the Sonora pass on the way to Vegas to beat the heat in the Mojave desert. We were turned around at Yosemite and had to go for a long detour through Pinecrest.

@BayArea make sure your gas tank is always at least half full. There are very few gas stations in the park, and they can be closed without explanation.

There were a lot of tiny bugs when we were there in April. You might want a hat with a kind of mosquito netting around it. They don't seem to bite, but are annoying anyway.

Check out the Wawona hotel and the little historical park next to it, which has a covered bridge and some original buildings.

https://patrick.net/post/1344490/2022-04-06-at-the-wawona-hotel-in-yosemite

Also, I recommend eating at the Ahwahnee Hotel's restaurant for lunch. It's expensive, but very good. And the Ahwahnee's lobby is impressive.

Yosemite is awesome...Angel Falls is pretty great to see. There is also parking near Wawona Tunnel that is a pretty epic spot to see the whole park.

I may be an anomaly, but I've lived in Northern CA for 37 of my 50 years and I've never been to Yosemite.

exfatguy says

I may be an anomaly, but I've lived in Northern CA for 37 of my 50 years and I've never been to Yosemite.

That's fair exfatguy...I used to live in SoCal and I never crossed the border. Pat, please don't ban exfatguy!

Visited Sonora town and surroundings few years ago for few days on the way to Yosemite, the life styles are quite different from the coastal. Looks like lot of drug addicts/homeless in Jamestown. But it was very scenic all the way. Most of them I spoke sounds like VERY against gov for some reason!

been many times in years past, beautiful place. clinbing waterfall with kids was the best.

Patrick says

@BayArea make sure your gas tank is always at least half full. There are very few gas stations in the park, and they can be closed without explanation.

Great advice, I will follow that Patrick.

I used to spend my summers up there. If you have the time, check out the Tuolumne Meadows area and also the old ghost town of Bodie out by Mono Lake.

If allowed try swim in Mono Lake that should be not too salty. I enjoyed swimming in Salt Lake, UT, too salty but lots of fun.

In the summer of 1971, my mother and her 85 year old sister and I included it in a trip to LA for my cousin's wedding, whose aunt's wedding we'd attended in 1951. My mother had a '70 LTD and it seemed like we were descending the mountains forever. I drove until I got tired, keeping the gear in 2 to save the brakes. When my mother drove, she kept it in 2, but would just let the car get so slow it'd drive me crazy, so I took back over. At what I remember was the East Gate, we stayed a few days with my mother's 76 year old cousin John in his "A" frame house that he'd built himself that was comfortable and immaculate. The next week he would start a five state trip in his VW Bug with his sisters Ciddie (93) and Alice (95), who lived in their home on Sepulveda Blvd. in Vay Nuys. We'd spent four days with them beforehand and it was up at 6:00 every day with scrambled eggs, home made biscuits, ham and bacon, then a platter of fried chicken for lunch. They're all gone now, but I'd like to see that part of the country again.

desertguy says

If you have the time, check out the Tuolumne Meadows area

Lembert Dome is a pretty epic day hike in that area. You can do it as a side trip (1 hour to get there) if you're leaving the park through the northern route.

My first trips were in the early 1990s. Was much less crowded and much easier to deal with back then! My how times have changed. Depends on how ambitious a hiker you are. You have to do Halfdome at least once in your life, but now you need reservations for even that and the last 1/2 mile can take an hour each way, as it's basically single file up and down on the cables and a bunch of petrified (non)-hikers slow everything down.

Mt. Hoffman isn't too crowded and is a fairly easy (if somewhat long) hike to the open peak. Don't know how old your kids are, but fit 12 year old shouldn't have too much trouble. People not good with altitude will be starting to slow down by the top. Has trail.

Clouds Rest is longer, has more elevation gain, but isn't technically difficult. Go from Tenaya Lake. The elevation gain and high elevation make this a challenging hike, but it's an out-and-back and you can get some nice views before reaching the summit if you want to turn back early. Also has well maintained trail. A larger group could split in half at some point, with 1/2 going to the top and the other half turning around early. Could meet later as all walking toward the parking lot.

Mt. Connis is a spectacular "bushwack" through snowfields. I wouldn't do this one without someone who is more experienced.

Mt. Dana is popular because it is the 2nd tallest peak and is actually fairly easy. Straight up and back. Meh. For similar effort I'd take Mt. Hoffman. Mt. Dana hurd path does a lot of hopping over large boulders; for this reason alone, I wouldn't take children (or even small adults). that reduced foot or 2 of height makes the boulders considerably more difficult. I'd really hate to see someone bash their head or teeth 5 miles from the car and 150 miles from a hospital.

I believe Glacier Point road is closed. That was a great easy lookout and has a very easy minor mountain nearby. (It's easy to climb a 9000 foot peak when the parking lot is at 8200 feet!) Some people hike from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, but I wouldn't advise it. It's very steep trail and pretty long day. Well, with Glacier Point closed, at least you won't spend an entire grueling day only to join 1000 tourists at the top!

exfatguy says

I may be an anomaly, but I've lived in Northern CA for 37 of my 50 years and I've never been to Yosemite.

You're missing out.