Yosemite National Park Travel Forum

my wife and i are planning atrip to yosemite,but a few questions...time of year? first priority is low crowds second is good weather. we were thinking four days, can we see much of the park in four? stay in the park or outside the park? when to make reservations, how early?? best day hikes for 55+ adults, around 4 to 8 miles? thanks in advane for your advice.

I went this time of year 6 or 7 years ago (when I was 53 I suppose). Perfect - the ice was melting, so the falls were, well, falling. Cars were about one every forty miles. Lovely weather.

I stayed at Yosemite Bug hostel which was great. Outside the park, but the park shuttle bus stops there, so leave the car and bus in. I was there only one full day, but I guess however long you stay there, it won't be long enough. How long did Ansell Adams stay there?

There is plenty of information available inside and outside the park.

Beware of bears!

If you haven't visited the web site for the park yet, it is: www.nps.gov/yose. That will give you a lot of general information on lodging, reservations, hiking, and places to visit. You also might wish to look at the Yosemite travel guide, and member pages here on VT. A four day visit to the park should allow you to see quite a bit, at a comfortable pace. Gary

If you really want to see the whole park, and not just Yosemite Valley, you need to go during the summer months because the Tioga Pass area and Glacier Point will likely be closed by snow until that time. There is much more to Yosemite than just the majestic Yosemite Valley. If you want to see the roaded parts of the park and have reduced crowds, I would suggest June. I would also suggest staying right in the valley even though it might be more expensive. There is nothing like getting up early in the valley and going for a walk while everyone else is still in bed. The birds are singing and the wildlife heads into the meadows for breakfast. A walk around dinner time will give you a similar experience.

I agree with Kathy: stay IN the park. We've been there in most seasons and all are great. You have limited access in Winter but there are no crowds and Yosemite is special when blanketed in white. Take the shuttle bus up to Badger Pass and xcountry ski part way out Glacier Point Road. Curry Village has an outdoor ice rink. The falls are all running.

In Autumn it's less crowded and the leaves are turning but the falls are dry. Rent bikes and ride around the valley.

I like the accommodations in Yosemite Village more than Curry Village because of proximity to restaurants. Accommodations are not fancy but they are clean and comfy. And you may have a view of Yosemite falls out the window!

If you want to avoid crowds, but still have decent weather, go in the first week or two of September after families with kids head back to school. Four days will give you a great overview of the park. In addition to the valley, do drives to Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and Tuolumne Meadows. All of these areas have good day hikes. Glacier Point is one of the most spectacular views in the USA. Hetch Hetchy is the most uncrowded area of the park, yet still beatiful. Mariposa Grove has sequoia trees. The drive to Tuolumne Meadows takes you through other less crowded areas of the park. Feel free to visit our Yosemite pages if you want to see photos and more details.

Best time of year--late spring, after the spring break crowds and before summer, as in late April-may-early June. The waterfalls are breathtaking and not to be missed--and they are dry by summer. Stay in the park if you can, but we stayed just outside the park at the Yosemite View Lodge--it was very nice and fit our budget--about 20 mins from the heart of Ypsemite Valley--our rooms overlooked the Merced River and it was lovely to hear the sounds of the river just outside. Four days is plenty of time. Have fun!

I went to Yosemite recently in October, and although still quite a few people, much less crowded than in summer. It snowed on our way in, was freezing at night, but perfect hiking weather during the day. As mentioned before, the falls were not at their best, and Glacier Point was closed. A suggestion for a hike would be the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls. It is a nice hike, and falls are great especially if you go earlier in the summer. The hike gets pretty tough toward the end with A LOT of stairs. But take your time, and you'll be fine. If you do go in spring/early summer you have to be cautious as the trail lives up to its name with waterfall spray as you climb the stairs. If you have more energy in you, keep on going to Nevada falls (about 7 miles round trip). From either Vernal or Nevada falls, head back via the John Muir Trail which will give you a nice change of scenery and a much less steep way down.