Visiting Yosemite National Park has always been on my bucket list, but never an urgent must-see. That is until my husband, Adam, and I spent a few days exploring Glacier National Park in Montana. We were thrown back by picturesque land, cute shops and many fun outdoor activities making it hard to return home to California. It didn’t take long for us to plan a trip to Yosemite in expectation for a relatively equal experience.
Quick Tip
Adam and I spent a few hours planning our trip to Yosemite National Park using the official website and reviews. The reviews were helpful in planning our activities during the stay. Unfortunately, since we planned to visit the park in August, all but one of the popular waterfalls had dried up leaving only Nevada Falls to woo us. With that said, if you desire to see the spectacular sights of the waterfalls around Yosemite, I suggest planning your trip in June and into July, but be prepared for much traffic as every National Park enthusiast will have the same plan to do so. In that case, plan your trip well in advance to secure your lodging and tour tickets. Since we planned our trip at the close of the busy season, we had no trouble finding affordable lodging and an all-in-one tour.
Choosing A Place to Rest Your Head
Adam and I booked our trip about a month prior. We found the price for lodging in the park to be a bit expensive. Instead, we decided to explore our options of resting our head in a hotel just outside the park. We found a very cute, nice and comfortable hotel called Yosemite Southgate Hotel. It’s affordable and complete with a kitchenette, couch, meal table, large vanity, sauna, workout room and up-to-date appliances. The staff was kind and helpful in guiding us to some popular locations in the park. The Yosemite Southgate Hotel is only 15 minutes from the Southgate Entrance of the park; only minutes from Mariposa Grove where you will find giant sequoias.
Touring Yosemite National Park in One Day
Since we only planned for one full day at Yosemite before making our way to San Francisco, we decided to book the grand tour allowing us to see all of the major sights and enjoy a nice lunch at the Wawona Hotel within eight hours. The tour was fantastic! Our guide was entertaining, helpful and knowledgeable.
Yosemite Falls
We started our tour at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls where we grabbed some breakfast at their dining facility before our tour guide arrived. From the lodge, we had a great view of Yosemite Falls without the water. The Falls is a 15 minute walk from the lodge and a must-see. I could only imagine how breathtaking the waterfall would be in person as pictures do not deliver the same experience.
Yosemite Valley
To start the tour, our guide introduced us to much of Yosemite’s beautiful sights from the ground up. The valley offers visitors many activities such as touring, biking, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing, camping, shopping and much more. Our guide shared some interesting facts and pointed out some popular attractions and landmarks along the valley floor, but our favorite was El Capitan.
El Capitan
Our first stop was El Capitan, which is a granite vertical rock formation that extends 3,000 feet from the base of its tallest side. Climbers from all over the world travel to Yosemite to conquer El Capitan by climbing the face of the formation. Hikers can also reach the top of the formation through a trail that begins near Yosemite Falls. Our tour guide lead us to the base of El Capitan where he shared great information and provided us time to snap photos and take in the majesty of El Capitan.
Tunnel View
Prior to entering the Wawona Tunnel, we stopped at a large platform to enjoy a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley known as Tunnel View. That spot provides a picturesque view of El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls and the infamous Half Dome. It’s a beautiful sight that must be experienced in person as no picture can translate its profound beauty.
Glacier Point
Just as Tunnel View provided breathtaking views, as did Glacier Point. Our guide took us to the peak by bus; however, visitors have the options to hike up to the peak depending on the weather and the time of year. Glacier point stands 3,214 feet above Curry Village located in Yosemite Valley. Our guide gave us ample time to walk around, snap photos and sit in peaceful calm. Adam and I found a quiet spot on a rock were we could see Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls and an amazing view of Half Dome. Our tour brought us to Glacier Point mid-day, but I’ve heard that the best time to visit that location is at sunset when light bounces off the dome and Yosemite’s high country and valley transforms to darkness making it the perfect spot for stargazing.
Mariposa Grove
I’ve found many trees to be beautiful; however, I have never spent a great amount of time looking or snapping a few hundred pictures of one. When Adam and I walked into Mariposa Grove, we were instantly invested in taking in the gigantic beauty and dominating presence of the giant sequoias. Until then, I had never seen a tree like it. The Grove is home to 500 mature giant sequoias, which is possibly the largest living thing on Earth. Pretty cool huh?
While they are not the tallest tree, which is hard to imagine, the redwood takes the cake. Adam and I hiked through the grove on our own the day prior to our tour, which allowed us to see more of the amazing trees and read about their long history. On the day of our grand tour, our guide drove us on an open air tram through Mariposa Grove. We stopped periodically to walk to some of the groves most notable trees and snap some photos. Of the trees we visited is the infamous Grizzly Giant, which is the oldest tree in the grove; between 1900-2400 years old.
What I love about the grove is the story of the trees. They have seen and lived through so much, which humanizes them in a way. Below are some examples:
- The Bachelor and Three Graces is a group of four trees that grew so close together allowing their roots to intertwine with one another. If one should fall, the others would fall with. I find that romantic.
- What’s even more romantic is the Faithful Couple; two trees that grew so close together that their trunks fused with one another at the base forever connecting them at their heart.
- The Telescope Tree has survived through many fires in the grove over time, which made it completely hollow. The fascinating thing is that it is still a living tree; however the tree is very fragile and could fall at any time. With that said, if you visit the tree and sit in the center to view the sky, be careful and mindful of the trees condition.
- The Fallen Monarch greets visitors who enter the grove by tram or foot. It fell over 300 years ago and since giant sequoias are resistant to decay, it has remained exposing her roots.
- The California Tunnel Tree was cut open in 1895 at the base to allow just enough room for coaches to pass through it.
Add Yosemite to Your Bucket List
As I mentioned before, we expected an equal experience during our visit to Yosemite as we experienced at Glacier National Park. For those who have not read my post about Glacier, please do so as I share great information and beautiful photos. I can’t say that the parks are equal as Adam and I feel that each hold different examples of beauty and deliver their own unique experiences. I have to say that each park must be added to your bucket list as they offer much history, amazing sights, experiences, outdoor fun and family activities.
I enjoy hearing from my readers. If you have more to share from your visit to Yosemite or Glacier National Park, please add a comment below. I wish you all a fantastic week full of amazing experiences and much adventure.