April 2018

This is the most beautiful park we have been in so far, especially with the massive amounts of water flowing down so many water falls! We entered the park from the South at the Wawona Visitor Center. There were signs up at the gate saying that chains were needed to proceed to Yosemite Village (due to snow and ice) but when we got to the gate they received an update that the coast was clear all the way. Yay!

We had stayed at the Wawona Hotel the last time we were in Yosemite so we got out to explore. The grounds were just as beautiful as we remembered from 30 years ago.

We stopped for a picnic lunch along the way and then drove through a tunnel and pulled over at Tunnel View on the other side. Getting out of the car we were struck by a breathtaking view. I just wanted to stay and look at it all day but we had other things to see. Can you believe how beautiful this is !?!

We drove on towards Yosemite Valley to the one-way loop road that ends at the campground, stopping for beautiful vistas along the way.

Our next stop was the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, formerly know as the Ahwahnee. The hotel was renamed in 2016 due to a dispute with he US Government, which owns the property, and the outgoing concessionaire, which claims rights to the trademark name. Whatever its name, this is a magnificent hotel and property. Check out the giant fireplace!

We strolled around Yosemite Village a bit but it was windy and cold so we didn’t linger. Deciding to take a different route home, we exited through the Arch Rock entrance to the west and drove along the Merced River. At one point we had to cross two one-lane bridges over the river. It was a pretty drive but took quite a bit longer to get home.

We decided to wait for a sunny, warm day to go back to the park with our bikes to ride the Yosemite Valley loop road and we got it a couple of days later. It was a glorious day, sunny, not too windy, and in the low 60’s. We drove to the park and found a parking spot near El Capitan at the beginning of the loop road. We had a fabulous day, riding almost 4 hours all the way around the loop, taking in the sights and a few short hikes.

One hike I took was a 2-mile loop to Vernal Falls. It was a pretty seep uphill climb but well paved and worth the views.

While I was on the hike Richard road his bike up to Mirror Lake. It was so beautiful that he went back again with me once I got back from my hike.

We continued around the loop road until we reached Lower and Upper Yosemite Falls where I took a short hike to get some pictures.

We completed the loop, got back to our car and I just had to take a couple more pictures of El Capitan. We were tired after all the riding, hiking and picture taking but it was a perfect way to see the park!

 

We loved this park and Spring is the perfect time to go with the water falls flowing freely and not too crowded…but of course you do have the chance of snow and ice. Maybe May would be better but I wouldn’t recommend the Fall when there is little or no water in the water falls (that is when we went the last time).

This is truly an amazingly beautiful place that you must see for yourself!