We left San Francisco behind, driving East where the grass turned into forest and the hills into mountains. We made it to Yosemite National Park and the first glimpse of it wasn’t short of thrills! The gorgeous Tunnel View was a breathtaking introduction to what’s ahead of us!
Inside Yosemite Valley we pitched our tent at Camp 4 – one of the most centrally located campsites and equally popular: This summer a lottery system has been introduced for the first time and we were extremely lucky to “win” a spot. It saved us a lot of money (lodges inside the park are very expensive and booked out months in advance) and driving time. I would definitely stay there again!
It was in the middle of summer and temperatures were soaring during the day. We spared the strenuous hikes and opted for more short and shaded ones without skipping some of the most beautiful landscapes: Mirror Lake and the Vernal Falls Footbridge are quite easy to get to but still rewarding.
However one of the most amazing places can be reached by car on a quite windy, adventurous road: The view from Glacier Point was beyond words and something that shouldn’t be missed on a trip to Yosemite! Sunset is the most popular time at the viewpoint which may get a little crowded – but you won’t forget seeing Half Dome glowing in the evening light!
Yosemite also is home of some Giant Sequoia trees. As we were driving along Tioga Road, the easiest spot to see them was Tuolumne Grove (which involved a short hike). As we kept following the road, the elevation got higher and the scenery changed into a more alpine environment with more great views towards Half Dome from Olmsted Point and scenic spots like ice-cold Tenaya Lake. Also the weather took a turn – it got noticeable cooler until clouds completely took over and we caught a last glimpse of Tuolumne Meadows in the rain before we exited the park at Tioga Pass at an elevation of 3,031 m above sea level.
I’m not exaggerating: Yosemite exceeded all my expectations and is one of the most impressive destinations I’ve ever traveled to. Please be aware that some of the places mentioned are not open all-year round. You’ll find the most updated information on the park’s website and a great overview of hiking trails here.
15 Comments
You know, I’m a native Californian and I’ve never been to Yosemite… gotta fix that asap, These photos are amazing!
Thank you! There are so many gorgeous landscapes in California, it must be hard to keep up 😉
What a stunning place on earth! I’ve only visited Yosemite for a day but it felt like walking in a postcard. 🙂
Your photos are amazing as always, by the way. 🙂
That’s exactly what I thought too! Thank you so much 🙂
You’re so lucky – my brother and his husband went last year and the wildfires were so bad they weren’t able to go to the park – they just spent their time in San Francisco instead – you had the trip of a lifetime 🏔
Oh no, that sucks, I hope they get another chance! But it’s true, we had an amazing time.
das meiste davon hab ich auf meinem besuch auch angeschaut. so eine schöne gegend und wunderbare blicke <3 ihr habt euch aber die intensive experiance gegönnt mit camping ^.^
Das mit dem Camping war eher aus der Not heraus, weil wir so kurzfristig gar kein Quartier gefunden haben… Aber schlussendlich hatte es doch seinen Reiz 😉
🙂 ist ja auch mal eine erfahrung ^.^
Nature at its absolute best Julia. Beautiful.
There’s nothing to add.
A lovely trip. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Always my pleasure 😉
Gorgeous place ever!
Agreed!