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Yosemite TR

OK, I know … not in Europe. But one of the great travel sights in the world and in the US and hey, what the heck, there is that Beyond Europe page on this forum.

So, Yosemite in 2025. The waterfalls are as great as ever. The lollipop-loop hike from the valley, up the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls and on up to Clark Point is as great as ever, but it is harder than it was six years ago when we were on the other side of 70. Still, we managed a 5-mile hike with a 1600 foot elevation gain and got back to the valley floor in time to hang out pool-side at the lodge. Fortunately our three mid-week nights in Yosemite followed the holiday weekend, so the crowds were manageable; certainly lighter than they will be from mid-June when school lets out through Labor Day weekend.

Bike riding all over the valley floor was great yesterday. 20 miles on paved trails and roads. We took in Yosemite Falls, the meadows, the Merced River, Mirror Lake, the Ansel Adams Gallery, the Happy Isles Nature Center, Bridalveil Falls and we took another dip in the pool at the Lodge.

What we learned when we arranged and then took the stargazing tour last night was informative. Due to the purge of National Park Service (NPS) employees, very nearly all ranger led forums, walks and activities are now cancelled. Fortunately, Yosemite is blessed with a long-standing private association, the Yosemite Conservancy (https://yosemite.org), that provides activities - for almost modest fees. In past years, I always expected these programs from the NPS. As ever, trail maintenance is largely performed by the Yosemite Conservancy.

Our Conservancy stargazing tour guide is married to a woman who has worked as a park ranger for 30+ years. She works in the high country. Instead of 12 rangers who used to work under her, she now leads a group of just three other rangers. That perhaps explains why the private vendor, Aramark, has closed its five high country camps for this year. https://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/high-sierra-camps#:~:text=The%20High%20Sierra%20Camps%20in,not%20be%20operated%20this%20summer. Whether any of those nine missing ranger positions will be refilled this summer is unknown. I am concerned about the shortage of rangers this summer in Yosemite and other national parks, in terms of safety and rescue, park maintenance and sanitation.

Thank goodness this one gem of a park has the Yosemite Conservancy. I don’t know that the National Parks Conservancy Association or the Mt. Rainier National Park Associates or the Washington [state] National Parks Fund provide the same level of support up in the “upper left hand corner” where I live, but all these resources merit consideration.

BTW, in Yosemite we met a family from Australia seeing what they called the great sights in the US (NYC, LA, Yosemite and SF), an English rock climber who now lives in Canada, a Malaysian family who joined us star-gazing and Filipino immigrants who now live on Long Island in NY state. Of course there were Californians, Nevadans, Kentuckians, Texans, Alabamans and Floridians, too.

Posted by
3633 posts

I really appreciated your trip report. I have been worried about the state of all our National Parks - thank goodness indeed for the Yosemite Conservancy.

Posted by
5834 posts

Sounds like you had a great time! I might need to get back in my car and head to Yosemite to retrace some of those hikes, while I still can. Thanks for the reminder of the highlights of Yosemite!

Posted by
11013 posts

Thanks for your trip report and it’s good to hear things are going okay there, so far anyway. An elderly relative left his $1+ million estate to Yosemite. I’d like to think his generosity may be part of why they are able to do some things that other parks can’t. I only live a few hour drive from Yosemite but haven’t been able to get there for the last few years. Hopefully I will have time next Spring, when waterfalls are at their best. Autumn is a lovely time to be there as well. Summer is crowded, but who can blame people from all over the world from wanting to see this spectacular place.

Posted by
287 posts

the great sights in the US (NYC, LA, Yosemite and SF)

Obviously arguable, and LA makes a fine visit, but it certainly isn’t a top 4 “great sight.” Yosemite in waterfall season can’t be beat, but other times I’d rate Yellowstone and Grand Canyon higher.

Where did you stay?

Posted by
532 posts

Andrea, I don’t think I said things are going ok at Yosemite. The fact that Yosemite has a 100-year old non-profit especially dedicated to this special place helps make up for some of the losses that the NPS is suffering. I expressed concerns about the degradation of NPS staffing on the parks.

Toby. The Aussies’ patriarch identified his top US sights that they were visiting. I agree with him that Yosemite is a very special place. And you’re right that the Grand Canyon is also magnificent. To answer your Q, we stayed at Yosemite Lodge; made the rez a year ago.

Someday I’ll get to Yellowstone, though I won’t be sleeping out of doors for five nights in the winter the way my son did on his high school outdoors adventure trip.

Posted by
9668 posts

Been visiting Yosemite for over 65 years. Was there in April. Never fails to provide solace and remind me of Mother Nature’s beauty.

Stayed at the Lodge. Dined and drank at the Awahnee. Strolled and appreciated that the Dogwoods were in bloom.

Bought a bumper sticker and tee shirt of Smokey Bear with the word Resist.

Sticker is on the back bumper of my vehicle. Tee shirt generates conversation each time I wear it.

Posted by
1064 posts

Thank you for this report. We visited Yosemite last fall for the first time in years. I’m so sad to hear about the shortage of rangers.

Posted by
277 posts

Thank you for your trip report. We were there the week before Memorial day weekend. It was amazing how busy it was, even during week days. We spent most of our time in the Glacier Point area, and even that was quite busy. Parking was full even at Hetch Hetchy, but no long queues. There was a huge line of traffic to go to tunnel view on a Monday evening, and we finally gave up, turned around and went back to our hotel in Oakhurst (it was a last minute trip, so we had to stay outside the park). Fortunately Yosemite is so beautiful, we always found amazing places to explore while avoiding popular areas. The trails and amenities (restrooms, etc) were well maintained. Huge thank you to the remaining park rangers and the Yosemite conservancy for what they do.

Posted by
287 posts

Glacier Point area, and even that was quite busy

Isn’t it really unusual for the road to Glacier Point to be open in May? I visited second week of June 2 years ago and the only way there was a 4000’ elevation gain hike. Nice to only have 2 dozen people there though, at lunchtime.

Posted by
11013 posts

fred, thank you for the correction. I guess what I meant was that it may be doing better than some other National Parks.

Posted by
509 posts

I usually stick to reading “everything Europe” but this I had to read. So thank you Fred. My 3 gen family group of 11 heads for Yosemite and SF the last week of July. I know…crazy whacky crowded! I reserved 3 cabins for 3 nights a year ago in Curry Village. We plan to hike and take in the many sites /activities of park as much as our time allows. The 2 oldest are early 70’s and 2 youngest are 8. I so hope as we are rather “roughing it” the bathroom/shower facilities are cleanly…acceptable? My other concern is…safety….in all situations. Just some of things having less staff can create…less of? But to read of the Yosemite Conservatory gives me some hope and encouragement!

Posted by
277 posts

Toby, this year Glacier Pt. road opened to vehicles on May 10th. There was a lot of snow on the trails, which was in the melting/slushy phase when we went a week later.

Posted by
11013 posts

@ all2alb, it has been many years, but we have stayed in a tent cabin in Curry Village as well as tent camped in the nearby campground several times. The facilities at Curry Village are where campers use the showers and they were always clean. Under the current conditions with staffing shortages it’s impossible to say what you will find.

Posted by
532 posts

Curry Village is operated by the private contractor, isn’t it? If that’s the case, I think staffing is ok since it’s a corporate deal that just involves Aramark and neither Musk nor Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had anything to cut there.
Much as I dislike Aramark and their food offerings, the staffing we encountered through Yosemite Lodge area facilities was fine and staffers were good to excellent.