Nothing prepares you for what you see when you get to Glacier Point in Yosemite. It is a high point way above the valley floor. From the gate, it is about a 25-30 minute drive. There is parking and... more
Giant Sequoia trees dominate this part of Yosemite; not to be mistaken with Sequoia National Park, they are two separate entities. We arrived in the park early enough so we could not check into our... more
The snow and rain had fallen pretty hard over the Sierra Nevada mountains and National Forest last winter. So even as late as may, there was still snow up to 10 inches in some areas of the park. This... more
Tioga Road is a 46 mile mountain road that peaks at nearly 10,000 feet at the Tioga Pass which happens to be the Tioga Entrance Station to Yosemite National Park. This is one of the most scenic drives... more
The Giant rock formation known as El Capitan in Yosemite is something of a phenomenon. The giant granite monolith is at the center of Yosemite's attraction and is sought by millions of rock climbers... more
This year, I didn't walk up to the base of the falls like I usually do because I was chauffeuring my elderly parents. But, I did get several good pictures of the big flowing falls, plus images of... more
The half dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite. At over 400 feet incline, it is a difficult hike. The trail runs 12 miles; 6 miles each way. It is a seven hour hike in all. Since I was... more
This is a must do, even if there is traffic. The views are amazing and there are plenty of parking along side the road if there is a view you would like to see a little longer.Coming into the valley,... more
The trail is rather steep but well worth the walk. Lots of people take this hike and the trail is crowded. You reach a bridge and there are great views of the falls. Go about another half mile, and... more
We hiked the "Mist Trail" in June 2010 and it was about a four hour round trip. We only walked up to Vernal Falls, which is the first set of falls and then took the top route back down again to the... more
One of the first views of Yosemite Valley can be the spectacular Tunnel view. This is because it is the first stop off as you come out of the tunnel leading to Yosemite Valley.
To get the best... more
The Merced River is the knife in Yosemite granite's butter. It has slowly eroded the valley in modern geological times after the receding glaciers had left their massive scars. It is the noise that... more
Twitchers (brid watchers who record their sightings) will love this place. Coming from another hemisphere most of the feathered types were all new to me.
I got lucky with the Stellar's Jay; after... more
Were it not for the nearby Glacier Point, this place would no doubt be considerably more famous. Expansive views, magnificent scenery and a sense of wonder are all available here.
You don't get the... more
The Tunnel Tree in Tuolomne Grove. The Yosemite Conservacy urges us to 'enjoy the peace and quiet of this smaller, but no less remarkable, stand of big trees' [a comparison with Mariposa Grove]. The... more
Nothing that Ansel Adams didn't know. We can't all be so great behind the camera. But that man sure made a name for himself photographing Yosemite.
I took this picture of Half Dome at Olmstead Point... more
Wawona is perhaps the least visited area of the park though the Mariposa Grove gets its fair share. While lacking the spectacular scenery of the other two sections, it exudes an old rustic charm... more
These are the first falls you come to after you go through the entrance and were very impressive when I stopped to take a snap. They say you can get to the base but I tried on two days and still... more
At Happy Isles is a Nature Center that includes a variety of excellent exhibits for young and old alike. For example, there is a audio exhibit that matches the foot prints of various animals to the... more
I was so glad that we were able to visit Yosemite in the spring and see Mirror Lake. It's not a very deep lake, so by summer, it has usually dried up and is more like Mirror Meadow.
There's a paved... more
The climb to Nevada Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the park so don't expect solitude. That said, it is a fantastic hike. It is not quite as hard as the Upper Yosemite Falls and far more... more
For first time visitors, this place is a must see place. There is a complex of museum, theater, and visitors center just west of Yosemite Village. The visitor's center provides basic education about... more
Ribbon Falls goes away in summer, so the best time to visit this beauty is definitely in spring. Here are images from Spring 2013, somewhat of a drought year, but just after a small rain storm. For... more
All the rocks and precipices in Yosemite Valley are named. Elephant Rock is one of those that is often seen but not remarked upon by visitors, but in any other park this would be considered a monument... more
Bordering Yosemite National Park to the northwest is Stanislaus National Forest. This forest was established in 1897 and preserves nearly 900,000 acres for recreation, forestry, grazing and other... more
Yosemite is one of the most lauded natural areas in the United States, and for a good reason. It's granite walls, lakes, thousand-foot waterfalls, domes, spires, meadows, and giant trees definitely......
A park ranger was asked during an interview what he would do if he only had one day to spend in Yosemite, and he responded, "I'd weep." Easy for him to say, as he gets paid to spend his days there. I,...
Yosemite joins perhaps only Yellowstone in pedigree when it comes to US National Parks. Part of the young nation's psyche from their inception in the late 1800s, they were grand proof that new ideas...
I lived in California back in the late '80s and early '90s and never made it to Yosemite, so when my friend Gina and I were trying to decide what to do with a couple extra days on a visit to San...
While visiting the San Francisco area, we made a point of adding Yosemite National Park to our itinerary. We thoroughly enjoyed this magnificent national park and were amazed by its beauty. The...
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