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Yosemite Travel Tips
Yosemite Dogwood in the Spring
When is the
best time to visit Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite has four distinct seasons:
Spring is the best time to see
the waterfalls. Yosemite Valley is filled with Dogwood blossoms
in late April-early May. However, the Glacier Point road and Highway
120 over Tioga Pass may be closed due to snow until Memorial Day.
Highway 140 has unbelievable wildflowers and redbud in April and
good white water rafting.
Summer brings wildflowers to Yosemite Valley and the high Sierra,
lazy rafting and swimming, long days and starry nights.
Autumn crisps the air and is a great time for hiking. In October,
the colors are spectacular: dogwood leaves are salmon and burgundy,
maples turn yellow, and the oaks display a burnished gold. The quaking
aspen near Mono Lake are simply unbelievable.
Winter brings snow, lots of snow! There is great cross country skiing
at Badger Pass as well as downhill and snow boarding. Often, Yosemite
Valley will be free of snow so one can hike, ice skate and ski the
same day. Most people enjoy just viewing the awesome snow covered
cliffs. It is truly a winter wonderland. Cars are required to carry
chains (even four wheel drive). We recommend four wheel drive vehicles.
How long
should we stay?
You should plan three nights minimum so you will have two full days
to see the three most popular areas: Yosemite Valley, 16 miles North; Glacier Point, 16 miles East, and The Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias
(redwoods), 16 miles South. Three full days (four nights) will give
you time to visit the incomparable Tuolumne Meadows area and Mono
Lake. What is there to do? Walking and hiking everywhere. We will
help you plan hikes suitable to your abilities. Fishing, rafting,
bicycling, golf, swimming, bird and wildlife viewing, star gazing
and you can go fishing....
In Winter, you can nordic ski on the many trails, Alpine ski or snow board
at Badger Pass and ice skate in Yosemite Valley. You'll be amazed
at the height and power of Yosemite Falls and the unbelievable size
of El Capitan. You'll wonder what happened to the other half of Half Dome. So many rock formations: Cathedral Spires, Sentinel Dome, Cloud's Rest, Unicorn Peak, and more. So many waterfalls: Bridal
Veil, Nevada, Vernal, Ribbon, Chilnualna, Waterwheel and more. Any
one of these alone would make an area famous. And they are all here
in Yosemite. Just stare! The view is everywhere! (apologies to author John Updike).
What can
we expect for weather and temperature?
This is Camelot! Summer temperatures at the Yosemite Peregrine seldom
rise above 80 degrees and the air is very dry. Yosemite Valley can
be hotter as it is lower and the cliffs retain heat. Nights are
cool and you should bring a jacket. It seldom rains May -
October except afternoon storms in the high Sierra. Winters are
quite mild considering the amount of snow. Days are usually 40+
degrees and nights around 25 degrees.
Can we use
our car in Yosemite Valley?
Absolutely! Despite what you may have heard, cars are allowed in
Yosemite Valley and crowding isn't nearly as severe as reported
in the press.
How do we
get to Yosemite?
Please don't use an online map. Most are inaccurate! Use a printed California map. Travel times are: from the Bay area (4.5 hours) and Napa (5 hours), route 120 is best. From Monterey (4 hours) and Los Angeles (6 hours) you enter the Park on Highway 41. From Tahoe (5 hours) or Death Valley (8 hours) Make sure Tioga Pass is open. Highway 140 is filled with wildflowers in the Spring and is often the best route for Winter driving. As part of our service, we help plan your
route.
Why should
we choose to stay with you?
Let our guests tell you.
"We loved the hummingbirds and the chipmunks, the peace and quiet, and watching the stars."
- The Hague, Netherlands
"Our second visit. The food and scenery are fantastic. Trust Kay
and Don to point out hiking trails. We found solitude in the middle
of tourist season." - Minneapolis, MN
"The sunsets are unbelievable." - London, UK
"If the spectacular beauty of Yosemite could ever pale, it would do so to the warmth and unequivocal hospitality of people like you." - Melbourne, Australia
"The breakfast was delicious and it was a pleasure to meet the couples
from Japan and Baltimore." - Brazil
"I have never felt so at home before in a B and B." - Camino, CA
"Your gorgeous home was the perfect mountain retreat -- away from the congestion of the Valley and ideally situated to take advantage of all Yosemite has to offer." - Norwalk, CT
"We enjoyed a vacation away from our vacation at the peaceful Falcon's
Nest. The indoor art complimented the outdoor beauty." - North Wales,
PA
Links to
other sites:
Yosemite
National Park Service
Current
Road Condition
Fun things to do in Yosemite
Web
Cams
Things
to do
Yosemite
Artists
Yosemite
Links
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