Yosemite National Park next week

[>Oxygen<]

I'm heading to San Francisco in a weeks time for 5 days and then heading to Yosemite for 3 full days.
I've see some stunning shots of this national park but it looks like some of the roads may still be closed on my arrival.

Do you have any suggestions on must see spots in the area? Hiking trails?
I'll have a hire care so visiting the surrounding area is also possible.

[Kirby]

You'll have to confine any hiking to the valley, as most trails to the perimeter are still closed. Your best bet is to walk the valley floor and pay attention to what you see. Look for alpenglow shots at dusk of Half Dome and of the valley at Valley View turnout.
You can always get the much photographed Tunnel View shot. Wait 'til late in the day to get the rainbow in the mist of Bridalveil Falls. For more info see this site. Have a nice trip.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

[WaltA]

If you have time, Highway 49 north is a fun way to spend a day in the old gold mining areas

[chauncey]

Dump SF and just go to the park.

[darkknight1999]

Yosemite is favorite NP so far... its so beautiful there. I was just there 2 weeks ago or so. Its so nice.... Where are you staying? Curry village is nice but under construction.

Also don't forget to take a half day and hike the Muir Woods. You can do a nice 6 mile hike in a few hours. If you hike through and up the Dipsea trail and follow it all the way to the top you can get some great shoots from the trail all the way down into the valley to the ocean. I just had my small point and shoot with me in my pack but I got some nice shots... make sure you bring a UV filter ;) and hope its not to foggy in the bay...

[>Oxygen<]

Thanks for the tips everyone... any trails that are best not to miss?

I am staying at Big Creek Inn, just outside Fish Camp so will be entering the park from the Southern entrance on highway 41.

[andykee]

Thanks for the tips everyone... any trails that are best not to miss?

I am staying at Big Creek Inn, just outside Fish Camp so will be entering the park from the Southern entrance on highway 41.

I heard rumors that the Glacier Point Road may be opening this / next weekend. If it is open when you make it out there, be sure to go to Glacier Point. Absolutely incredible views of the valley. It is also worth stopping at Tunnel View. You can't miss it if you're headed in to the valley.

[Exposure101]

Yosemite is a very nice place to take pictures. I'll second the Tunnel View vista, Glacier Point and Bridalveil Falls. You could hike up to Vernal Falls or Even Nevada? Falls for pictures. There are many meadows that you can go to to take pictures of wild life as well as flowers. Just do a quick search on Google/Yahoo or look up Yosemite.com for all the places you can go to. At night, you can take pictures of the Milky Way if you're camping up in the mountains rather than down in the valley.

[Picture North Carolina]

I'll be the odd person out and say I don't like the valley floor much any more. Too congested, for one. Kind of ironic when you go to a place like yosemite but inhale doses of diesel fumes from tour busses.

Unfortunately, the places I find the most beautiful, such as tioga pass, probably won't be open until late may or early june. But don't know how much snow they got this year.

[andykee]

I'll be the odd person out and say I don't like the valley floor much any more. Too congested, for one. Kind of ironic when you go to a place like yosemite but inhale doses of diesel fumes from tour busses.

Unfortunately, the places I find the most beautiful, such as tioga pass, probably won't be open until late may or early june. But don't know how much snow they got this year.
I was there in February (snowshoed from Badger Pass to Glacier Point) and they had a 6-7' base at 8500 ft. There was about 2' of snow in the valley.

[Sharpstat]

Thanks for posting this thread. We are planning on going in July there for holiday. Never been but between what you all are saying here and what my co-workers who have been before are saying it should be fun.

[rolex87]

you can hike upper yosemite falls if u have a day to spend and arent afraid of heights, good views down to the valley

[joemusic321]

You'll be hard pressed to take a bad picture in Yosemite. I was there around Memorial Day in 2006 and the Glacier Point road had just opened. You'll want to see the view from there if the road is open. It's spectacular. And as others have said, Tunnel View is the iconic Yosemite image - ala, Ansel Adams.

[JohnnyEgo]

I went there last November for my honeymoon. It was one of the reasons I bought a DSLR and started coming here for advice. The park is gorgeous, and there are tons of things to do in the valley. Take the free photography tour. It will show you a lot of places to get great pictures that you'd likely never find on your own. I am a beginner with very little knowledge, and I took better pictures then I've ever taken before. This November, I plan on going back with more knowledge and hopefully, the ability to use Photoshop.

http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/yosemite/ys013.jpg

Some more Yosemite pictures here. (http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/yosemite/)

[jeffscra]

If Glacier Point road is open, the Taft Point Hike is a relatively easy hike to do with great views.....if it is available.....otherwise....I just did the Upper Falls hike a couple weeks ago....great views.....even just half way up.....great views everywhere...

[trac76002]

Dump SF and just go to the park.

I agree...hated San Fran....go to King's Canyon to see the giant sequoias while you are there.
My husband & I went to Yosemite last April...brought me to tears it is so beautiful!

[Sharpstat]

Hello everyone. Just happened to pick up on this thread which has been very helpful. We've never been to Yosemite and suddenly want to stay there! I have heard that you have to make reservations a year in advance? We were hoping for July of this year. Any suggestions on where to stay? Just start calling and hope for cancellations?

[Grimes]

Hello everyone. Just happened to pick up on this thread which has been very helpful. We've never been to Yosemite and suddenly want to stay there! I have heard that you have to make reservations a year in advance? We were hoping for July of this year. Any suggestions on where to stay? Just start calling and hope for cancellations?


On a similar note, would it be a bad idea to go to the park on the July 4th weekend? I was thinking of planning a photo trip at that time....I just don't want to go when it is way too crowded.

[Sharpstat]

On a similar note, would it be a bad idea to go to the park on the July 4th weekend? I was thinking of planning a photo trip at that time....I just don't want to go when it is way too crowded.


We are trying to avoid the July 4th crowd. I'm pretty sure that's the one of the busiest times. We're looking at the third week of July. I'm hoping the "4th crowd" will have left for home by then? Good luck and advise of any updates.