Best time for Yosemite? Early or Mid Summer?

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite in 2019. We can go anytime from mid May to July. Wondering what is the best time? It seems like if we go earlier, the waterfalls are pretty and the crowds are smaller (hate crowds), but higher elevations are snow covered. If we go later, more crowds, but then we can explore bigger stretches of the park.

What's your preference and why?

For the same reasons as you we opted for mid-May this year, but fully realize that might mean snow and limits on access to Yosemite. We'll keep fingers crossed and hope for the best

nordlysBW wrote in post #18535549
For the same reasons as you we opted for mid-May this year, but fully realize that might mean snow and limits on access to Yosemite. We'll keep fingers crossed and hope for the best

Good Luck! Let me know how it goes.

I'll keep you posted . Reckon with mid June when I'm back as we will only at best have sketchy internet access on vacation.

I've been to Yosemite twice, both times in late June (2006 and 2012). Crowds were insane both visits but particularly bad in 2012 (probably even worse more recently). The thing with the crowds is to get out on the road or trail EARLY. If you are there for photography, then you will be out early probably anyway. I can't get the wife rolling for sunrise, but we are usually on the trails by 0800 and that usually gets us out ahead of most of the tourists.

As for the waterfalls, that depends on the amount of snow that falls the previous winter. The following two photos were taken almost in June but about 6 years apart (top one on 11 June 2006 and bottom on 29 June 2012). Big difference in the volume of water coming over Yosemite Falls! But Navada Falls and Virginia Falls were both flowing nicely in 2012.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …2006%20001-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …012_A_1463-L.jpg&lb=1&s=A