The recent rock falling at Yosemite
National Park resulted in the closing of 18 cabins at family friendly Curry
Village. In 2008, a major rock avalanche in the same area had the park fenced
off more than one-third of the 600 cabins in Curry Village (read more on CBS News website.) Will this incident slow down the onslaught of tourists
who have helped make Yosemite one of the most visited parks in the national
park system? Probably not. Tourists and die-hard national park enthusiasts
remain undaunted and will continue to make the trek to Yosemite. Following are
some tips for first time visitors who have only a couple of days at the park.
Stay inside the Park
Accommodations are plentiful, both
inside and outside the park. I highly recommend staying inside the park, as it
enhances your national park experience (just walking from the bath houses to
the cabin under the shimmering moonlight is so romantic.) This means making
reservations in advance, like a year in advance. Or you can take your chances
and go in without reservations and see if there's a cancellation. I did the
latter one spring and lucked out with a cabin near Yosemite Lodge. Stepping out
of the cabin to a stunning view of Yosemite Falls is simply sublime.
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| Yosemite Falls, our wake up scenery |
Waterfalls and Hiking
Arriving at Yosemite National
Park's Arch Rock Entrance, you can't help but be awed by the towering cliffs
and the thundering roar of Bridalveil Falls. It is no surprise that almost
every hike in Yosemite Valley is straight up and strenuous. If you're looking
for something more moderate, consider the hike to Vernal
Falls (elevation 5,044 ft.) Starting at the trailhead at Happy Isles, the
1.5 miles Mist Trail will take you up about 1,000 ft. Fabulous views and
rainbows await you on this exhilarating hike. You'll also see many artists at
various locations along this trail.
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| Vernal Falls |
Not into rugged trails? There are also many trails on flat terrain. A popular
hike is at picturesque Mirror Lake. You can beat the crowd and enjoy a quiet
walk around the lake early in the morning. Mirror Lake is a popular swimming
hole, and it gets quite crowded in the afternoon, especially in the summer.
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| Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park |
Mariposa Grove
You've seen them on TV. Now, you
can see them in person. The sheer size of these ancient trees - the Grizzly
Giant (estimated to be 2,700 years old), and the California Tunnel Tree (with a
tunnel drilled through it), will blow your mind away. These giant sequoia trees
can be found in Mariposa Grove, thirty miles south of Yosemite Valley, near the
south entrance, and definitely worth a visit.
Of all the national parks I have visited, Yosemite National Park is my all-time favorite. No matter what season you go, you will be greeted with breathtaking scenery throughout the valley, where every glance is a masterpiece. Yosemite National Park is truly a photographer's paradise.
This article was originally published in Yahoo!Voices on Jan 29, 2013
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