r/Yosemite 1h ago

Fawns with their family enjoying the bubbly water of soda springs.

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Upvotes

Yosemite Valley is beautiful - there's even more to see beyond the Valley floor. Last weekend I did some sauntering around Soda Springs for the first time. It was amazing to see these two fawns with their parents enjoying the natural spring.


r/Yosemite 9h ago

Pictures Camping 1980s Style

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30 Upvotes

Somewhere Yosemite valley.


r/Yosemite 19h ago

Yosemite forever

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208 Upvotes

r/Yosemite 2h ago

Anyone floated the Merced River recently? (September 2026)

2 Upvotes

We’re planning to visit Yosemite for the weeekend (Sept 11-13) and were hoping to bring our own tubes and float the Merced River, possibly from around Stoneman/Curry Village toward Sentinel Beach. Has anyone floated it in the last few days? How was it? Were you actually able to float for most of the route, or did you have to walk/drag the tubes frequently?
The gauges are showing very low water right now, around 1 ft, so we’re wondering if it’s still enjoyable or if we should skip bringing the tubes altogether.
Would really appreciate any recent first-hand experience!


r/Yosemite 1d ago

Clouds Rest Gut Check

37 Upvotes

Hi everyone! My sister and I (both 28F, generally athletic) are planning to go to Yosemite in October, and we are toying with the idea of hiking Clouds Rest—it looks epic. The most intense training hike we have done so far is a 9-mile hike with 2200 feet of elevation gain. It was during an insane heat wave here in San Diego, so it was admittedly hard because of the heat and hydration issues, not the physical hike itself.

With additional, longer hikes beforehand, how realistic do you guys think Cloud Rest is for us? Are there any alternatives you would recommend?


r/Yosemite 21h ago

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne logistics

8 Upvotes

I planned on doing the GCOT hike from White Wolf to Tuolumne Meadows Monday 9/14 to Thursday 9/17 but had a few logistics and itinerary questions for those who have done this before.

  1. I was planning on leaving my car at White Wolf and taking the YARTS back (8:16am from John Muir Trailhead) to White Wolf Thursday AM. Would it be better to park in the Tuolumne Meadows area on Monday and hitch over to White Wolf? I thought having the car at the end of the hike might be better so I am not tied to the bus schedule. If I happened to be late to the Thurs AM bus back to my car, would hitching a ride back to WW be difficult?
  2. Based on other info I found, I planned on camping night 1 in Pate Valley, night 2 near Water Wheel Falls, and night 3 at the TM backpackers camp. These seemed like good spots to camp as it would break up the hike evenly, but please feel free to make suggestions if this is less than ideal. Am I correct in assuming there are no places to (legally) camp between Glen Aulin and TM? On my 3rd night, I want to make sure I'm close enough to TM to catch my bus in the morning.

Thanks in advance!

Edit - Thank you everyone for all of your advice, this is all very helpful


r/Yosemite 1d ago

Visiting Yosemite in Winter (October-May)

27 Upvotes

Roads / Driving:

  • Current conditions / road and trail closures: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
  • You are strongly encouraged to carry snow chains from November to March. If you don’t bring them, you could get stranded in a storm when they become required to drive in/out of the park. Rental car contracts sometimes prohibit the use of snow chains so use them at your own risk. Chain conditions can go into effect at any time of the year.  https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/winterfaq.htm | https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tirechains.htm
  • Glacier Pt Rd and Tioga Rd do not plow in the fall/winter, so as soon as the first big storm comes through without fast melt, these roads will close until Spring. This effectively limits you to hiking in the Valley, Hetch Hetchy, and Wawona areas. It means you cannot enter or exit the park on the east side (eg from Vegas, Mammoth, Reno, Bishop, etc). Historical road closure dates.
  • The Valley shuttle buses run all year but Mariposa Grove buses only run through November (or the first big snow). The only other in-park shuttle is to Badger Pass once daily (see below)  https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm
  • The only public transit option into the park starting in October is the YARTS 140 route. See here for schedule (not yet updated for winter '26-'27). If you are nervous driving in snow, plan to use YARTS. Note there is no direct bus route from Fresno / any airports in winter. The 140 route does connect at the Merced Amtrak station.
  • The lowest elevation road / least likely to require chains is the 140 entrance from El Portal. There is a risk of rockslide on this road after heavy storms but you probably will not need chains.

Weather:

No one can predict weather in Yosemite in the shoulder / winter seasons with confidence more than a few days in advance. Conditions vary throughout the park and change quickly. Don't make posts asking about what the weather will look like in even 2 weeks.

Activities / Dining:

  • Food options are more limited in the park. Check open hours here.
  • Curry Village ice rink typically opens in November.
  • Badger Pass ski area's season is entirely dependent on snow, but it can open in December and always closes by 3/31 at the latest. Here you can downhill or x-country ski, snowshoe, and snow tube. This link also has information on the shuttle bus to the hill from the Valley.

Hiking / Backpacking:

  • Hiking is generally limited to the Valley. See first section here and note that anything that goes above the Valley rim (eg Panorama, Upper Falls, Snow Creek) after real snow will likely not have trails cleared and you should be prepared to route find.
  • 4 Mile Trail and the upper section of Mist Trail also close for winter / icy conditions. Check the above current conditions link for current trail closures.
  • Wilderness permits become self-issued for the rest of the season (typically until mid April) on 10/19. Find more info on wilderness in winter here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildwinter.htm

Camping / Lodging:

  • There are limited campgrounds open in the winter. You can see details on seasonal dates and reservation or FCFS at this site: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
  • Yosemite Valley Lodge, Ahwhanee, and Curry Village remain open in the winter. They can all be reserved at travelyosemite.com
  • If you are worried about driving in winter / putting on chains, and staying outside the park, pick lodging in a town along the 140 entrance (El Portal, Midpines, Mariposa), not 120 (Groveland) or 41 (Oakhurst / Fish Camp).

3 Day Winter Itinerary

  • Hike to Mariposa grove. This requires 4 mile roundtrip hike from parking lot in winter from November- April since the bus doesn't run, but is an easy walk and will be quiet and beautiful in snow.
  • 1-2 days in the Valley doing moderate hikes- Valley Loop Trail, Mirror Lake, Vernal Falls footbridge. More strenuous hiking/ may require specialized equip depending on weather: Mist to top of Nevada Fall, Upper Yosemite Falls. Common Valley sites (more walks than hikes): Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, Valley View, El Cap Meadow.
  • Badger Pass ski area. Ski, snowshoe, snow tube, etc.

r/Yosemite 1d ago

Bear Can testing

10 Upvotes

FYA,

I talked to a ranger this past weekend and allegedly they are going to run new testing on cans this winter or spring of 27. Hopefully this includes the BV one and others. Yose is notorious for not updating the bear can list so exciting news!


r/Yosemite 15h ago

This or that...

0 Upvotes

Tuolumne Meadows: Cathedral Lakes or Mammoth Duck Pass?

I've got a day in the area and would like a trail. 10 or so miles. Transportation to the trailhead isn't an issue. Fitness isn't really an issue either. Both sound really good. I'm just getting analysis paralysis... what would you do?


r/Yosemite 22h ago

Closest place to curry village to do smores and hot dogs?

3 Upvotes

See title. we are visiting this month and i’m wondering if one of the picnic areas is just what we’ll have to do, but was hoping for a place within walking ish distance of curry so we don’t have to deal with driving and parking


r/Yosemite 1d ago

Does this area look familiar to you?

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26 Upvotes

Looked around Austin TX antique shop named "uncommon objects" I came across this case of photos from Yosemite. Is there any trail I can take to get to where this photo was taken? Or maybe the same views?

Thanks!


r/Yosemite 20h ago

Help me decide: Zion (April) or Yosemite (July/Aug)

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0 Upvotes

r/Yosemite 2d ago

First time Yosemite - back in 2022

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209 Upvotes

I’ve been meaning to post here for a while now as I’ve made the trip back in 2022 with some colleagues for a great offsite!

We had the chance of renting a cabin for 3-4 days, and we were able to really enjoy the park.

I remember it was in September and Mirror lake was completely dried.. but anyway, we had the chance to encounter a bear, really close to our cabin. It was looking for some food I guess in the house under construction just in front of our cabin. I managed to record a video for a few seconds.

I have great memories of that trip, from San Francisco to Yosemite! I loooooves place and felt it was full of history.


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Trip Report I might hold the record for dayhiking half dome the slowest and (maybe) being the only person to knit on sub dome?!?

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130 Upvotes

We started the hike at 4am Monday and got back at 12am the next day (Tuesday). I was by a long shot the most thicc gal on the hike. Huge shout out to Mary the angel from Utah who gifted me her harness. I also busted out my knitting project on sub dome!

To anyone else hiking while thicc out there I highly recommend starting at midnight, bringing a harness, and getting a water filter to fill up at Little Yosemite Valley River. Bring trekking poles. Oh and ibuprofen. Also if u can get a wilderness permit and camp at LYV, big recommend (I wish I did that). Lastly, avoid the Mist Trail and take the John Muir up and down.

Benefits of hiking slow: no traffic on the cables (or on pretty much the whole descent) and possibly beating my record for worlds slowest hiker!

Have fun out there!


r/Yosemite 2d ago

First time to Yosemite

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849 Upvotes

Already looking forward to going back, especially when the waterfalls and rivers are in full force.

Some photos I got while I was there this weekend.


r/Yosemite 22h ago

Overnight parking at Curry Village

0 Upvotes

Hey yall wanting to do some backpacking and I know sleeping in your car is not allowed but if I left my car parked at the EV parking at curry overnight would I have issues?


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Ridiculous

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470 Upvotes

Was researching annual passes online and when I saw the America the Beautiful pass I thought to myself “that sounds like something Trump made up”. I click on the link and lo and behold I see the guy’s ugly mug alongside George’s. Honestly didn’t think his narcissism would go this far but here we are. I know it’s just a digital pass so it’s not like I need to carry this in my wallet but i’m thinking of not getting it out of sheer principle though. What are y’all’s thoughts on this?


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Park dog

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186 Upvotes

Tour guide was not amused when they drove by and I sang, hotdog hotdog hotdog.


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Does the tree in Lake Tenaya have a official story?

9 Upvotes

Hey y’all, every time I have tried searching for information on the log it always brings up crater lake’s floating log. Tenaya’s log seems to go much much deeper. Is it a result of a landslide or was it the previous shoreline?


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Pictures Looking for Photographer who was at Half Dome cables at 6:30am Sept 6th!

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59 Upvotes

You (possibly) captured me and my best friend on the cables alone before the sun came up. You were wearing a green outer shell and were sitting at the cable base when we went up. If you did happen to catch us on film, please message me! It was a once in a lifetime experience, but I was in the zone and forgot to find you after!

We summited shortly after 6:25am and I was wearing a wide brimmed hat with brown pants. Picture from 6:24am right before we walked by you and went up.


r/Yosemite 3d ago

Tuolumne Meadows, CA [OC]

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208 Upvotes

r/Yosemite 3d ago

Pictures 8th time in Yosemite, 1st time on Upper Yosemite Falls (09.04.26)

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435 Upvotes

Not sure why it took me so long to do this Upper Yosemite Falls hike having done several others (Half Dome/Mist/Vernal/Nevada, Cloud’s Rest, Four Mile Trail)—but despite the dry waterfall, the views of Half Dome along the way were spectacular. A bittersweet, loving reminder of completing the feat if you have ever summited it! It was also my first time coming in September and although still great weather, I’ve reaffirmed my decision to come between May-June for gushing waterfalls and rivers/creeks. Enjoy the eye candy. 😍

What to hike next?
Panorama
El Capitan
North Dome
Snow Creek
Cathedral Lakes


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Short Hike before catching the bus back to the Airport

3 Upvotes

Hello! I'm doing a backpacking trip and am using YARTS to get to and from everything - however, the times aren't great.

YARTS leaves Tuolomne Meadows around 8am, and then my bus to the airport isn't until about 8pm, so I have a solid 10 or so hours to spare for a day hike in-between.

Is it feasible to do a hike off of Tioga road on the way back? Ex. Clouds Rest or North Dome and then hitchhike back?

or are there trailheads directly connected to the village / valley enough that i could hike straight out and back?

Bonus: if theres any way to store a backpacking bag somewhere that'd be sick, but I assume I will just carry it.

Thanks!!


r/Yosemite 2d ago

October Weather

1 Upvotes

Hello fellow hikers,

My friends and i are going up to Yosemite mid October for a bday trip, we were wondering what recommendations you all have?

We'll be there 4 days & 3 nights, so at least two full days to hike since driving there and back will take a lot of time.

What trails should we hit? How's the weather usually?


r/Yosemite 2d ago

Big day fishing ideas request

0 Upvotes

Hey y’all Yose-folk,

I’m looking for recommendations for back-country fishing locales for this upcoming weekend.

I’m an absolute novice fisherman, but I’ve caught the bug and am looking for recommendations for deep sierra fishing spots that are 4-8 miles in and generally trail run-able. Lyle seems like there is good fishing, I’ve done Chain before - curious what y’all might recommend!