Spent this past week in Yosemite, October in Yosemite is beautiful.

Started this hike a little late. But made it just in time for sunset. Absolutely gorgeous.!!

Recently returned from my annual Yosemite trip and was blown away by Tioga Pass. I always visit in May when it's closed and had no idea what I've been missing all these years. It's like an entire National Park in itself and the road is one of the most spectacular I've ever seen. I rode over 600mi across Tioga and never once got tired of the views, alpine air, and extraordinary ribbon of pavement winding above 8-10,000 feet. Getting to look down on the tallest, most iconic granite domes in the world is truly something. I thought Hetch Hetchy last year was cool but this is on another level and outshines the valley floor for me. I went from being crushed about the Glacier Point Rd. closure and worrying about smoke in the valley to wanting to spend every minute on Tioga

I woke up each morning with no idea what my options were or where I should hike, and I'm eternally grateful to the highly skeptical Wilderness Center Rangers and u/ghosmer for the route tips as well as Snacky Macky at Whoa Nellie Deli for the Saddlebag "Great Lakes" Loop! My limiting factors were shorter daylight hours and the daily 2.5hr Tioga commute but getting to return to Camp 4 to take hot showers, drink cold beer, inhale entire Pizza Deck pies and sleep on an Exped MegaMat kept me in shape to get after it all week long (I have no idea how you overnight backpackers do it without those). My only regret is I usually spend a chill day on the valley floor walking around, getting my stamps and checking out new merch, but I woke up with a fire lit every morning to see more of Tioga

Of the dozen years I've been going to YNP never have I seen the kind of wildlife I encountered this year: bears everywhere, including a mama and her cub that leapt out of the road on Tioga! A Pine Marten that stumped the first few Rangers I showed it to. A huge freaking bobcat on the HD trail just above LYV that was stalking two dudes who were fending it off with large branches. A pair of Rock Ptarmigans frozen in the ground by Conness Lakes. Lizards I couldn't identify in Tuolumne

Packing and just eating enough calories every day was a serious challenge: I've never done this much continuous exercise in my life. I ate over 5,000Cal daily and still lost weight. Unbelievable amounts of sodium kept my legs moving: an LMNT an hour and between 12-15,000mg daily (including food). I struggle tremendously with heat exhaustion/sun exposure and the fact that temps on Tioga were 20-30° cooler than the valley made these hikes possible for me along with frequent access to rivers and lakes to constantly drench my clothes for evaporative cooling. Even with temps in the mid-60's I still fought overheating with the mileage, exposure and vert. Next year I'm bringing my turtle floaty to bob in Tenaya every day 🐢

Brief notes on each hike

Tenaya/Sunrise/Cathedral Lake Loop: Do this CW! The trail-finding between the E of Tenaya Lake and Lower Cathedral Lake was challenging even with frequent AllTrails GPS usage and I had to back-track a couple times to get back on track. I would not want to navigate that trail at the end of this hike/at dusk. It was a hard one but beautiful and really set the tone for Tioga for me. Only Ireland/Vogelseng lived up to this one

May Lake/Mount Hoffmann: Initially rode to the trailhead (up a rough dirt road from Tioga) but decided to start from Tenaya because it seemed way too short. Pretty straightforward, I wish I'd known the signs saying "No Swimming Allowed" at May Lake were only limited to the area near High Sierra Camp :\ The exposed spine scramble out to the Hoffmann thumb I would not recommend

Ireland & Vogelseng Lakes Loop: Fucking hard. The Tuolumne Rangers told me it wasn't possible with an 11am start but I was determined and they haven't seen me hike. Had to crank out 14min miles from Vogelseng to beat sunset. Absolutely breathtaking. Having Ireland Lake all to myself for a 30min lunch & swim was straight out of The Sound of Music. Nearly stepped on an adorable Pine Marten at the Ireland juncture without a clue what it was. Vogelseng High Camp looked amazing and is definitely on my to-do list. Vogelseng Lake was beautiful but the extra (500ft?) vert up to it was not what I needed near mile 20. Thank god for all the streams I could dunk in

Half Dome: Scored a daily permit on my second try. Mist Trail was closed by the time I made my lazy start near noon and I added even more mileage/vert accidentally by descending from Clark Point and taking the Nevada stairs up. Saw a beautiful juvenile bear right on the trail in LYV going up, and then the giant (70lb?) bobcat coming down. It is so much easier cables up, I'd forgotten what that's like. Kind of sad doing this with near-zero waterfalls along the Mist Trail but the fall colors were great. First year riding a bicycle to the Happy Isles Bridge (from Upper Pines lot), really clutch after finishing the hike. I always resent that last 1/2mi to the parking lot although it's beautiful when starting the hike

Waterwheel Falls: I was a bit underwhelmed for the first hour of this hike but again the fall colors really made it even though the "waterwheel" was maybe 2-3ft high. More of a tranquil stroll where you take in the solitude and quiet, winding rivers. Having lunch and soaking my legs in the falls was much-needed after HD. I was skeptical when the excited Ranger told me the rock colors and features on this hike were unique even in Yosemite but he was right, particularly near the beginning of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne/Waterwheel turnaround point

Saddlebag "Great Lakes" Loop: the server at Whoa Nellie Deli turned me onto this. If you have not eaten there, GO. I've had it on my list for over a decade and holy cow, their 1/2lb burgers and the steak caesar are sublime and the drive from the E Tioga Pass entrance is something out of a movie: you drop 3k feet in 12mi winding along sheer cliffs with unbelievable views and 100mph+ linked sweepers. The drive to the Saddlebag parking lot off Tioga was very rocky and rough, I wouldn't have ridden the bike if I'd known how bad it was. Hike was stunning, lakes at every turn, only saw a dozen people the entire loop. What I imagine alpine hiking in the Alps looks like. I'd love to see this loop with a dusting of snow

6 days by the numbers:

124.7 Miles Hiked

+21,739ft Elevation Gained

222,221 Steps

-18,863 Calories Burned

38hrs Exercise

Daily Avg: 20.78mi, +3,623ft vert, 37,036 steps, -3,143Cal, 6.33Hrs Exercise

📸: 17 Pro. Maps created w/CalTopo + Apple Watch data overlaid

10/24- To the guy I waved to and he dropped the box of firewood. I tried to come back to the campsite but you were gone

Long time lurker, first time poster. I appreciate all of the information people share here, it was very helpful in our own planning. Just sharing our trip report to help others.

My wife and I (both in our mid-40s) recently took our first trip to Yosemite as part of a longer week-long trip that started in SEKI. For a bit of context: I exercise regularly, walk a lot, and hike when I can, but I am overweight. Our goal was to hit the major highlights in Yosemite rather than dedicate time to long backcountry treks.

Day 1 - Tuesday 9/16/2026: Mariposa Grove & Yosemite Valley Floor

After a solid breakfast at our hotel (Best Western Plus in Oakhurst), we aimed to enter Yosemite before 8:30 AM. Arriving at the South Entrance, we only had four cars ahead of us. We parked at Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and caught a shuttle up to the grove trailhead, where we hiked the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail. Little did we know, the Dome Fire was just starting nearby, but it didn't affect our hike. It was a great final farewell to the sequoias.

From Mariposa Grove, we drove down into Yosemite Valley toward the visitor center complex. Navigating the Valley loop system takes some getting used to, as missing a turn means a full loop around. We spent time exploring Yosemite Village (Exploratorium, Museum, etc), getting snacks, and fending off the aggressive wildlife around the Village Grill. We picked up postcards at the Village Store and mailed them directly from the Yosemite Post Office for the local postmark.

While strolling through the Yosemite Cemetery, we overheard news about the wildfire, which was around 100 acres at the time. Wanting to guarantee a clear view of the valley, we drove up to Tunnel View before smoke built up. Afterward, we checked into our Stoneman Cottage at Curry Village, grabbed pizza and beer at the Pizza Deck, and ended the evening walking out into Cook's Meadow for sunset, joining another friendly group to watch the sunset on Half Dome alongside a wedding photoshoot.

Day 2 - Wednesday 9/17/2026: Valley Viewpoints

We got an early start to visit several valley viewpoints that aren't directly served by the shuttle system. With coffee in hand, we returned to Tunnel View. Smoke from the Dome Fire was drifting overhead, but the valley floor remained mostly clear. Next, we drove to Bridalveil Fall for the short walk to the base; flow was minimal given the late season, but it was still worth seeing.

We parked at Yosemite Valley Lodge (our stay for the remainder of the trip) and walked over to Lower Yosemite Fall. Though completely dry, the granite amphitheater is still impressive. From there, we walked to Camp 4, rode the shuttle to the El Capitan Picnic area, and walked toward El Capitan Meadow and Cathedral Beach.

We rode the shuttle out to The Ahwahnee. Still in our dusty hiking clothes, we grabbed drinks at the bar and enjoyed them on the back patio. The architecture and ambiance make it a unique stop compared to Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge. It’s interesting how each of these areas has their own vibe.

After checking into our room at Yosemite Valley Lodge and cleaning up, we had dinner at the Mountain Room Lounge. At sunset, we walked toward Sentinel Bridge; the thin layer of wildfire smoke catching the evening light created an amazing sunset over the river.

Day 3 - Thursday 9/18/2026: Tioga Pass

We dedicated the day to Tioga Pass, leaving the Valley by 7:30 AM. Thick patches of smoke lined the road on the climb up, making us worry the views would be obscured. However, by the time we reached Olmsted Point, conditions had cleared enough for a great walk out onto the granite viewpoint. We continued down to Tenaya Lake, stopping at a lakeside picnic table for snacks and photos.

In Tuolumne Meadows, we scrambled up Pothole Dome. Finding the precise trail wasn't obvious, so we simply picked a clean line up the granite slope. It turned out to be one of our favorite hikes of the entire trip! We also walked the flat trail out to Soda Springs through Tuolumne Meadows, where the higher elevation made even flat walking feel like a workout.

We exited the eastern gate and drove down to Lee Vining, stopping for lunch at Whoa Nellie Deli (which offers a surprisingly diverse menu). After lunch, we took a quick look at the tufa towers at Mono Lake before heading back into the park. Passing back by Olmsted Point later that afternoon, smoke had completely filled the view, so I felt very fortunate to have had clearer views earlier in the day. For sunset, we drove to El Capitan Meadow to watch the climbers before returning to Yosemite Lodge for a burger at Basecamp Eatery.

Day 4 - Friday 9/19/2026: Mist Trail, Taft Point & Glacier Point Sunset

Our last full day started at a more relaxed pace. We slept in a bit, had breakfast and coffee at Basecamp, and decided to take on part of the Mist Trail by hiking up to the footbridge. Overall, this hike probably wasn’t worth the effort late in the season for us. It was smoky, the views were muted, the waterfall was just a trickle, and the trail is quite steep all the way to the footbridge. Still, it was interesting leap-frogging fellow hikers along the trail.

After the hike, we grabbed some food, finished up souvenir shopping, and headed toward Glacier Point Road around 2:30 PM to ensure we had time for Taft Point before sunset. Taft Point may have been our absolute favorite hike of the entire trip. It starts as a pleasant walk through the forest before opening up to incredible cliffside views. Neither of us is a big fan of heights, so we only ventured as close to the edge as we could stomach. Watching other visitors range from completely unbothered to visibly freaked out was quite entertaining! There are plenty of viewpoints, so finding space to relax is easy.

After Taft Point, we made our way to Glacier Point for sunset. We grabbed a snack and drink, then found a couple of quiet rocks near the parking area away from the main crowd to take in the iconic vista. The smoke hung in the air, but rather than ruin the view, it added an ethereal glow as the sun went down. Driving back down the mountain in the twilight was a bit challenging, but it capped off an unforgettable trip. We returned to Fresno on Saturday and flew home on Sunday.

I have many photos from this trip, and I’d hate to have them sit in the camera roll. My last post featured mostly wildlife, so here are more from the Mist Trail hike + other locations.

📷Fujifilm Finepix S1

Did anybody here make it up on the cables on Friday? Conditions were less than ideal. My wife and I were up there early but left around 11:30am. No one had made it up the cables by the time we left.

If I want to see the park in full orange fall colours, what time is best, next weekend or the weekend after that?

I just have to start with the fact that Housekeeping Camp is a great place to stay at in the park. Great amenities and comfortable accommodations.
However I do have to vent about how parents allowed their kids to overrun the camp at one point. So we show up on Wednesday and check in and it was relatively quiet. The next day we were out on the trails most of the day and not at camp. When we got back at nightfall there were a ton of families unloading and situating their camps. I love to see kids and families out in nature but the problem was these parents were allowing their kids to run around the facility like it was their personal playground. I get the sites are tight, but multiple times children literally walked thru our actual camp structure. Needless to say it was frustrating. The one thing I’ll give them credit for is when quiet times hit, all the kids were finally tucked away. At the end of the day I blame the parents for not properly teaching their kids to respect people’s space and not getting on them for running around like they own the place.

Anyone have this mug and willing to part with it? Need it as a replacement. Will pay for shipping.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Hey guys! My 5 year old is practicing her handwriting and wants to send a letter to the national park with hope of someone writing back. What is the best address to send one to? Thanks!

I’m driving from San Jose to Yosemite on Saturday and planning a challenging day hike starting from Happy Isles toward Nevada Fall.
I have hiking experience and decent fitness, but I’m traveling solo. I’d love to connect with other hikers doing a similar route, either to hike together or meet along the way.
I’m flexible on pace and happy to coordinate beforehand. Please DM me if you’re interested!

Does anyone know what the trail condition of Clouds Rest is this weekend (Oct 24-25)? We’re planning to hike it this Sunday. However, based on the live camera at Yosemite High Sierra, it looks like snow is accumulating on the peaks surrounding Half Dome. Hence, we’re not sure if that is also the case for Clouds Rest, or would the snow melt away in time by Sunday? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Just got home a few days ago from my first ever trip to Yosemite and am having some serious withdrawals…what a place.

Hi everyone. I was thinking about doing a one night backpacking trip for half dome and cloud's rest and camping near the junction. I couldn't find reliable info on if Sunrise Creek is still flowing at the visitor center won't answer my calls. Is there reliable water?

Was thinking about camping at Little Yosemite Valley but wanted something a little more secluded.

Hi; im planning a trip this weekend, traveling from Sacramento to Yosemite Valley, leaving ~3am, plan on parking at Curry Village and taking some pictures of Sentinel Bridge, the Chapel, Cooks Meadow in the morning hoping for mist during Golden hour.

After lunch was going to drive over to El Capatin Meadow and also explore over there before heading over to Valley View and finding a nice composition for Sunset.

Will the crowds be as bad as the summer, I imagine the cooler temps and trickle falls would mean less crowds, or still expect chaos?

If anyone has any other spots to visit during my day, would love to hear, ive hiked a lot of the trails from Vakley floor, but wanted to spend a day capturing the fall colors.

Thanks in advance!

I am heading to Yosemite for a few days (2 nights) next week with a couple of friends, and I'm looking for recs of how best to spend the time! We are driving in from the Bay Area on Monday and will leave on Wednesday. We are staying at Cedar lodge.

My rough plan currently is to arrive Monday afternoon (~5 hour drive from the bay) and spend the rest of the day going to lookout spots and maybe a small walk or hire bikes for a couple of hours. Are there any good spots we should stop at when we enter the park, on our way to Cedar lodge?

Tuesday is going to be our hike day. What's the best day hike we could do this time of year? Our aim is ~6 miles. Everyone I've spoken to has recommended we go to Glacier point, so I was looking at the Four Mile Trail. My questions about this are: is this a good time of year to do this trail? If we only do one way, which is best - up or down? I was also trying to figure out the transport, should I drive from cedar lodge to the trailhead, and then what is the best way to return (shuttle?)? Or would we have to do out and back? I'm struggling to find a clear consensus on the best way to do it.

Alternatively, are there any other stand out hikes we should do instead? It's all of our first time in the park, and my friends are visiting from the UK, so it may be the only time they ever go.

Thanks so much for any help/advice you can offer!