Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is in the central eastern part of California, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The park and surrounding areas offers quintessential California hiking, with many American bucket list hikes starting right out of the Yosemite Valley. These include the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, 4 Mile Trail to/from Glacier Point, and the Mist Trail to Nevada Fall. The John Muir Trail, the aspiration of many thru-hikers, also starts in the eastern most portion of Yosemite Valley at Happy Isles.
Camping options at Yosemite National Park offer something for everyone, including Yosemite Valley tent camping at Camp 4, Lower & Upper Pines Campgrounds, and North Pines Campground, as well as the famous Curry Village canvas tent glamping cabins. In the periphery of the Valley there are also backpacking camps, like the Little Yosemite Valley Campground. There are even campgrounds you may not of heard of, but are popular nonetheless, in the deep outskirts of Yosemite, like the Wawona Campground.
Check out the National Park Services' official Yosemite main page, which links to tons of other Yosemite pages, from anything to how to haze bears, to what weapons are allowed and disallowed, to lodging, and more. This main page also gives you some current road closures.
Another helpful Yosemite page is the 'Current Conditions' page, that gives you the full list of road and hiking trail closures.
Yosemite Hiking
What to take on a day hike in Yosemite
I recently did some hiking out of Yosemite Valley, so I'll share with you what I packed for my day hikes on some of the Park's iconic trails.
Check out my article 'What to Take on a Day Hike in Yosemite' for a detailed list, and respective explanation, of everything I brought for day hiking in Yosemite. I was there in the mid summer, which can have afternoon thunderstorms. But this year was a unique one, in that record rain/snow, and subsequent snow pack, had supercharged Yoemite's streams, rivers, falls, and general runoff.
Basically it boils down to the following:
- Layers:Â merino wool base layer, polyester fleece mid layer, polyester/spandex tights, convertible lightweight hiking pants, and merino wool underwear
- Rain gear:Â a rain shell, rain pants, poncho, pack liner and Ziploc bags, and backpack rain shell
- Footwear:Â dedicated waterproof, Gortex hiking shoes, merino wool socks, and waterproof backpacking gaiters
- Navigation, communication & safety items:Â Gaia GPS app, Zoleo Satellite Communication Device, battery bank, map & compass, headlamp, small first aid kit, small survival kit, and an emergency bivy
- Skin protection:Â hat, sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer
- high calories of snacks/lunch, lots of water/sports drink, and electrolytes, specifically sodium, to replenish what was lost through sweat on trail.
- trekking poles are an option on most trails; the overcrowded, often steep and narrow, granite stair cases on the Mist Trail didn't seem like the best place for poles, however.
- Backpack to hold all your gear and water/food; preferably one with a hip belt to keep your shoulders/back from tiring.
I name specific gear I used in the article linked above, for those curious on what exactly kept me going in the Yosemite wilderness.
Yosemite Mist Trail - What to Know in 2023
In the winter of 2023 the Jet Stream became stuck over the state of California, which caused a significant dump of rain and snow into the state. Yosemite saw record snow pack in the high country, and now is seeing massive water flow down and through the Valley. Folks are saying they haven't seen the waterfalls this robust for decades.
The Mist Trail, a bucket list trail which starts in Happy Isles, and ascends up to the top of Nevada Falls, over a few thousand feet, too has not been spared from this deluge of water. Expect to get wet, especially on the granite stairs next to Vernal Falls.
In my article, 'Yosemite Mist Trail - What to Know (2023)', I go over everything from when and where to go, to trail conditions, to what to wear (trying to stay dry vs. wearing stuff that dries fast on trail), what consumables to bring, to how to check for JMT closures, to how to get in shape for this trail, to navigation and communication, to being emotionally ready for the tough parts. Definitely read this one, even if you've already read my more general, 'What to Take for Day Hiking in Yosemite' article, posted in the previous section.
Yosemite Lodging
Yosemite Cedar Lodge
The Yosemite Cedar Lodge is directly outside the Park, but is on a road (CA-140, El Portal Road) with relatively little traffic, compared to the South Entrance. This road feels safer than Wawona Road also, as it just winds along the valley floor next to the Merced River, all the way from the hotel to Yosemite Valley.
It's a budget hotel, that unlike Yosemite Valley Lodge, or the condos as Yosemite West, actually has air conditioning units in its rooms, which also can provide continuous fan operation to drown out the noise of other guests.
The Cedar Lodge is also located a few thousand feet below Yosemite Valley, ensuring that those sensitive to the altitude when they sleep, will get a good night's rest.
It further has a breakfast restaurant, and a bar and grill for dinner on site, and is also near a food market, and other hotel restaurant - that of the Yosemite View Lodge.
Finally it has a small park, right up against the Merced River, where you can enjoy some peaceful moments or barbecue your favorite foods.
Because of the safer road, the proximity to food, lower altitude, air conditioning, and river setting I liked staying here a lot more, compared to the condo complex at Yosemite West. I think it was even quieter than those condos, where you could hear people stomping down the connected hallway, and having college parties next door.
Yosemite West Condos
The Yosemite West Condos, like the Cedar Lodge, are an economic way of visiting Yosemite National Park by way of Yosemite West. However, in this case, with economy comes drawbacks.
We stayed in a first floor studio apartment unit, which had a fold down bed, a sofa bed, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. Generally these units can accommodate up to 4 people, but they are so small, all it takes is one deep sleep snorer to ruin it for everyone else.
The potential for night time noise, however, does not stop there. These condos share a community hallway, which is noisy when people are walking through it, and/or talking as they do so. The units with the lofts, on the second floor, may be a bit better when it comes to noise, as at least there is no one above you when you're trying to sleep.
Further, because Yosemite West is at altitude (a little under 6000 feet), these units don't feature air conditioning, which isn't fun during heat waves.
Finally, Yosemite West is about 30 minutes from any food options in the area, the first being the Wawona Hotel Restaurant, which is pricey for 'okay' food. If you stay in Yosemite West, you're going to want to cook yourself, to avoid the lengthy drives. It's a bit hard, but not impossible using these mini-kitchens at the Yosemite condos. It's been a while, since we've stayed at the YW Condos, so I can't speak to the adequacy of the pots, pans, and implements to cook a full meal. But since these are privately owned, I imagine it varies from unit to unit.
I personally liked the Cedar Lodge several times better than the Yosemite West studio condo we stayed at in this little residential area of the park. I would leave these condos to their rightful guests: college kids looking for a rad party pad.