| IntroductionYosemite National Park is one of the | | | | June or July, you should consider coming up here. |
| most visited parks in the U.S.A. It is here where | | | | Actually this area should be referred to as the |
| Ansel Adams shot his most famous photographs | | | | backcountry. CA-120 crosses Yosemite from East |
| after he fell in love with the awe inspiring | | | | to West and leads over Tioga Pass. The Road |
| landscape, the steep cliffs and the magnificent | | | | usually opens in late May and closes in October, |
| waterfalls. While most of the over 4 million visitors | | | | but there are years when the Road is closed until |
| only see Yosemite Valley, the park has much | | | | July. Massive amounts of Snow make this area |
| more to offer. Mountain Climbers try their skills on | | | | inaccessible in winter. If you come here in June or |
| the 3593 foot (about 1100m) vertical granite wall | | | | July you could experience the blooming of the |
| of El Capitan and Rafters ride the wild waters of | | | | Wildflowers, making the Meadows a wonderful |
| the Merced River. The park draws a large crowd | | | | patch of colors. Tioga pass itself is 9945 feet |
| of professional and hobby nature and wildlife | | | | (3031m) high and offers some of the most |
| photographers.LocationThe park is located about | | | | spectacular views of the park. If you drive |
| 200miles (3 hours) east of San Francisco (Airport | | | | through the park from East to west, take |
| Code: SFO) in the heart of the High Sierras. From | | | | CA-120 towards Tioga Pass instead of driving |
| San Francisco take I-580 east, I-205 East, I-5 | | | | towards Yosemite Valley at the intersection near |
| North (2.2mi), CA-120 east. Follow CA-120 into the | | | | Crane Flat. Immediately after the Intersection, |
| park. From the west, take CA-120 to enter | | | | you will come to Tuolumne Grove, another place |
| Yosemite National Park. If you are coming from | | | | to see giant sequoias. Even though it is not as big |
| L.A. you will most likely enter the Park on CA-140. | | | | and magnificent as Mariposa Grove, it is still well |
| CA-140 meets CA-120 in Yosemite Valley. From | | | | worth the visit.TipsIf you are all by yourself in the |
| the east, you can enter on CA-120. You have to | | | | backcountry, consider that help may not be close. |
| cross Tioga Pass, which is not always open (see | | | | A large population of Black Bears lives in |
| below). The park entrance fee is $20/car. If you | | | | Yosemite. Bears have been known to break open |
| plan to visit at least 2 other parks within a year, | | | | cars to get food. Always wrap your food and |
| you should consider buying a National Park Pass | | | | pack it in such a way, that the bears cannot smell |
| for $50. It does not include State Parks.Yosemite | | | | it. If you are camping and leaving open food |
| ValleyYosemite Valley is unquestionably the most | | | | containers around, that's just asking for trouble. |
| visited part of the park. During the summer | | | | Remember, Bears can run faster then you and |
| month of June, July, August and maybe | | | | climb trees. If you see a mother with cups, don't |
| September the valley is full of visitors. Traffic | | | | approach them. Mountain lions are scared of |
| jams are a common occurrence. Don't let this | | | | anything really big. If you have children, pick them |
| discourage you from visiting the Valley. If you | | | | up and put them on your shoulders to prevent |
| take a short hike along the many trails you can | | | | them from being attacked. Bring enough film or |
| avoid the crowds easily. If you have only one day | | | | memory cards. More than once have I seen |
| to visit Yosemite, this is definitely the place to go. | | | | people asking desperately around to buy them |
| It is also the only place in Yosemite where you | | | | when all of a sudden the beautiful setting sun |
| can buy food. Free shuttle busses are available to | | | | bathes the cliffs in red light and they ran out. On |
| get around. The bus stations are marked in the | | | | better days I shot a few hundred exposures. Gas |
| Newspaper that you will get at the entrance | | | | up. The park is big and gasoline is not available |
| station. The best time to visit the Valley is | | | | everywhere. If you come from San Francisco, |
| February through late May. In February the roads | | | | get gas in Oakdale. There are still opportunities |
| may not always be open due to snow. Call | | | | later if you don't mind spending more |
| 209-372-0200 for current conditions | | | | money.AccomodationAs usual, traveling during the |
| (209-372-4726 for recorded information). Most | | | | weekend has its price. If you can afford to come |
| likely you will not be allowed access without | | | | here during the week you will get better deals, as |
| carrying snow chains.Glacier Point Road and | | | | less people will compete for the same room. I |
| Mariposa GroveGlacier Point RoadGlacier Point | | | | have been able to get some good deals in El |
| Road usually opens in late May (later in years of | | | | Portal (on CA-140 just outside the park). There |
| heavy snow fall) and closes in November. It is a | | | | are a bunch of Hotels on CA-120, but they are |
| 32-mile drive from the visitor center to Glacier | | | | much farther away from the park. If you can |
| Point itself (the end of the road). Plan for many | | | | bankroll a stay in the Park, it is obviously the |
| stops and hikes though, as you will have some of | | | | better choice.Hotels on the east sideIf you exit |
| the most spectacular views from up here. You | | | | Yosemite on the East towards Mono Lake you will |
| could also hike up here, on the four-mile trail. | | | | get to the city of Lee Vining. The only Hotel I |
| Believe me, you don't want to try this. The | | | | would stay in here is the Best Western. If you |
| elevation is not to be underestimated. If you don't | | | | have no reservation, well good luck. If you go |
| have wings, you should be here by car anyways | | | | south for about 40 minutes you will get to the |
| and if the road is not open so be it, but don't | | | | town of Mammoth Lakes, offering plenty of |
| take my word for it.Mariposa GroveMariposa | | | | Hotels. Alternatively you can go north towards |
| Grove is Yosemite's largest grove of giant | | | | Bridgeport.RestaurantsThe Restaurant that |
| sequoias. In winter it is not easy to reach, as the | | | | belongs to the Yosemite View Lodge is pretty |
| 2-mile road into the grove is closed. You have to | | | | good, but you have to wait to get a seat. They |
| hike on the snow. Mariposa Grove is divided into | | | | also have a Pizzeria if you cannot wait. Next to |
| upper and lower Grove. The largest tree (Grizzly | | | | the Visitor Center in Yosemite Valley there is a |
| Giant) is about 1800 years old and has seen the | | | | small Burger place and a Sandwich place. Both are |
| rise and fall of empires. If you ever wanted to | | | | not very good, but I bet after a day of hiking |
| feel like an insect standing next to a tree, this is | | | | you wont care much and a nasty burger will |
| the place to go.Tioga PassIf you visit Yosemite in | | | | sound just as good as Filet Mignon. |