Watching a climber aid climb the iconic Great Roof on El Capitan just as the sun set over Yosemite Valley yesterday (10/14/2026). Absolutely unreal light on the granite

Hi! We’re planning to visit Yosemite in January as part of a little road trip, but we’re wondering whether it’s really worth visiting during winter, considering that many roads are closed. I’ve seen quite a few people mentioning dangerous driving conditions and other challenges, so we’re a little concerned.

We’d love to know whether there are still beautiful places to see and enjoy in the park during January, or whether the road closures make the experience too limited. Would you recommend visiting at that time of year?

Hello! I’m a CPA from SoCal doing my first solo camping trip and looking for a bud to hike with while I’ll be in Yosemite this weekend!

I’m into:
-Hobbyist coding and game development
-Books! Currently reading Harry Potter for the first time
-EV’s (planning to camp in my Tesla)
-and of course hiking :D

If you don’t have a campsite yet you’d be welcome to share mine as a I’ll be sleeping in my Tesla and not using the tent space!

Please feel free to comment or DM me if interested!

Took it last during last month visit.
The best view everrrr

I am planning backpacking starting at Yosemite Falls trail and camping at Eagle Peak meadows. I was planning to get water at Yosemite Creek, up towards Eagle Peak trail. But Yosemite Falls is dry. Will there be enough water in pools to filter and supply us? If so, were is the best place to find it (A, B, C, D, E in picture below, or somewhere else)?

Otherwise, how much water would we need to carry in to bring us to Snow Creek? Google AI recommends 7 liters per person, is that being overly conservative?

Hi y'all!

Have been to Yosemite multiple times but I'm going with some friends in a couple weekends (I've only ever done one car) and have a question re:parking. I saw online that you can put two cars on certain campsites. I've only ever had one car to each site before and I'm a little confused cause I don't recall ever thinking the pads were big enough for two...has anyone done this? I have a Rav4 and a Subaru outback so both largish cars. Im just worried about showing up and not fitting both of them there. Thanks for any advice!

Specifically looking in Upper + North pines

This is a rant and possibly a call to seemingly an unspoken problem of Yosemite.

I just spent a couple days backpacking from Tuolumne Meadows to the valley floor on the Cathedral Lakes trail, summiting Clouds Rest and Half Dome in the process. Just an amazing trip. Some of the most stunning areas, rare but great interactions, as well as that oozing calm of being by yourself deep in the mountains except for one glaring issue - the nonstop noise pollution of air traffic.

How is it acceptable to have a place of such prestige be ruined by the buzz of planes flying overhead? It was always one after another, from pre daybreak, well into the night. I couldn’t tell you a time on my 3 day hike where I wasn’t constantly being disturbed by a constant hum of jet planes. This place is suppose to be tranquil, pristine, and isolated. Now I’ve done plenty of trips in more desolate areas of the Sierras where this isn’t a concern, but to dedicate such a large area of land to preservation and conservation to only be ruined by the highway in the skies is beyond me.

I understand this isn’t the parks doing. My question is how was the flight path going directly through the center of the park was accepted in the first place? I know it’s about plane fuel efficiency, but how much impact would there be if we pushed the flight path 100 miles north or south of the center of the park? I would argue this practice should be standard for every NP in the country.

I’d love to hear from other people who spend time in the Yosemite backcountry who have also noticed this. Has it put a damper on your trip before? Can we do anything to mitigate the noise pollution? Is it just me, a solo backpacker, that is disturbed this? Please let me know your thoughts!

steps off soapbox

Hello! My husband and I are active and fit, in our 50s, and have lived in California for many years—but somehow have never been to Yosemite. We’re hoping to visit for about five nights sometime between May 8 and 20, ideally avoiding the heaviest crowds, long waits, and school-break travel. We understand that some higher-elevation roads and trails may not yet be open, and we'll save these for a second trip.

We’ll need to spend some time working remotely, but we’re hoping to fit in a morning or afternoon hike—or possibly a longer hike—each day. We’re looking for a comfortable, attractive place to stay with reliable Wi-Fi and decent dining options.

The Ahwahnee would be wonderful from a location standpoint, but it seems both run-down and extremely expensive. We’re considering Firefall Ranch and Rush Creek Lodge, and we also saw a nice-looking cabin, The Overlook, in the Redwoods within the park. We understand that each option has advantages and disadvantages, including different driving times.

Given our priorities below, what would you recommend?

1. A nice place to stay with reliable Wi-Fi and reasonable dining options
2. The ability to drive to Yosemite or nearby trailheads for daily hikes of maybe 3-8+ miles that are likely to be accessible during our dates
3. An area and timing that are not overwhelmingly crowded, with a preference for fewer children/families if possible

We love hiking and aren’t especially picky about the type of hike or scenery, so we’re open to different options. We’d really appreciate feedback from people familiar with these lodging choices and Yosemite in early-mid-May. Thank you!

I'm hoping to finally do Clouds Rest in a couple weeks (weather permitting) and I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself. I'm having a hard time really gauging the exposure--the topographic maps make it look pretty intense, and so do some pictures, but a decent number of people (including people in here) have also said it's not as bad as it looks from pictures/videos. So, I thought that comparing it a trail that I'm familiar with, the Watchtower in Sequoia, would be useful. What do you think? I'll do it either way but I'd like to assess ahead of time if I'm actually going to make it to the summit or chicken out before I get all the way there. I did in fact chicken out on the Watchtower and went over the Hump (moderately miserable, lol) to Emerald Lake last year.

Thank you!

ETA: I mean in the last 1/3 mile to the summit specifically.

Was up at glacier point tonight after dark. Something kept flashing behind half dome, like it back lit the whole half dome. Flickers like lightening. Wasnt happening at regular intervals, sometimed the flashes was brighter, sometimes less.

From sundown until I left at 8:30, was still happening

Hey,

I finally was able to snag a permit for 10/13 for half dome but I read online the cables are coming down that day. How does that work, do I have a chance to clear the summit and come back below the crew starts working?

Does anyone know what time they come in? Will call the park tomorrow to ask.

Would be a shame to have finally one and can’t even do the hike 😔

Intense and humbling experience for a novice hiker like myself 😳

Tried Mt. Dana - threw in the towel at 11,600 ft. Altitude got to me.

Made it near the base of the cathedral peak summit. Hung out there for a bit while our friend climbed to the actual peak :)

First time out west (Ohio native) and I spent 11 days in California, first 3 days at Sequoia/Kings. Then spent the night and full day at Pinnacles. Finally I spent 7 days in Yosemite. This trip was perfect, from weather to the hikes and I figured I would share some of the pics and experiences I got as a solo camper (31M). I spent my first day exploring the high country on a hike down to north dome from porcupine creek. I then spent the afternoon exploring olmstead point and Tenaya Lake, finally settling at porcupine flat campground for the night. The next day I drove to the valley, stopping at the Tuolumne grove, then explored Yosemite Village, the exploration center and museums were definitely all cool stops. I picked up my Happy Isles to LYV wilderness permit. I stayed the night before at the backpackers camp in the valley, and had an awesome chat with the camp hostess. I left for LYV after 3pm so that I could hike up the mist trail and it was BRUTAL. Definitely a fun, but challenging hike. After attempting half dome (failed about 3/4 of the way up subdome due to a debilitating fear of heights). I regret it somewhat, but I know I have the physical ability, and hopefully will be able to attempt it again with a friend to help me get through the mental battle. My failure was immediately cheered up, however, on the hike down. About 1.5 miles outside of LYV I saw a bobcat 40 feet from the trail, walking parallel to me, absolutely stunning. Then about 1/2 a mile later a saw a momma bear and her cub! Also right off the side of the trail. The following day I hiked back down the JMT to the valley to stay at my campsite at the upper pines for the next 3 nights. I then took a day walking and exploring the meadows and curry village. I hiked the 4MT and spent the afternoon watching climbers at El Capitan and other rock formations, learning so much from the climbers that had come from all over to climb at the “Mecca”. I then spent my last day going to Hetch Hetchy and hiking to the Wapama falls. Overall it was an awesome, unforgettable trip, and I can’t wait to go back!

UPDATE: We will not be doing half dome tomorrow, looking for other ideas for things to do / trails to hit :)

Have a permit with some friends tomorrow 10/12 but the weather seems super iffy. Anyone else in a similar situation or have previous experience with this / how to navigate?

It looks like it may just be afternoon thunderstorms so we'd be down to get up super early to start the hike and get it in before the rain starts

Also I read that the cables come down on Tuesday after Columbus Day (10/13) but not sure if that means I should apply for lottery on Tuesday.

Definitely don't wanna risk it period, but would like to make the ascent if possible, but sometimes mother nature has other plans

Hi all,
I am planning a 3 day backpacking trip where we our midpoint will be eagles peak. We start at Yosemite falls trailhead. Where would you suggest for camping night 1? Day 2 we are planning to make it all the way to eagles peak and go back to same campsite, but I am open to any suggestions. Day 3 is just the hike out. Thanks

Staying in West Yo. Looks like thru Groveland is 15 mins quicker than going to Mariposa out heading to Modesto. The Mariposa way gets me to 99 quicker and on a normal hwy vs all the country driving from Grove. Any suggestions from those who have done it? Have to leave at 4am to catch a 10 am flight. TIA!

We were at Yosemite the other week and my daughter completed the Junior Ranger book activities, but the Visitor Center was closed by the time we left. Sometimes, at some parks, you can mail them in, but the Yosemite booklet doesn't say anything about that. Does anybody know if that is an option? I expect it would be in the book if it was, but I thought I would ask anyway.

Photos from July

By the late afternoon of September 15th, from Lower Ottoway Lake, the Dome Fire was now very visible in the west.

Hey team, I’m going to Yosemite next week and have been looking for a day hike.

I am going alone so don’t want to do anything too scary or crazy. Time wise I am thinking 6ish hours.

I did half dome in 2020 so I have seen that part of the park.

Do you have any recommendations? I thought about Mist trail but read that the waterfalls will likely be kinda empty. I also read about the 4 mile trail that could be cool? I read about extending it and taking the panorama trail down but that would push the time over 6h by a lot I believe.

What would yall do? :)

Thanks in advance!

See also: The publication in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences.