I knew Yosemite was going to be one of my favorite parts of my trip in California. This is why I planned a three days visit to the National Park. Once I set foot on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, I realized I did the right thing. Yosemite is not a place you can visit only for a few hours. Well, you can, of course. But then you’ll probably miss a lot of incredible things.
I divided the visit in three parts. The first day was going to be the shortest as we drove from Squaw Valley in Fresno. We entered the Park using the south entrance and the Road 41. Our plan was to visit first Mariposa Grove, a giant sequoia grove, and Glaciar Point (where you can enjoy views of Yosemite Valley from above). But we weren’t very lucky. September was still wildfire season in the area and due to some recent wildfires the Mariposa Grove and Glacier Road were closed. So we started the visit in one of the most famous viewpoints of the Park: Tunnel View Point. From there we enjoyed a beautiful view of the Valley, even if there was still some smoke in the air.
The next stop was the Valley itself. It was a bit disappointing to see some of the most famous waterfalls of the Park (Yosemite waterfalls, Bridal Veil waterfall, Horsetail,..) as no more than a little trickle. And there were so many people everywhere!!! Fortunately, the weather started to change and clouds covered the sky after midday. As we were walking to the Mirror Lake, it even started to rain. Most of the tourists disappeared and we could enjoy the Stoneman Meadow and its beautiful views of the Half Dome for ourselves. When we arrived to Mirror Lake, we found that the lake was almost dry… I could get a few photos with some reflections, but I guess they’re not as impressive as they would be in other seasons…
Anyway, I loved my first day in Yosemite. I was really impressed by the huge granite formations, the beauty of its golden meadows and the reflections of the canyon on the Merced river. I even liked the greedy and and fat squirrels that stalked us while trying to have lunch… These first hours on Yosemite were just an appetizer of all the beauty that was waiting for us the next two days. Here are some photos I took that first day. I hope you like them!
Incredible photos!!! These have made me put Yosemite on my bucket list!
Thanks a million!!! Glad you like them! Well, these are only photos from my first day in the Valley…. I have to say that the second and third day in the Park impressed me much more than the Valley!!! Yosemite is such a gem!!! I hope I can go again soon, there’s so much to see there! 🙂
Beautiful images. Last time I was in Yosemite, not a cloud in the sky, no water in the falls. It was still an experience. I’m looking forward to more of your visit.
Thanks a million, Anne!!! I have to say that at first I was a bit disappointed… so many people!!!!! But then the clouds arrived and we started exploring and people disappeared… After that I had three amazing days in Yosemite!! And I really loved it! Even if there wasn’t water in the waterfalls and some lakes where dry… but the wildlife, the mountains, the rivers… it wsa such an amazing experience! I’m looking forward to visiting Sierra Nevada again! 🙂
Beautiful photos! I hope one day I can travel somewhere amazing like Yosemite! Thank you so much for sharing! I look forward to seeing more of your photos!
Thanks a million Jessica!!! This was my first time in Yosemite and California and I loved it! It was amazing, the contrast between the cities and the countryside, the coast and the mountains, the deserts and the forests….. An incredible trip!!! I hope you can visit it, because it is totally worth the trip! 🙂
Cheers!!!
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I absolutely love these photos! ❤
Thanks a million!!!! 🙂 So glad you like them!!
Cheers!
Great pictures Mer!!!
Thanks a mil, Fran!!!! 🙂
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