For the organised, you can book your Yosemite National Park reservation online in advance, to access the park between 6am-4pm. Reservations get booked up very quickly. For myself and Leon, we had no choice but to get into the park before 6am. We are not morning people, and of course, things are always slower with the camper van.
We left Wild Willie’s Hot Springs at 5am and made a panicked race to Tioga Pass, the east Yosemite entrance. We weren’t going to make it before 6am, time was ticking and we had heard Yosemite was very strict. We arrived at the gate entrance at 6.08am, and came face to face with a smiling friendly ranger. We sat in silence, smiling, and without words he could tell from our desperate faces that we didn’t have a reservation. “Ya’ll have a good day.. we haven’t finished setting up yet”. He waved us through quickly.
Well that was lucky, and we sighed with relief. If you are planning on visiting, we thoroughly recommend going through the dramatic Tioga Pass (the east entrance). This initial drive is absolutely breathtaking, especially at sunrise, and was a spectacular way start to our fantastic two days. We parked up next to Tuolumne Meadows; at an elevation of 8,600 ft, it is one of the largest high elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevadas. We had a nap before making a cup of tea and watching the sunrise and deer roaming past. The smell of fresh pine was amazing.
Centered around a valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this ginormous park is full of distinct views; from giant sequoias to colossal monoliths of granite, crystal clear streams, and gorgeous lakes, like Tenaya Lake (pictured below).
And Siesta Lake:
We spent the two full days here at Yosemite; hiking, exploring, and driving through it. We only just scratched the surface. You could spend weeks here and still not see everything on offer. Yosemite National Park is a whopping 748,436 acres (3,028.8 sq km); pretty hard to comprehend. There are countless stunning view points to stop and soak up the views, like this one on Tioga Road.
And this one!
And of course, some of the most beautiful waterfalls we had ever seen. We did the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail up to Yosemite Falls. There a countless world-class trails here, ranging from easy to moderate to strenuous, to the extremely strenuous 10-14 hour climb up Half Dome (this is free, but you need to book a permit). There are have plenty of options, so you can choose one within your fitness range.
We were lucky to see Bridal Veil Fall too, as usually it’s the first waterfall to dry up in the summer.
Keep your eyes peeled for nature. We even saw a couple of bears, though our photos were a bit rubbish so we decided to not include them. Our videos were much better.
We enjoyed a lovely picnic by the Merced River, in Yosemite Valley, pictured below. There is a loop you can drive around here. There are many campsites here in Yosemite, and they get booked up months in advance. So we left through the west gate and wild camped in El Portal, just outside the park. Before returning the next day before 6am.
We spotted one brave climber and his tent three quarters of the way up climbing El Capitan. There was a film released in 2018 about a climber scaling El Capitan called The Dawn Wall. I haven’t seen it yet, but Leon said it’s a brilliant film with excellent reviews.
Fun Fact: El Capitan is considered the largest exposed granite monolith in the world, rising more than 3700ft above the Valley.
A trip to Yosemite wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Tunnel View, arguably the most iconic viewpoint in the whole park.
If you want to hike, we thoroughly recommend the Mist Falls Trail, it takes you past Vernal Falls. One of my most favourite waterfalls I’ve ever seen.
Hard work in the heat, but the views were worth it in the end.
Climb up a bit further and you are treated to a double rainbow in the mist.
We had a picnic lunch spot by Vernal Falls, and were quickly joined by additional furry guests.
It was all fun and games until one got violent…
Luckily he was super cute, so I may have accidentally dropped a crumb or two on the floor.
Ahh, my favourite view from the whole of Yosemite, pictured below. If you are travelling here, we really recommend this hike. The views are really something special. Take plenty of suncream and water – there is a water filling station half way though the hike too. It is hard work in the heat, but worth it.
It takes you up to Clark Point, the highest point of the trails, before climbing back down again.
We loved our two days at Yosemite – we would love to return and see it at a different time of year, the park dramatically changes depending on the season. We heard autumn is especially beautiful. The only thing I really wanted to do, but we didn’t get to do in the end was see Glacier Point, as sadly the road was closed. But maybe next time.
After a two full days of exploring, we left the park at sunset and camped right outside. We found the most perfect wild camping spot by a lake. We enjoyed the sunset with some red wine and a tasty dinner. It was so tranquil and calm here, waking up in the morning to this view as the sun was rising was so lovely.
Yosemite is truly is among the most beautiful places on the planet. It’s one of those places where photographs really do not do it justice, and a visit is the only way to truly experience it’s sheer size and grandeur. In 1889, John Muir helped to preserve Yosemite and help draw up its propsoed boundaries in 1889. As Muir described it – “no temple made with human hands can compare with Yosemite”.
You can view my Yosemite Instagram Reel below:
Leon and Amy’s Big Adventures 