Click here if you are unable to view this gallery on a mobile device
Yes, Yosemite’s gorgeous this – and virtually any other – time of the year.
But you’ve got to be a glutton for punishment if you intend to head up there this Memorial Day weeked, one of the busiest times to take in this spectacular national treasure. If you insist on going, and if you’ve already booked a place to stay in the valley, then godspeed!
If you’re heading up and you DON’T have lodging, may that same god have mercy on your soul.
Here are some DO’s and some DON’Ts:
DO call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again for the latest 24-hour road and weather conditions
DON’T arrive at the valley floor after 9 a.m. if you can possible help it because traffic starts to back up at that point and you could face a road trip from hell before even entering Yosemite’s embrace
DO arrive after 4 p.m. if that morning trip doesn’t fit your vacation schedule; traffic tends to thin out in the late afternoon
DON’T forget to check out YARTS (the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) whose buses pick up passengers at multiple locations along Highway 140 (from Merced), along Highway 120 (from Sonora and Mammoth Lakes), and along Highway 41 (beginning in Fresno)
DO leave your car parked, even if you’ve made it into the valley and DO take the free shuttle that will ferry you around the park’s most famous sites; you can find a schedule at www.yarts.com
DON’T assume the weather will be springtime perfect – Yosemite is notorious for abrupt meteorological changes so be ready for rain, wind and whatever else Mother Nature has on her menu
DO get off the (very) beaten track and explore some of Yosemite’s relatively undiscovered gems; en route, you can also hit places like Hetch Hetchy, whose dam supplies San Francisco’s drinking water; Wawona; and the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway
DON’T be foolish in and around the park’s waterways as annual spring runoff from snow melt can mean ice-cold and swift-moving water in all of the rivers, lakes, and streams inside Yosemite and the surrounding areas
DO watch your step, especially along the Merced River that flows through the valley and also up and down waterside paths like the iconic but slippery Mist Trail that climbs alongside Vernal and Nevada falls
DON’T get too close to animals, especially the bears that are now active in the park and looking for dinner, lunch or breakfast, depending on the time of day
DO or DON’T bring along your dog, since a number of trails are off-limits to your canine friends even though some of the short hikes, like around Yosemite Fall and Mirror Lake, are fine for your pet to join you; as one reader writes, “if you’re wanting to do a lot of hiking for more than an hour, this won’t work with a dog. Note that dogs are not allowed on the shuttles.” Check out details here;
Just so you know what to expect, here’s a current view of Yosemite Falls:
DO prepare for traffic snafus getting into and out of the park, with park officials warning of up to three-hour travel delays once things start backing up
DON’T be surprised to get snowed on. SierraNewsOnline reports this week that the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the Sierra Nevada high country above 8,000 feet from Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Parks, starting Friday morning at 5 a.m., and continuing through Saturday morning, May 26 at 5 a.m. In lower elevations, there’s a chance for rain and thunderstorms.
Also, snow accumulation of up to six inches is possible along Sierra Nevada crest, including on the hiking trails, and in Yosemite in Tuolumne Meadows and near Tioga Pass. Be prepared for winter-like conditions in these areas in addition to isolated to scattered thunderstorms during the early part of Memorial Day weekend. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, with amounts up to 6 inches in some locales, are expected. In addition, expect isolated to scattered thunderstorms with frequent dangerous lightning.
Finally, hazardous driving conditions are expected over the high Sierra passes, so plan on an alternate route. Expect reduced visibilities and chain controls at times, the report says. Those involved in outdoor recreation and hiking along trails in the high country should be prepared for winter-like conditions. A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.
For the latest road conditions for the state, dial 511.
Drive safely!
