We spent a month near Yosemite and loved it. One warning the park is incredibly crowded and spread out especially if you are staying outside the park like we did.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is a viewpoint above Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7,214 feet.  The point offers a superb view of several of Yosemite National Park’s well-known landmarks, including Yosemite Valley,  Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Cloud Rest.

Nearly everywhere you go in the park, you can see Half Dome, a remarkable granite formation that tops out at more than 4,700 feet.

Mist Trail

We decided to take the Mist Trail from the Valley of the park to Vernal Fall and continue onto Nevada Fall then return via the John Muir Trail. This is about a 10 mile hike with slippery stairs and steep inclines. Vernal Fall blankets hikers with spray so rain gear is essential. This hike is considered strenuous and it definitely was.

Bridalveil Fall is a 620 foot waterfall which is often diverted dozens of feet one way or the other by the breeze.

Mariposa Grove

Of Yosemite’s three sequoia groves, Mariposa is by far the largest and easiest to walk around.

Grizzly Giant, whose base measures 96 feet around, has been estimated to be one of the largest in the world. It is approximately 1,800 years old.

Bass Lake

The weather was so hot we rented a boat for a cruise around Bass Lake for the day.

Next stop is Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.