Yosemite Escape

It really is stunning!

"Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

The Mariposa Grove is located 36 miles (one hour) south of Yosemite Valley, near the park's South Entrance. The Mariposa Grove is the largest stand of giant sequoias (also known as Sierra redwoods or big trees) in Yosemite. The road to the Mariposa Grove is not plowed in winter and is often closed from sometime in November through March." -- Site says this will be open on May 1 but might be closed....

*** We loved our stroll around the trees. There's a shuttle that will take you to the top (or back down) but it wasn't running yet. There's easily a thousand foot climb in the trails, from 5600' to 6600'. A guide is available in the parking lot for fifty cents.***

This was virtually empty when we were there for a late lunch (after much trying to find a way to park close to the Ahwahnee, and then reaching the "too hungry to wait for shuttle, must eat now" stage). Reasonable pizza, free soda (ie: unsweetened iced tea) refills.

I don't know about first stop. I think it made a great "kinda tired, let's sit in the dark" stop. The film was lovely and eventually does give a little political and geologic history along with the beautiful images.

Bridalveil Fall (620 ft).

flows all year and is often the first waterfall seen by visitors entering the park. In spring it thunders; during the rest of the year look for its characteristic light, swaying flow. You can walk to the base in just a few minutes.

Ribbon Fall (1,612 ft)

flows during the spring only. It is located just west of El Capitan and is best seen from near the bottom of Bridalveil Fall.

Start: Bridalveil Fall parking area, at the beginning of the Wawona Road (Highway 41) in Yosemite Valley.

*** Actually, we stopped across the Merced River at the two pull outs to take photos in the late afternoon light. ***

Yosemite Falls (2,425 ft)



flows from winter through early to mid-summer. It is usually dry by sometime in August. Look for the ice cone at the base of the upper fall during winter and for roaring peak runoff in May or June. Yosemite Falls, one of the world's tallest, is actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 ft), the middle cascades (675 ft), and Lower Yosemite Fall (320 ft). You can walk to Lower Yosemite Fall in just a few minutes



*** We took the Lower Yosemite walk; it's longer with lots of stops for photographs and to admire the view. You can make a round trip of it too, not just up and back the trail. The part marked "Steep grade -- no handicapped access" is still very accessible. We were there with an amazing flow of water and the spray was drifting all around, and was quite a shower at the bridge at the base of the falls. ***

I should have checked the return route conditions. We had quite a detour. I don't know what i would have done about it, though....

*DO* Check All Your Routes!

We assumed we'd be able to park at the Lodge. Not really -- there's only a tiny lot. Plan to try to find parking by the meadows (good luck!!) or just park in day use and take the shuttle there.