I’m a sorry if this is a stupid question. I’m not an expert on Yosemite. I think it’s the John Muir trail, but I’m unsure. We started by emerald pool, went up by Clark point, then went down some switchbacks until we reached the footbridge and headed back on the mist trail. Here’s some photos.

Yosemite cut down gridlock traffic by over 98%, according to the most recent reporting by the Department of the Interior (DOI).
They say the park once saw more than 120 days of traffic gridlock a year; this year, there were only two, and they both were over Memorial Day weekend, a peak time for tourism.
They add that Saturday waits at the gate, which once stretched to three hours, are now usually under 30 minutes.
And to top it all off, they say it comes as visitation is up 12%.

According to the DOI, it’s all possible because of “a lot of small, smart changes,” including digital site passes, digitized America the Beautiful passes, streamlined reservation checks, new fast lanes, and public Wi-Fi at the South and Big Oak Flat entrances.
They also recently debuted real-time wait information for three of their most popular entrances, helping visitors to better plan their route. As of the writing of this article, all entrances with information had wait times under one minute.

Played hooky at work and now here.

Worth it.

Does anyone have a direct phone number for Tuolumne Meadows Lodge? I thought it might be 209-372-8413 but haven’t been successful in reaching anyone/getting a callback.

Alternatively, is anyone looking for a night at the lodge for tomorrow or next Monday?

txs

I've looked through a lot of posts, so just trying to clarify. There is a lot of talk about approach shoes and from what I understand, if you have a solid pair of Vibram soled hiking boots (mid), they have solid grip for the cables up. How much of a difference does a pair of approach shoes really make on the journey up? Already tracking on the use of gloves.

7/21/26 630am

Me and 3 friends are hiking half dome tomorrow and were not expecting to get a permit so we did not get gardening gloves for the cables- does anyone have spares? We’re staying in curry village

Hello! We will be in Yosemite next week for four night wilderness adventure. After staying in LYV our plan is to hike to Middle Sunrise Lake via Clouds Rest.

Should we expect water sources in between? Or do we need to carry everything?

Hey!

I'll be in Yosemite October 6th-13th. I will be staying in Ahwahnee. I plan to spend the majority of my days at the park! I really want to summit Half Dome it would be such a cool bday experience since this is my first solo trip. I really hope to get lucky and win the daily lottery. Either way I'm looking forward to the trip and have been doing a lot of research regarding summiting Half Dome & the park itself. I'm super excited! :)

I have a few questions- maybe you can help me!

Best hiking shoe to summit Half Dome?

What is something you'd recommend? (activity, place, food, excursion)

What's something you would NOT recommend?(activity, place, food, excursion)

What 360 camera or device do you recommend for someone hiking solo? (I'd like to take videos & photos)

What's something you wish you had packed during your hike?

Thanks!! Be safe!

hi there - my husband, 4 year old and his parents (mid 70s) are camping in the valley this weekend. The weather report for the valley says highs of 97/98F. it took many attempts in the lottery to get the campsite. would you recommend they still go or will the heat be too intense? they are planning to camp Fri-Mon.

Mirror lake trail 730am

Departed from Stoneman Bridge at 1:30 PM on the 17th.

Water data indicates Merced River height was at 2.09 feet when we left the riverbank. Raft rentals were closed for the season at this point; this post is to document how traversable the river is with the river at a 2 feet level.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-11264500/#dataTypeId=continuous-00065-0&period=P7D&showFieldMeasurements=true

Trip took just under four hours to reach Sentinel Beach with minimal paddling; paddling was only done to direct the rafts to the deeper sides of the river and to move downstream when stagnant. There were three sections of the river where you need to “lift your butt”, really shallow portions where you’ll need to do a little work to get through. In an innertube, lifting your butt might do it, but you might also need to just stand up and walk until it’s a bit deeper. Aquasocks or some kind of water shoes are really necessary. A raft will get stuck if it’s more than 2-3 inches into the water, so you’ll need a passenger to get out and pull the raft to a deeper section.

These shallow sections only took up about fifteen minutes; five minutes each.

TLDR; if you’re willing to walk for a small portion of the river float, the Merced is easily raftable at 2 feet of water. But this is probably about as low as you want the water to go, each tenth of a foot reduction probably doubles the shallow water travel time.

Next week I will be doing 2 nights (out & back and drive to next area), one in Dewey Point area and another in Snow Creek. My plan is to not bring a tent. Never camped without a tent, and never been to Yosemite, but since I'm carrying water something has to go... Is that an ok idea and what do I need for the current temperatures? Planning on a sleeping bag and inflatable pad. Any feedback?

EDIT: THANK YOU ALL for the very helpful responses, I have decided to take a tent, too many factors I had not considered!

Drive time is going to be the issue. I've been to Yosemite a couple times now.

Work event 3 hours away that I'm flying in to attend, so why not kill a couple vacation days too? :)

Day 0, drive in, getting there late, staying at the Yosemite Bug hostel because it's cheap.

Day 1, I was thinking the Panorama Trail. Did it last year and I still think it's the best use of a day at Yosemite. Shuttle up to GP, enjoy the views, grab a snack/drinks and hit the trial. Back to the valley, dinner at Curry Village, shuttle to my car and head back to the hostel.

Day 2... that's what I've left wondering. Mid August BTW.

I've never been to Hetch Hetchy. It's a 2 hour drive from the hostel, but I have the whole day, so that's not too bad. But I read some reviews that August is horrible there, just hot and waterfalls might be dry.

That leaves me thinking Tuolumne Meadows for the day. Still a 2 hour drive but I haven't been up there in 10 years. Cooler temps! I'm thinking maybe Cathedral Lakes? Seems like a decent distance, aka not a 2 hour hike, but not a 12 hour hike. Would be cool to touch snow, but I doubt that's possible anywhere unless I really hit some peaks and don't really have the time for that.

Day 3, my bonus day? I fly home early on the 4th day, so day 3, I'm sleeping in SF. I could make the hour drive back into Yosemite and check out Mariposa Grove. I haven't seen those giants in 10 years either. Then a 4-5 hours drive to my hotel in SF, call is 6 if you factor in gas and a food stop.

We will be at these 2 lakes over this weekend.

1) What activities are best to do in the area especially we have some kids (youngest 10 yrs and teenager) in the group?

2) What would be the best hiking trail in the area to enjoy the view and explore?

Day 1: Hiked from Cathedral Lakes trailhead to Sunrise HSC for lunch. Cathedral lakes were semi crowded with teens swimming and splashing in the lake. Didnt bother fishing. Sunrise HSC was nice. We decided to hike past Sunrise HSC to lower sunrise lake, absolute beautiful decent. 10/10 trail, I want to return and spend more time with this. Sunrise -> cathedral would be nice. We didnt see any mosquitos on this section.

Day 2: Lower sunrise lake over Clouds rest, absolutely incredible view. Easy elevation change from this direction. The decent down CR toward halfdome was difficult but pretty. There is a beautiful stream called sunrise creek at the junction of JMT and CR trail thats a good pitstop before halfdome. We hid our packs and bear cans at the junction of the JMT and halfdome trail and did the half dome summit around 3 pm. There were like 10 people on top and we didnt pass anyone on the cables. We then hiked down toward LYV and saw a bear and cubs digging for grubs. We hopped in the river to wash off and spent the evening socializing around the communal bonfire. Another 10/10 day.

Day 3: Hiked up the Merced river to Merced lake to Babcock lake. We stopped and fished in pools along the way and caught plenty of trout. The trail was overgrown in the beginning thru the burn scar, but soon opened up to a beautiful granite canyon. We ate lunch at Merced HSC (closed) and then we hiked up to Babcock Lake. This climb was beautiful, along side waterfalls, was very difficult and tons of mosquitos near the lake. 9/10 day. This day should have been broken up in 2 days, we could have spent way more time alongside the Merced River.

Day 4: hiked up to booth lake past Vogelsang and out Rafferty Creek. We moved quickly due to mosquitos. Rafferty creek was a nice easy decent, views were great near Tuolumne Pass. Giant wide meadow with plentiful ponds and creek. We saw another bear with 2 cubs. 7/10 day.

Next time I would like to see Vogelsang, summit the peak, and take Lewis creek instead of Fletcher creek.

Our group is planning to go hike at Mist Trail this Thursday morning, Jul 23. Scheduled to be at Curry Village parking lot by 7 am. Since we have a 10 yrs old kid in the group, we try to hike as light as possible.

Route: shuttle stop #16 Happy Isles - Vernal Fall - Nevada Fall - back to Clark Point (since I heard the Ice Cut section is closed) - John Muir Trail - shuttle stop #16 Happy Isles

1) Is the mist will be downpouring at that time that we need to bring rain jacket and switch our shoes with water shoes? I heard the mist usually much less toward the end of summer.

2) How long is approx. round trip time for this route?

3) Is the weather really hot that we need extra jacket for the hike in the morning like that?

4) How much water do we need for each person?

5) Need suggestion here. With having a few kids (youngest 10 yrs) in the group, is it better doing this hike route OR make it short only up to Vernan Falls and come back and rent Raft at Curry Village to enjoy the scenic view from water?

Any employees or long term residents that would be interested in starting a chess club?

Anybody already have a group that plays regularly?

Let me know

Thanks!

Hey all,

Have been lurking the last year or so gathering info and whatnot. Really appreciate everything available here. Was hoping to get any feedback on current itinerary, plus any other thoughts or ideas you might have.

Some background about me. First trip to Yosemite, but getting close to 20 National Parks overall. Seen all of the Utah parks multiple times, Glacier, the Dakotas, Death Valley, and most of the mid-Atlantics to Acadia. Grew up outside Shenandoah, so used to the heat and humidity, as well as the "let's start at the bottom of the a mountain and hike to the top" kinda trail. Flying in from the East Coast for this trip. Happy to spend most of my day out in the park and on the trails. Have done a R2R day hike, Glacier's Highline, Grinnell, and Avalanche, most of the "big" Utah park hikes, Precipice, Old Rage, etc. No current Half Dome permit, but whether or not I get a last minute permit will dictate one of these days.

Wednesday - Fly into Fresno, pick up rental. Start drive to YVL with a stop in Mariposa Grove or Glacier Point (looking for feedback, but leaning Mariposa as I can add Glacier on the way out or via the 4 mile hike.) Settle in and maybe walk the Mirror Lake Trail, or rent a bike and see the sites.

Thursday - On a perfect day I'd like to be up and moving by 5:00 am or so. Assuming I don't have a Half Dome permit, I thought doing Yosemite Point in the morning would be a good start. I think I'd come back to the lodge mid day to rest/hydrate/eat and then find another evening adventure. Merced River depending on water levels? Maybe the 4-mile trail to Glacier Point?

Friday - In a perfect world I'd love to do Half Dome Thursday or Friday. So I've kinda intentionally left some room here if needed. If I don't get a permit either day I thought maybe North Dome/Indian Ridge would be a good morning hike. At some point if I don't get the permit I will loop in Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and the Mist Trail. But the Half Dome should include most of these stops, correct?

Saturday - Wanted to intentionally spend some time out of the Valley on the weekend, which I think would be the last before school, or the first school weekend. Have Clouds Rest and Polly Dome penciled in. I'd love to do some exploring in Tuolumne, so any other suggestions would be great. I also have Cathedral Lakes on my list, but I know doing two of the longer ones on the same day is probably pushing it.

Sunday - Last full day in the park. Really have this set aside to check any boxes depending on weather, permitting, schedule changes, etc. If driving wasn't a big deal I'd love to loop in maybe part of Waterwheel Falls, if not the whole thing. Also open to driving over to Hetchy Hetchy one of the earlier days and looping in another hike today.

Monday - Checking out and heading to Muir Lodge today. Totally open to doing Half Dome, again. Plan would be to leave and hit Glacier Point/Sentinel Dome on the way out of town.

Thanks again for looking. I know after a point in time these can all kinda look the same, so really appreciate it. The plan in general is spend the weekdays in the Valley and weekend on Tioga, with some room for Half Dome.

Open to any other tips and whatnot. Places to stop for food and/or groceries on the way into town. Tips on staying cool in the lodge (are there any kinds of cheap in-room cool air things to buy in Fresno before leaving town?). Will I need to worry about parking the Lodge coming in mid-day?