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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back.
I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am trying to get my research in place as soon as possible. The first issue I am wondering about is what is a good time to go. This time I went in September on a Monday, and I really did NOT find it overly crowded. The waterfalls were a bit anemic but I had expected that. If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time to try to do this area? Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? Will there still be wildflowers in the meadows? Will the crowds be ridiculous? I will arrange the trip so we are in the park during the week again, not the weekend but the crowd warnings scare me (though they were not nearly as bad as some people said on my day trip.) Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good), there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close enough". If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year. The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region, but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year. What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies? I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Thanks all! peace, -*- charles |
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
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#3
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
In article ,
Charles Kozierok wrote: After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back. I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am trying to get my research in place as soon as possible. Good idea! That way you can make hotel reservations ASAP. If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time to try to do this area? Yes. Although as others have pointed out, if you can get even a bit away from the most commonly used paths and trails, the crowds won't be too bad. Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? If not dry, then at least minimal. But of course, Vernal and Nevada Falls run all year. Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good), there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close enough". Any chance you could go in the spring? You wouldn't be able to visit Tuolumne Meadows or Glacier Point, but the falls will be great. Patty |
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
Go Fig wrote in news:gofig-03850E.19100628092003
@news.comcast.giganews.com: If not dry, then at least minimal. But of course, Vernal and Nevada Falls run all year. It is hard to say for sure, but the last week of July the falls should be better minimal. Nevada and Vernal aren't bad in late summer. Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil are pretty much done for the season, though. Most tourists ignore Nevada and Vernal because they aren't easily visible from a car window. |
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
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#7
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
My $0.02...
Best for the waterfalls is early/mid June. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually open Memorial Day weekend. But if it's been a wet winter, expect a delay of a week or two. Late July/early August sees more or less diminished flow of Yosemite Falls. And no Ribbon Falls. The dogwoods bloom around early/mid April...by early May they usually are going downhill. But chances are Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road will still be closed. Gas...if coming via hwy 120 (as you did) fill up at Oakdale and top off in Groveland. If using hwy 140, fill up at Merced and top off in Mariposa. San Jose is closer timewise if you take the 140/59/152/101 route. Consider staying either at Camp Curry or Yosemite Lodge. Dunno what the prices are these days, but accomodations are fewer since the flood a number of years ago destroyed the cabins at the lodge. These cabins have never been replaced. A wonderful way to spend a day is to hike from Glacier Point down to Happy Isles via Panoramic Trail, Nevada Falls, Emerald Pool, Vernal Falls, and the Mist Trail. Dally at Franklin Rock downstream from Vernal Falls (and a hundred yards or so upstream from the bridge where most folks coming up from Happy Isles turn around) for a classic view of Vernal Falls. The only problem is getting back to your car. There used to be a bus from the valley to Glacier Point...this would be one solution. Otherwise you need two cars or hitch. Another day trip worth mentioning is the hike from Tuoloumne Meadows to Lower Cathedral Lake, Upper Cathedral Lake, and Columbia Finger/Peak. Be advised that the best fog free time of the year in San Francisco is from early October until the storms appear in November. This period, as they say, is San Francisco's summer. "Charles Kozierok" wrote in message ... After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back. I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am trying to get my research in place as soon as possible. The first issue I am wondering about is what is a good time to go. This time I went in September on a Monday, and I really did NOT find it overly crowded. The waterfalls were a bit anemic but I had expected that. If we do this next year, we most likely must do it either the last week of July or first week of August. Is this going to be a really bad time to try to do this area? Will the waterfalls be mostly dry? Will there still be wildflowers in the meadows? Will the crowds be ridiculous? I will arrange the trip so we are in the park during the week again, not the weekend but the crowd warnings scare me (though they were not nearly as bad as some people said on my day trip.) Ideally, I would like to go when the weather is predictable (and good), there is still some snow in the mountains but not enough to close Tioga Pass, and the waterfalls and flowers are looking good. I realize this is likely well before the end of July but wondering if I might be "close enough". If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year. The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region, but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year. What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies? I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Thanks all! peace, -*- charles |
#8
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
In article ,
wrote: On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 01:43:47 GMT, (Patty Winter) wrote: In article , Charles Kozierok wrote: After just doing an insane 7-hour visit to Yosemite I *need* to go back. I want to try to plan a trip there for next year and do it right. I am trying to get my research in place as soon as possible. Good idea! That way you can make hotel reservations ASAP. What are you, Patty? A local chamber of commerce person? Huh? No, I'm someone who's familiar with trying to get hotel rooms in Yosemite. Like a few weeks ago when I called to make a reservation for a certain weekend next March and couldn't get one. Anyone who's familiar with lodging in Yosemite will recommend that one book ahead as far as possible. (I believe YCS accepts reservations up to one year in advance, but I'm not positive.) If you don't think that's a good suggestion, you're free to tell the original poster that he wait, but you might want to justify your reasoning. BTW, I'm also well aware that it's often possible to get cancellations in the last few weeks before one's desired arrival date, but that can be nervewracking if you're coming from far away and are depending on getting a room. It isn't an approach I'd recommend to someone planning a big trip around a Yosemite visit. Patty |
#10
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Good time of year for Yosemite / good park for late July or early August?
"Charles Kozierok" wrote in message ... [snip] If late July is not a good time for Yosemite, maybe we will do a different park or park region and do Yosemite some other year. The other area I was considering was the AZ/UT park region, but it seems like a bit of a hot place to go that time of year. What's a good park to do that time of year? Note that we did go to Yellowstone this past summer. Maybe the Canadian Rockies? Mid to late June is the best time to do the valley; late July is the perfect time to do the high sierras. Whatever your plans are, they should include avoiding the valley Friday - Sunday. Getting started early is a very good way to avoid the crowds. You're right late July is not the time to do AZ/UT. The best time to do those places is spring or fall. Basically, late July is a great time to do places at higher altitudes and/or more northern climes like Glacier National Park or the Rockies. |
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