Yosemite in October

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay area.. Do
you think it's important to book motel/hotel for that time period in
advance. I know it's off season, but wonder if there are still people
going en mass then. Has anyone experienced a rough weather October trip?

Also, what is the best entrance to the park for scenery...I'm thinking
come in from the South...I'd appreciate any opinions. Maybe stay in Fish
Camp and enter next morning.

Then I'm planning to check out the valley floor....head back out of the
park to stay a night at El Portal Then take Tioga Pass thru to Mono Lake
and spend a night there somewhere.

Does that seem to be enough time to see the park with maybe one or two
short hikes? or am I rushing it?

I plan to return the northern route over the park and back down to the
Bay area.

thanks in advance for your help
faye

In article ,
f. augustine wrote:
I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay area.. Do
you think it's important to book motel/hotel for that time period in
advance.

I thought you were asking about staying *in* Yosemite, but then I see
later in your posting that you mention spending the night in El Portal.
If it's the former, call as soon as you know your schedule. If it's the
latter, you should be fine, especially if you'll be there on a weekday.
Still, I'd call one of the motels in El Portal soon to make sure.

Coming in the Wawona entrance, spending the night at El Portal, and
then going out via the Tioga Pass Road will give you a nice variety
of scenery. You can stop off at Tunnel View on your way from Wawona
to the valley, see the Merced River canyon when you go to El Portal,
and see a high alpine meadow on your way to Mono Lake.


Have fun!
Patty

f. augustine wrote:
I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay
area.. Do you think it's important to book motel/hotel for that
time period in advance. I know it's off season, but wonder if
there are still people going en mass then. Has anyone experienced
a rough weather October trip?

Also, what is the best entrance to the park for scenery...I'm
thinking come in from the South...I'd appreciate any opinions.
Maybe stay in Fish Camp and enter next morning.

Every word that follows was posted to this Group on July 8 under the

Subject: YOSEMITE-The ONLY way to go!:


If you're entering Yosemite National Park from the West, there's
only one way to go*:

San Francisco-Yosemite Village via Central Yosemite Highway (140):
210.1 miles (338.1km) take 3:56


Yes . . .

San Francisco-Yosemite Village via Northern Yosemite Highway (120):
191.0 miles (307.4km) take 3:45

.. . . is shorter and quicker BUT, via Highway 140, it's only nine
miles and eleven minutes longer. So why take the longer route? Its
considerably greater spectacularity! By me, it's the ONLY way to go!


The other Western entrance is via Southern Yosemite Highway (41),
just fine if you're going from places South of Chowchilla or King
City (approximately). The advantage of this entrance is the Mariposa
Grove of Giant Sequoias and Glacier Point is only a 32-miles side
trip on the way to the Valley whereas, if you're not going to the
Grove, it's a much longer one.
__________________________________________________ _________________
A San Franciscan in 47.452 mile² San Francisco.
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ - http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 --- IClast at SFbay Net

*I have used each of the three above, plus the Tuolomne Pass between
May 24 and July 6, 2005.

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay area..

SNIP

Then I'm planning to check out the valley floor....head back out of the
park to stay a night at El Portal Then take Tioga Pass thru to Mono Lake
and spend a night there somewhere.

Dont bank on the Tioga Pass being open - we went over it in
mid-September one year and it had only re-opened the previous day,
having been closed for several days by early snow.


Katyjane

Thanks for all your help! I guess I'll just have to wait it out for the
weather in October....but I'm going!

faye


f. augustine wrote:

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay area..
Do you think it's important to book motel/hotel for that time period
in advance. I know it's off season, but wonder if there are still
people going en mass then. Has anyone experienced a rough weather
October trip?

Also, what is the best entrance to the park for scenery...I'm thinking
come in from the South...I'd appreciate any opinions. Maybe stay in
Fish Camp and enter next morning.

Then I'm planning to check out the valley floor....head back out of
the park to stay a night at El Portal Then take Tioga Pass thru to
Mono Lake and spend a night there somewhere.

Does that seem to be enough time to see the park with maybe one or two
short hikes? or am I rushing it?

I plan to return the northern route over the park and back down to the
Bay area.

thanks in advance for your help
faye

"katyjane" wrote in news:1123712925.592630.36620
@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Dont bank on the Tioga Pass being open - we went over it in
mid-September one year and it had only re-opened the previous day,
having been closed for several days by early snow.

Snow closures in September are very rare. When they happen, it is usually
only for 1 day during the whole month.

"f. augustine" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all your help! I guess I'll just have to wait it out for the
weather in October....but I'm going!

faye


f. augustine wrote:

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite mid October from Monterey Bay area.. Do
you think it's important to book motel/hotel for that time period in
advance. I know it's off season, but wonder if there are still people
going en mass then. Has anyone experienced a rough weather October trip?

Also, what is the best entrance to the park for scenery...I'm thinking
come in from the South...I'd appreciate any opinions. Maybe stay in Fish
Camp and enter next morning.

Then I'm planning to check out the valley floor....head back out of the
park to stay a night at El Portal Then take Tioga Pass thru to Mono Lake
and spend a night there somewhere.

Does that seem to be enough time to see the park with maybe one or two
short hikes? or am I rushing it?

I plan to return the northern route over the park and back down to the
Bay area.

thanks in advance for your help
faye



The valley is beautiful in October. The Aspens are yellow, and lots of fall
color. I would look at staying in the Valley. Saves a lot of commuting.
Plus the $20 to enter the park each entry. I would not bet the house on
Tioga being open. Early snow will close it, and it only opened a few weeks
ago this year.

In article et,
Bill McKee bmckee=at-ix.netcom.com wrote:

The valley is beautiful in October. The Aspens are yellow, and lots of fall
color. I would look at staying in the Valley. Saves a lot of commuting.
Plus the $20 to enter the park each entry.

It isn't $20 per entry. That fee is good for seven days.


Patty

"Patty Winter" wrote in message
...
In article et,
Bill McKee bmckee=at-ix.netcom.com wrote:

The valley is beautiful in October. The Aspens are yellow, and lots of
fall
color. I would look at staying in the Valley. Saves a lot of commuting.
Plus the $20 to enter the park each entry.

It isn't $20 per entry. That fee is good for seven days.


Patty


Thanks. I have the Golden Age Passport, so do not have to pay anymore.
Still nicer to stay in the park and avoid the driving.

In article . net,
Bill McKee bmckee=at-ix.netcom.com wrote:

"Patty Winter" wrote in message
...

It isn't $20 per entry. That fee is good for seven days.

Thanks. I have the Golden Age Passport, so do not have to pay anymore.

Ah, lucky you. :-) I'm still some years away from being eligible
for that. I am currently holding a one-year pass that gets me into
all NPS properties; it cost $50.

Still nicer to stay in the park and avoid the driving.

Definitely. Perhaps the OP can pick up a reservation that someone
else has cancelled. Otherwise, staying in El Portal is better than
not visiting Yosemite at all!


Patty