Yosemite National Park

Granite beasts & giant sequoias.

*Visited in September 2020

What are the spots I need to hit? A quick note before diving in: I spent my time in Yosemite in the month of September when California was experiencing some gnarly wildfires and the Park was covered in smoke. Consider which time of year you visit as we were in the thick of wildfire season and it altered how we were able to spend our time! With that being said: Explore Yosemite Falls (Lower Falls), El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and Glacier Point.

Should I stay in the Park? Our road trip through California had us on a schedule so our accommodations were an AirBnB about 45 minutes outside of Yosemite in Mammoth Lakes. The upside of coming from Mammoth Lakes through Tioga Pass was that we got to drive through the entirety of the Park before hitting Yosemite Valley and all of the hot spots. If you decide to stay within the Park, here are all of the lodging and camping options along with specifications on reservations.

What should I bring? A go-with-the-flow attitude. Kidding, but not really. The smoke of wildfires thickened as we got to Yosemite and we weren’t able to hike certain trails and view famous vistas because of it. A part of traveling is constantly adjusting your expectations. Make the most of your time! And make a plan to come back if you weren’t able to do all that you wanted to do. In a more physical sense, water always! Even though I didn’t take on any extreme hikes, my Columbia hiking boots really protected my feet and were super comfortable while walking on different terrains. Even though summer wasn’t over, it was fairly chilly so breathable, long sleeved activewear really helped. My National Park Adventure Guide was also a great companion!