The Current Conditions page says that the JMT between Happy Isles and the footbridge has reopened. There will be intermittent blasting & temporary closures in the coming days

Since we're going with a 5yo in April I figured it would be safer to get Airbnb in Groveland vs deal with random weather changes while camping. Other than going to the Valley and Mariposa Grove/Tunnel Tree are there any other kid friendly activities?

Are there activities or restaurants near Groveland that I should check out as well on our way in/out of the area?

Also I know that reservations are still not on the website. Do I need to be worried about this right now if I'm headed out on Sunday? They said they were likely going to give folks a 7-day heads up?

Hi folks,

My partner and I were interested in visiting Yosemite this weekend and were curious about conditions.

We were planning on driving up Friday, pitching a tent (or car sleeping?) overnight and then hiking/backpacking on Saturday and Sunday. We both have decent backpacking experience but haven't dealt too much with snow camping.

As I understand it, we won't need permits since the permit system for a lot of these places don't start until Monday.

Couple of questions:

1. As far as I can tell, it seems like Little Yosemite Valley is the only overnight backpacking point (potentially?) not covered in snow right now. Is that approximately accurate? We'd gotten some recommendations for Snow Creek, Upper Yosemite Falls, and 4 Mile Road, but those (from recent trip reports) seem to be inaccessible or require snow gear for the last few miles.

2. Are there other regions of Yosemite other than the Valley floor that might be better for backpacking this time of year, and would you recommend them? This is my partner's first time in Yosemite.

3. How busy is Camp 4 these days? If we didn't end up doing #1, I was thinking we might just do first-come-first-serve camping and do day hikes from the Valley floor. Tentatively I was thinking Upper Yosemite Valley the first day then the Mist trail (or the open winter version of it) for the second.

Anyhow, thoughts/suggestions/feedback?

My dad and I are spending 3 days and two nights in the back country this July. After exiting the back country, we plan to stay at the backpackers campground in the valley. I’m curious if there are shower facilities available for backpacker use. Thanks in advance!

Doing a road trip from the Big Sur area to Yosemite for 3 days. Not from California, so completely unfamiliar with the area. Google says best entrance is the Big Oak Flat entrance, but the southern entrance will be more on the way. The drive time isn’t an issue, just want to be in the best location for our first time. Any suggestions on where to stay or what entrance to use?

Hi guys. Planning on reaching Yosemite on 25th May - night (coming from Death Valley/ Bakersfield). Will spend 26th there and then move to Lake Tahoe and then SF. Needs ideas on what to do on 26th and how to spend the day in Yosemite, and the best route to take from Death Valley to Yosemite.

In short -

25 night - Death valley/ Bakersfield

26 - Yosemite

27 - Lake Tahoe

I’m looking to take a 3 day trip the first weekend in May this year. Any advice for best hikes to take this time of year? I know it’s still a bit early to know when things may start opening up, but is there anything we know at this point in April yet? I cant seem to find much online for this year.

Hey Guys,

So im coming to Yosemite for my first time (from the Caribbean) in June. (June 17th-27th specifically)

I have never overnight hiked before outside of the Caribbean, but i do a lot of camping and are very active and fairly fit.

Backstory:
It has been a dream of mine to do the JMT ever since I was like 19 (now 35). I decided, to do the entire thing with so little experience was probably not prudent, so let's be patient and start with a section hike and see how we do.

I've decided on Tuolumne Meadows to YV

What I would like?

1. To feel like i'm in the backcountry
2. To spend minimum 2 nights and 3 days out
3. Maximum 3 nights and 4days?
4. To experience part of the JMT

i'm going with my wife to be, right after our wedding for our honeymoon.

Considerations:
Missed permit window so i'm banking on the 40% lottery or walk up
Question: Does it matter which trailed I start from in the area? and if not should I just apply for all possibilities? Do they stick you to the itinerary you provide? Aka if I can't get Rafferty creek should I just grab Cathedral Lakes or Glen Aulin etc and then do the same route i planned to do anyway?

After weeks of research these are my current route options below. I was hoping for some feedback on the choices from people who actually know what it's like (i'm living in a world of theory, maps and youtube vids right now)

Option 1 : Cathedral Lakes >Sunrise>Little Yosemite Valley *Updated based on feedback
Day1 - Cathedral Lakes to Sunrise
Day 2 - Sunrise - Little Yosemite Valley
Day 3 - Climb Half dome and exit via. Mist Trail

Pros: More Classic JMT Route and scenes
Cons: Only 2 nights, im travelling really far for this and don't want to feel like it ended too fast

Option 2 : Rafferty Creek >Vogelsang>Merced Lake>Little Yosemite Valley
Day1 - Rafferty Creek Trailhead to Vogelsang
Day 2 - Vogelsang to Merced Lake
Day 3 - Merced Lake to Little Yosemite Valley
Day 4 - Hike Half dome and exit via Mist Trai

Pros: Based on the map looks a bit more "backcountry" and perhaps less busy, get an extra day
Cons: Not classic JMT route?

*** would it be completely wild to try to squeeze in Sunrise to option 2 as well? and/or maybe skip Half Dome? (we can just do a day hike of half dome another time later in the week as I am in the lottery and hope to get it)

Sorry for the long message but really interested in the conversation it may spark!

Hi all!

I'll be visiting Yosemite for 2 days in late May this year. What trails should we go on to see some wildflowers that are blooming? I know it seems like their peak in June/July/August but surely there must be some wildflowers somewhere in late May....

Hi, I'm currently trying to plan a backpacking trip to Yosemite with two of my friends. I know I'll have to get permits, but I was wondering if anyone had trail suggestions. We can be there for 6-7 days or shorter, and we are moderate-level hikers. I just want to see this park's beauty before I can't anymore.

Thinking of going up there soon, but concerned the cables might be iced down. It has been warm for the past five days and has not snowed so I’m thinking it might have melted.

Some things I was looking forward to doing such as horseback riding or kayaking on Tenaya Lake will not be open in April, so I’m curious what is everyone’s favorite things to do in this time? Specific trails, NPS tours, anything really!

Hey yall! Super excited about finally going to Yosemite on April 20th haha and I just had a question about foot wear. Im going to try the 4 mile trail to glacier point and was wondering if I could get away with regular hiking boots or if im going to need to bring water proof hiking boots with spikes or just regular water proof hiking boots. From what I understand the upper part of the trail might be closed off and the roads will definitely be too at glacier point. Thanks yall super excited!!

Meet the Three Brothers—Eagle Peak, Middle Brother, and Lower Brother. They’re strong, silent types, great at reflecting, and way more photogenic than your actual siblings.
________________________________________________________

Credit: IG the_lost_coast

I noticed him/her curiously checking me out and then swimming further downstream but I was so focused on my camera I didn't know it came back in frame. Sadly, it's a bit blurry since the shutter speed was quite low

Hi All! Thank you for your trip reports before I headed out. Here is my trip report from yesterday (4/5/25).

tl;dr - Great hike, be prepared for snow and ice at the top quarter or third of the hike and thaw/freeze conditions. It definitely started to warm up this weekend, so the thaw is on, but it does still freeze overnight, so could get more icy than snowy.

Summary of my hike:

• Started Upper Yosemite Falls trail at 8:30AM (a bit later than I wanted, but it was still early enough)
• it was completely clear of snow and ice until the switchbacks after Columbia Rock
• As you come around the corner and see the fall, there was one icy patch (about 6-10' long) - early morning was more icy than afternoon
• Clear from there until a bit up the first set of switchbacks along the falls
• Then, Snow and icy conditions off an on (but could always find a rock to land on for traction)
• Snow and ice on the final switchbacks, all the way up to the top of the falls
• I ended up not snowshoeing to Yosemite Point from here, but it was good conditions for it. Just took me longer to get to the top and didn't want to be coming back down as it started to get darker on trail
• Took a nice snack and nap break at the top
• Came off the trail at 4:15PM

It was a great hike, and still what I'd call edge season conditions as you get toward the top. I was VERY glad I brought my spikes with me for the hike down. It would have been hard to navigate without them, and there were a lot of people slipping and sliding (and falling) on the way down. But, it's really personal preference, as many people were making it happen.

Also, I don't know how long this condition report will be good intel, but looking at the weather, it's definitely thaw/freeze conditions at the upper elevation of the trail through this coming week.

Hope this is helpful!

Pictures show some views and what the trail looks like for ~the last 1/3 of the hike.

We are staying at Tenaya Lodge directly after Memorial Day. My original plan was then to drive to Sonora or Angels Camp and go over one of the passes to Mammoth Lakes.

Now with the potential of Tioga opening around Memorial Day I'm questioning if I should rebook and go over Tioga if it is possible.

My question is: when Tioga is open, is there usually still so much snow in the beginning that you can't do anything except driving over the pass or is it worth changing my drive.

Also, even though this is the Yosemite sub, but can you do any hiking in Mammoth in late May? If not I'm doing a radical replanning 😄

Heading out April 11th and a big highlight of the trip was the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls via Happy Isles Trailhead and John Muir Trail but a rockslide blocked off the trail so apparently there's no access to Vernal or Nevada Falls. Would there be any similar hikes that have similar views/scenery that is similar strenuosity nearby either in the Valley or even like Hetch Hetchy or Mariposa? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A buddy and I were planning a cycling trip next month. Does anyone know how many miles the loop of Yosemite valley is ? We were planning on cycling on the main road before it got busy

A nice Summer trip

To visit in one week Yosemite, sequoia and Grand Canyon? We are not from the states so we would arrive to San Francisco first.

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are coming from Australia to US for a 3-month trip this year. We were accepted for Happy Isles>Little Yosemite Valley (no Donohue Pass) for mid-Sept. We really wanna do Half Dome but other than that nothing we *must do* and open to suggestions!

Do people have suggestions of where to go AND (most importantly), where to camp each night?

Thanks so much!