One of the oldest and most visited National Parks in the US, Yosemite has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I haven’t been yet, mostly because its difficult to find the ideal time to visit. If you go too early in the spring/summer, the roads may still be closed at higher elevations, making significant parts of the park inaccessible. If you go too late in the summer, reservations may be required just to enter the park (an effort to address the huge crowds of people trying to visit in July and August) and one of the most dramatic and iconic features of the park, its many waterfalls, may be completely dried up.
It was my hope that an early June visit would have me in Yosemite at the best possible time. As it happened, the area experienced an extreme heat wave during our visit, but snow continued to linger at higher elevations, so some roads remained closed. However, there was still lots of water throughout the park, and the waterfalls were breathtaking.
The drive from our previous destination to our RV park just outside the Foothills Entrance to Yosemite was really beautiful, especially once we reached Hwy 49. The highway winds through the Sierra Nevada foothills, and offers stunning views of the Merced River, as it flows from the higher elevations of the Sierras through Yosemite National Park and ultimately to Lake McClure.
The Merced River flowing through the Sierra Foothills
Most visitors to Yosemite make Yosemite Valley their first stop. The Welcome Center is located here, as are other services including food, lodging and limited shopping. In addition, several of the most famous and popular destinations within the park can be viewed and/or accessed from the Valley.
One of the first attractions you come upon when entering Yosemite Valley is Bridal Veil Falls. Fortunately, there is a paved path to the base of the falls, so our dog, Fiona, was welcome to accompany us on the short hike. As you approach the falls, the wind seems to intensify, carrying some of the water into the air and creating interesting visual effects.
Below are several photos of the falls, the first taken from a distance, the next two from along the hiking path.
The next two photos were taken from much closer to the falls and at an angle, so that the impact of the wind as it blows the water sideways is clearly visible.
As the falling water hits the rocky stream at its base, it is deflected back into the air, where it is again picked up by the wind. This mist can be felt well away from the falls along the path at its base. The sun reflects off the mist at all levels of the falls, creating beautiful, apparition like shapes. I couldn’t resist capturing a few of them, as you can see in the gallery below..
After visiting Bridal Veil Falls, we wandered around a bit in Yosemite Valley. The Merced River runs though the middle of the valley and there are pull offs, picnic areas, hiking trails and various other spots where one can sit back and admire the surroundings. I took a few photos of some of the more famous sights in the area.
Photos:
Nice, nice shots emphasizing the windblown mists! How about Fiona Falls for the unnamed? LOL