For people pretty familiar with the area, would you say June or August is a better time to visit? We would skip Yosemite if we went in June, because I don’t think they have availability.
I called the place we are staying, and it would be well over $2K if we booked through them, so we are getting a pretty good deal.
Early June is probably less busy as some schools are still in session, and the weather should be milder.
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Definitely, far less chance of fires as well. Could be chilly, especially at night.
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I went to Yosemite in early June 2023 and the crowds weren’t bad at all.
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Do you mean you love Yosemite Valley Lodge? (That’s the place we would stay). Thanks
Yes Yosemite Valley Lodge.
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Is that the one near the Ahwanee?
Yes the Yosemite Valley Lodge is in the valley with a view of Yosemite Falls. It is maybe 2 miles (or a couple shuttle stops) from the Ahwahnee Hotel.
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I would go in August if you want to swim in the lake. In June the lake is pretty cold, even if daytime highs are pleasant. Bug season is mid June to mid July in a typical year (lasting longer if a wet winter, earlier and shorter if dry).
OP here - it’s done. We’ve booked Tahoe for Aug 9-16, and then Yosemite (Yosemite Valley Lodge) for the 16-20th.
I have until tomorrow to change my mind, and way longer to change my mind about Yosemite.
Thanks for the input everyone.
I will have more questions as it gets closer.
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Favorite (longish) day hikes in Yosemite:
You pretty much have to do the hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls, even though it’s super crowded. Go up the Mist trail and continue up on the left side of Nevada Falls then come back via the JMT. Start early to avoid the heat and the worst of the crowds. You can enter the Half Dome lottery but it’s a 1 in 5 chance and a really tough day hike (start before dawn).
I love North Dome as it’s much quieter and has some of the best views of the Valley and Half Dome. But you have to hike back up to the road at the end.
And Clouds Rest is spectacular but scary if you don’t like a 3ft wide path next to a 5000ft drop.
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Shorter beautiful day hikes in Yosemite:
Sentinel Dome (from the Glacier Point road). Easy and spectacular view even though Ansel Adams’ famous tree (pictured below) has died.
Lembert Dome (Tuolumne Meadows). Only an hour round trip but actually a pretty sketchy climb to the top as the rock has worn quite smooth at the crux.
Cathedral Lakes (from Tuolumne Meadows). Longish climb but a beautiful location. The lake (most people go to the upper one) is warm enough to swim in.
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OP again
We will be staying in SOUTH Lake Tahoe first, and then going to Yosemite Valley. We will likely spend much of the final day we have in Yosemite in the park, and will then rent a cheaper place near whatever airport we decide to fly in and out of.
Any suggestions for best airport? It seems like overall travel time would work out best with Reno airport.
I guess I also need to figure out if we should spend the days currently allotted IN Yosemite, or if we should consider other parks nearby.
We are likely to get to SF again in the next couple of years, so we don’t need to head to any parks closer to there.
Opinions welcome.
Thanks
Looks like you have 3 full days in Yosemite (17-19). I think it would be challenging to get to another park in that timeframe. IMHO, there is enough to do in the Park that you will fill that time up easily, assuming you enjoy the out of doors.
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There’s a lot to do in Yosemite if you have a car. You’ll want a day in the Valley, then Tuolumne Meadows and the Tioga Road will easily consume another full day, and going to Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove is another full day. Most people don’t bother with Hetch Hetchy, but that’s also nice to visit for a couple of hours hike if you leave the park via Hwy 120 west (the route to SF and Sacramento).
Trying to go to Kings Canyon and Sequoia would be a very long day, without any advantages over Yosemite (beyond a lack of crowds), since you can visit the sequoias at Mariposa Grove.
For South Lake Tahoe, the drive from Reno airport is about 60 mins less than from Sacramento (1hr10 vs 2hr10). It is a long way back from the Valley to Reno airport (4.5-5hrs vs 3.5hrs to Sacramento), but if you go over the Tioga Road and the flight isn’t until the next day then you could spend the day visiting Mono Lake, Bodie etc. if you didn’t see it on the drive down from Tahoe.
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We are going to South Lake Tahoe and flying into Reno.
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