May is one of the absolutely best times to visit
Yosemite National Park. Crowds haven’t arrived yet, temperatures can reach a
warm 73°F and the
waterfalls show their strongest flow now with all the snow melted! Even more, it is also beautifully
sunny for 11 hours each day on average and it typically
rains for only 3 days in May. Especially at night, it can still be a bit chilly with
lows of 43°F and you would also not want to jump into one of the lakes or rivers with average
water temperatures of 40°F!
You will probably never be able to finish exploring the beautiful national park just by hiking and if you feel like doing something else, there are so many things to do:
fishing,
birdwatching or
cycling just to mention a few.
Best Time to Visit Yosemite Park
Yosemite National Park has something fantastic to offer throughout the year. A great time to visit might be between May and July when the rivers and lakes are filled to the top with meltwater and the waterfalls are most impressive. For walking and hiking the months between May and October are ideal as the vegetation will show its most stunning side.
In summer you might even want to go for a swim although the water in the rivers and lakes always stays relatively cold with highs hardly ever reaching 70°F. Spring and fall are particularly pleasant, never getting too hot or too busy. Winter in Yosemite National Park is great for anyone into winter sports - don’t forget the snow chains if driving!
Things to know about Yosemite Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States with around 4 million visitors each year. In July and August it can get very busy and weekends during that time especially get quite crowded with additional ‘local’ visitors from San Francisco and Los Angeles. But most of the visitors head to the area around Yosemite Valley as it’s easy to reach by car. You might find more peace during that time if you explore other areas of Yosemite.
A little bit about the park’s history: the US Senate protected the area of 1500 square miles back in 1890. In 1906 the National Park was extended to include Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove.
The Park has 4 entrances: 1 northwest, 1 west, 1 south and 1 from the east via the Tioga-Pass which is only open in summer. Whichever entrance you choose, you will have to pay different entrance fees depending on whether you are coming by car, motorcycle or by foot.
Besides some incredible nature, including North America’s tallest waterfalls, the park offers some remarkable flora and fauna. You will be able to see 37 different kinds of trees including mammut trees. Yosemite National Park is also the place to see never before seen herbs and wildflowers on the many beautiful fields. Some animals like grizzly bears and wolves have sadly been made extinct from the area but you can still see black bears, pumas, ground squirrels and many more…
Do stay alert given that there are some bears and pumas around! Bears aren’t actually that dangerous for humans. But when they are looking for food they can destroy whole tents and damage cars badly. That’s why in the national park you can only store food in special boxes. This is particularly important when camping! Encounters with pumas, aka mountain lions, on the other hand will be rare but you must follow certain rules to be safe. You should stop and slowly retreat or, in case of necessity, scream and shout but never run!
Here is a summary of the must sees of Yosemite National Park:
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The granite rock of ‘El Capitan’ is a paradise and a must see- especially for daredevil rock climbers. It’s 3,593 feet tall and the biggest single piece of granite stone on the planet! There are great classes on offer for rock climbing newbies- check out one here.
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Merced River Rafting is a great option for some less rough and slower rafting. And as you are floating along the river you’ll have some amazing views of Yosemite’s granite walls. Boats can be rented at the Half Dome Village and a shuttle will bring you back once you’ve finished your floating.
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The Tuolumne Meadows offer something for everyone - from very easy trails along the river to harder paths up to the mountain summits or high up alpine lakes. Book a day excursion or stay overnight at the campsite. Note that it’s only open during summer!
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A must see for absolutely everyone visiting Yosemite National Park is of course the Yosemite Falls. With 2,425 feet the upper, middle and lower falls add up to the highest waterfalls in North America. Whereas you can easily access the lower falls, it’s a bit more complicated to get to the upper ones. A huge amount of meltwater flows from April to June- you’d better wear some rain gear as water splashes everywhere!
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The Half Dome is an incredible formation of granite stone and is famous for its very distinct shape. You will have a great view of it from the Mirror Lake or the Washburn Point overlook. If you want to admire it from closeby it’s a difficult hike that also needs a permit.
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The Wawona Tunnel View is the most famous motif of Yosemite National Park showing the valley with the granite walls climbing up either side. You can compare your photography skills with those of Ansel Adams, who took the original and iconic photograph.
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The Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as Ahwahnee Hotel) is the iconic and classic hotel of Yosemite National Park. It opened already in 1927 and since then has been host to many royals and stars! Even if you don’t get a room or don’t want to spend the extra penny you should really see its Dining Hall. It’s an enormous hall with timbered walls up to its 34 foot high ceilings. Richly decorated with iron chandeliers and heavy draperies around the huge windows, it gives you a sense of splendour in the middle of the beautiful surrounding nature. They also have very special Christmas Dinners!
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From Glacier Point you will get the most memorable view of the Yosemite Valley and High Sierra crest. The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset as the Half Dome and the other granite stones turn pink!
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