Paul & Tara Visit the National Parks: Exploring Yosemite NP

Fabulous Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is ... to sum up in one word ... stunning.

This serene valley in central California is one of the most beautiful National Parks in the country. In May 2022, we visited Yosemite for our third time. Our prior two visits were essentially day trips, where we drove through the park and maybe did a short hike or two, if that. We knew we needed to devote more time to this special place. On this most recent visit we spent 4 nights in the nearby town of Mariposa to explore Yosemite. I finally feel that we have given this park its justice. It's an incredibly special place.

Our hike on the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls was absolutely incredible. Read more about the hike here:

https://paulnationalparks.blogspot.com/2023/02/mist-trail-yosemite-np.html

This post is dedicated to the other activities we did in Yosemite NP on this trip.

We rented bikes and cruised around the valley floor. This was very fun and a great way to explore the park. We found the process of renting bikes at the Visitors Center to be very simple and stress-free. I highly recommend exploring the park by bicycle.

looking towards Half Dome and the rising sun

saw this deer early on our ride

Yosemite Falls

Sentinel Bridge over the Merced River

Yosemite Falls

Park Chapel

Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center

this raven was chillin' at the Visitor Center looking for food to eat 😀

Dropping a total of 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. It was a pleasant stroll to the base of the lower falls.

You need to crane your neck to take in the view of the entire upper and lower falls.

Take the short hike to Mirror Lake at the east end of the Valley. This pristine lake is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled Yosemite Valley during the last Ice Age. The reflection of the towering walls of Tenaya Canyon in the still waters of the lake is absolutely spectacular.

the trail to Mirror Lake goes along the Tenaya Creek

amazing reflections of the mountains in the waters of Mirror Lake

As we hiked around Mirror Lake, we spotted this bear! Whoa, look out! 😀😲

The bear was lumbering along, minding his own business. He eventually went further down the trail. We decided to turn around and head the opposite direction than the bear. 😆

We spent some time lounging along the Merced River. The river begins high up in the Sierra Nevada. It then flows down into the valley, forming Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. It flows through the middle of Yosemite Valley, and then eventually into the San Joaquin Valley south of Stockton.

We waded into the river (the water was COLD!), hung out on the beach, and enjoyed our evening in this beautiful park.