Got our Yosemite campsites - suggestions welcome!

If you like to hike, here are a few recommendations:

Yosemite Blog Entry

It's been a dry winter, so the falls in September might be less than impressive -- but if Vernal Falls is still running well, try to get near the base in the late afternoon -- we were there in March, which has a sun angle similar to the one in September, and there was quite a good rainbow:

Our "base" ( home) is 30 miles from the main entrance to Yosemite.
I am a Park Steward in the park.

1) Drive down to the Valley Floor, go into The Ahwahnee Hotel have an adult beverage or luncheon on the patio.

2) Take the Park Bus, not the paid one, and it will take you around the entire park. You can then make your decision of what locations you wish to see.

3) The Wawona Hotel, is across from the golf course, set on their patio
and watch the deer walk right by you.

Check out this website about Yosemite. The people on the forum are really good about suggesting hikes and routes.

The Tioga Rd is NOT to be missed! And by all means, eat at the Whoa Neli Deli, if you like to get ripped off. Frankly, I can't recommend a restaurant in Lee Vining, but Nicely's is decent. I've never eaten at Bodie Mike's, but I hear it is good. (it's never been open when I am there) While in Lee Vining take 30 mins to visit the Mono Lake Committee's visitor center in town and then another half hour to visit the one just north of town. They have a decent movie too.

Be sure to do the Mist Trail hike in the valley. But in September, there won't be any mist on the trail. But it is still a fun hike. I suspect also this year, Yosemite Falls will be dry by then too. It's been a low snow year again.

I highly agree with rv2go and fireman 93514, go visit Lee Vining and Mono Lake. If you have time go up 395 and visit the Ghost Town of Bodie, It's about 30 miles North. Have a great Trip!

Bob in Calif.

If you ride to Lee vining have lunch at the whoa Nellie deli inside the Mobil station at the junction of 120 and 395.

When you enter Yosemite from highway 41, you can turn left towards the valley, and go where everybody else is headed, or turn right, to the end of the road in about 2 miles, then take a mile long hike to the biggest tree you will ever see. It is 33' in diameter. That makes it about 100' around the parameter of the tree. The lowest branch at 105' in the air is larger at the tree trunk (in diameter) than any tree east of the Mississippi. Think of a branch that is a couple feet in diameter, going sideways out from the tree trunk!

And there is still a living walk through tree in the same grove, though the drive through tree fell over in the 60's.

Fred.

We just got back from Yosemite and enjoyed rafting down the Merced river from Curry Village to one of the picnic areas.

There is a nice road that leads to a trail head at Wawona, take the road that passes by the library until it ends. about two miles. A real nice waterfall, and readily accessible.

After doing all the sites in the Valley, Glacier Point,etc., I would strongly suggest you ride the Tioga Road (120)all the way to Lee Vining, have lunch and ride back. Then if time permits on another day, ride over to Hetch Hetchy.