YOSEMITE BY SOUTH ENTRANCE
Yosemite National Park is one of the most vast, beautiful, and popular national parks in the United States, with stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and many activities to enjoy. If you’re planning to visit this amazing place, you might want to consider entering by the South Entrance, which is open year-round and accessible from Highway 41 north of Fresno. This entrance leads you to some of the best attractions and sights in the park, such as the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, and Bridalveil Fall. In this article, I’ll share with you my personal experience of visiting Yosemite by the South Entrance, and give you some tips and recommendations on how to make the most of your trip.
MARIPOSA GROVE OF SEQUOIAS
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1 hour
Distance: 2 mile loop to Grizzly Giant
Open: April – October
Stop: Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza OR
drive right to grove trailhead with
handicap placard.
The first stop on your journey is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where you can see some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. These majestic trees can grow up to 300 feet tall and live for over 3,000 years. They are also home to many animals, such as squirrels, woodpeckers, owls, and bears. To explore the grove, you can take a free shuttle bus from the parking lot to the lower grove, where you’ll find a visitor center, restrooms, and picnic tables. From there, you can choose from several hiking trails that range from easy to moderate in difficulty and length. One of the most popular trails is the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, which is about 2 miles long and takes you to the most famous tree in the grove: Grizzly Giant. This tree is estimated to be over 1,800 years old and has a massive trunk that measures 96 feet in circumference. It’s truly an amazing sight to behold!
GLACIER POINT
From the Mariposa Grove, you can also drive to Glacier Point, which offers spectacular views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. Glacier Point is one of the best places to see the sunset or sunrise in Yosemite, as the light creates a magical effect on the landscape. You can also see some of the park’s most impressive waterfalls from here, such as Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall. To get to Glacier Point, you’ll need to drive about 16 miles on Glacier Point Road, which is usually open from late May to November depending on weather conditions. There is a parking lot at the end of the road, where you’ll find a visitor center, restrooms, a gift shop, and a snack bar. From there, you can walk to the Glacier Point overlook, which is only about 0.3 miles away. You can also hike to other viewpoints along the rim of the valley, such as Sentinel Dome or Taft Point. Check out the video below with a tour of Glacier Point trail.
Video courtesy of Let’s Go Liz.
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After enjoying the views from Glacier Point, you can drive down to Yosemite Valley, which is the heart of the park and where you’ll find most of the park’s amenities and accommodations. Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley that features towering cliffs, meadows, forests, and rivers. It’s also home to some of the park’s most iconic landmarks, such as Half Dome and El Capitan. Half Dome is a granite dome that rises 4,800 feet above the valley floor and is a challenging hike for adventurous visitors. El Capitan is another granite formation that attracts rock climbers from all over the world. You can see both of these landmarks from Tunnel View, which is a scenic overlook that you’ll pass through on your way to Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point Road. It’s a great place to stop and take some pictures.
CONSIDER LODGING / STAYING THE NIGHT
Once you reach Yosemite Valley, you may want to find a place to stay for the night due to the vastness of the park. You can choose from various options depending on your budget and preference. Some of them are:
- CAMPGROUNDS: There are several campgrounds in Yosemite Valley that offer tent and RV sites with basic facilities such as restrooms, showers, fire pits, and picnic tables. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance online or by phone, as they tend to fill up quickly especially during peak season. Take a tour of one of the campgrounds, Upper Pines, in the video below:
Video courtesy of Travel SzN
- CABINS: There are also some cabins available in Yosemite Valley that offer more comfort and privacy than camping. You can find them at Curry Village or Housekeeping Camp. They have beds, electricity, heating or cooling systems, but no private bathrooms or kitchens. You’ll also need to make a reservation in advance online or by phone.
- HOTELS: If you prefer more luxury and convenience, you can stay at one of the hotels in Yosemite Valley, such as The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, or Yosemite View Lodge. They have private bathrooms, kitchens, TVs, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. They also have restaurants, bars, pools, spas, and other facilities. However, they are also more expensive and require a reservation far in advance online or by phone.
After settling in your accommodation, you can explore Yosemite Valley and its attractions. You can find visitor centers, shops, restaurants, and museums in Yosemite Village, where you can learn more about the park’s history and culture. You can also access many hiking trails that lead to more waterfalls, such as Yosemite Falls. You can also try some other activities such as biking, rafting, and stargazing,
THE FALLS
YOSEMITE FALLS
The next day continue your adventure by visiting Yosemite Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in North America and the fifth tallest in the world. It consists of three sections: Upper Yosemite Fall, Middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall. The total height of the waterfall is 2,425 feet, and it flows from November to July depending on snowmelt. You can see it from various viewpoints in the valley, such as Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Village, or Swinging Bridge. You can also hike to it, which is a rewarding but challenging experience.
LOWER YOSEMITE FALLS
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 45 minutes
Distance: 1 mile loop to Lower Yosemite
Open: Year-round
Stop: Yosemite Village
The easiest hike to Yosemite Falls is the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, which is a 1 mile loop that takes you to the base of the lower fall. You said you did this hike and took a lot of pictures. I’m sure you enjoyed the view and the sound of the water crashing down. The trail is paved and wheelchair accessible, and it takes about 30 minutes to complete. It’s a popular hike, so expect some crowds especially during peak season.
UPPER YOSEMITE FALLS
Difficulty: Difficult
Time Needed: 6-8 hrs
Distance: 7.2 miles roundtrip
Open: Year-round
Stop: Yosemite Village
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can continue to Upper Yosemite Fall, which is a strenuous hike that takes several hours. The trail is about 7.2 miles round trip and climbs 2,700 feet in elevation. It’s one of the oldest trails in Yosemite, and it offers stunning views of the valley and the waterfall along the way. You’ll also pass by Columbia Rock, which is a granite outcrop that overlooks Half Dome and Sentinel Rock. The trail ends at the top of the upper fall, where you can see the water drop over the edge and feel the spray in your face. It’s an exhilarating and rewarding experience!
BRIDALVEIL FALL
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 20 minutes
Distance: .5 mile roundtrip
Open: Year-round
Stop: Parking lot off Wawona Road
Another must-see attraction you should see as you leave Yosemite Valley is Bridalveil Fall, which is one of the most prominent waterfalls in Yosemite. It plunges 620 feet from a hanging valley into a misty pool below. You can see it from Tunnel View or from the Valley Floor Loop Trail. You can also hike to its base, which is an easy 0.5 mile round trip walk from the parking lot. You’ll feel the spray of the water and hear the roar of the fall. It’s a refreshing and exhilarating experience!
WILDCAT FALLS
The last stop on your journey is Wildcat Falls, which is a small but scenic waterfall that flows into the Merced River. You can see it from the South Entrance Road as you exit the park. You can also pull over and hike to it, which is a short and easy walk from the road. Wildcat Falls is a hidden gem that not many people know about, but it’s worth a visit if you have some time.
Yosemite River
If you exit the park to the west like I did, you’ll follow along the Yosemite River, which is a beautiful and important feature of Yosemite. The river originates from the high country of the Sierra Nevada and flows through Yosemite Valley, where it forms many waterfalls and rapids. The river also provides habitat for wildlife and recreation for visitors. You can see the river from many places in the park, such as Valley View, El Capitan Meadow, or Sentinel Beach. You can also pull over for pictures of it as you exit the park, as there are plenty of places to do so. The river is especially scenic in spring and early summer, when it’s swollen with snowmelt and reflects the colors of the sky and the mountains.
CONCLUSION
Visiting Yosemite National Park by the South Entrance is a great way to see some of the best attractions and sights in the park. You’ll get to see giant sequoias, stunning views, iconic landmarks, and beautiful waterfalls. You’ll also have plenty of options for accommodation and activities to suit your needs and preferences. I exited the park to the west into Mariposa, but you can leave whichever direction works best for you. Just make sure you have enough gas in the tank at all times because you may hit long stretches of road with no stations!
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know. I’m always happy to help you with anything else you might need.
