The West Coast of USA is for me and for lot of people I’ve talked about it not about big cities at all. LA – give me a break, San Francisco, nice to see Golden gate, Alcatraz is a gem, but after two days is about the time to go countryside. Put your hiking boots on, pick any of numerous National or State Parks and start exploring on foot. This give you completely different perspective then the usual angle in the USA, from automobile. Don’t worry about not being fit, not used to hike, or afraid to be cold at night in a tent. The bears won’t eat you and in the heart of wilderness you will be much safer and perhaps even a lot happier then in the city jungle. What have you experienced and seen with your own eyes will pay you thousandfold every blister, sunburn or insect bite you may and will encounter.
Yosemite, or Yosemite Valley is very special, even between all California and West Coast parks.
I know a place, where silver peaks embrace a clear blue sky, where I grow tall with redwoods rooted in rock, lift branches to the sun that dries my tears, while cooling breezes stir among the pines and through my hair, and my heart beats quietly with birdsong. Tioga Pass, Lenore Horowitz
Contrary to popular believe, Yosemite was not the oldest National Park in USA, but it was probably the most important for nature preservation movement, thanks to hard and selfish work of people like John Muir. Yosemite is roughly in central part of East California and part of UNESCO World Heritage from 1984. It is about 3-4 hours drive from San Francisco and about 6 from LA.
Most of the people spend day or two there and never see anything but central Yosemite Valley. There is a good reason for that, you most probably won’t see much more scenic and various landscape packed over such relatively small area (18 km2) anywhere in the world. However this could be a big downside too. In summer months of July and August and even much worse on summer weekends, this area is that much packed that can ruin your whole experience.
There can be even several hours of traffic jams on narrow park rows to even get there! Therefore, I strongly recommend visiting Yosemite in spring (May or early June), where there are relatively fewer people and all waterfalls are at their mightiest or early Autumn of September, when you could enjoy all colors of fall.
My tip is reserve at least two full days here, and if you have more time, you won’t be bored as well. Beware, even in late May, early June and early October, the high roads as Tioga Pass or Glacier Road could be on/off closed due to snow, which means potential big detours. However, you can follow this link about up to date conditions.
I’ve been to Yosemite twice before my recent trip during our honeymoon in May of 2015. For various reasons, I’ve never had a time for proper long hike there, so we’ve decided to take just one, but one of the best trails. The Panorama Trail. It goes all the way down from Glacier Point down to Yosemite Valley. Going downhill all the time, that sounds really easy walk, you say? Nah, you will really feel it even over next days, especially your knees, I would say. However, it is totally worth it – from start it will show you magnificent views of Half Dome and all of the best
Yosemite numerous waterfalls and even whole valley from bird view. If you walk quietly and not in a big group you even could see various wildlife including birds and black bears. I had joy and with a bit of fear to encounter big Black Bear when camping here in 2010. Don’t worry, they would not (probably) eat you :-).
This is one way trail, best thing how to tackle it is book in advance hiking bus going from valley up to the Glacier Point. We did not do it and closely missed last spot there. With some luck and my charming wife hitch-hiking skills we managed to get up there on the bed of nice young fella pick-up truck, but I won’t count on such luck and book the bus in your case. Pack lot of food with you, there is no chance to get any there. Don’t worry about water though, you are perfectly safe to drink from streams. Especially in spring the weather could change rapidly in matter of minutes, so you better be prepared. We had a tiny portable gas stove and by heating pack of cans for lunch we saw much envy, so I would recommend the same for you. Warm food in your belly is big stamina and morale boost, after all. If you are about average fit and taking moderate stops to take photographs and rest, it should take you between 6-7 hours, so better start soon, well before noon.
'The mountains are calling, and I must go' John Muir