Yosemite National Park
Waterfalls, Deep Valleys, Grand Meadows, Giant Sequoias, Wilderness and More
Review by Gretchen Schomer Wendel
“One of the most spectacular, monumental, iconic, God-derived peaks in the park is Half Dome.”
Rainbow over Yosemite Valley (photo by Park Ranger Cindy)
It would be a crying shame not to have Yosemite as one of California’s Top 10 Parks. I think anyone who has been to this park will agree Yosemite is a place you will never forget! There are so many magnificent area’s in the expansive park. Even though I’m reviewing mostly Half Dome I want to mention Bridalveil Falls – it’s an easy hike to an unbelievable waterfall so I wanted to at least make you aware of it plus not everyone will be able to hike Half Dome due to its difficulty. But Bridalveil Falls trail is for everyone – old, young and everyone in between. The .05 mile hike is manageable for most people. Bridalveil Fall is often the first waterfall you’ll see when entering Yosemite Valley. In spring, it is abundant and overflowing; during the rest of the year, look for a constant beautiful melodic flow. A paved trail leads from the parking area to the base of this waterfall, which is frequented year round. More info on the Bridal Veil Falls trail here.
One of the most spectacular, monumental, iconic, God derived peaks in the Yosemite National Park is Half Dome. You can view it from many area’s making it accessible to millions of viewers. Since there are so many incredible area’s in the unbelievable park of Yosemite (it was hard to choose) I decided to narrow if down and review Half Dome. Half Dome viewing and the hike:
When I was in college I first came out to Yosemite from Michigan and we camped in Yosemite and hiked Half Dome. Well, I hiked about ½ of the way up Half Dome while my other friends made it to the top. It was a great experience for me even making it that far! As you can imagine coming from flat Michigan to breathtaking Yosemite was really mind boggling. Years later I brought my three kids back to the park so they could experience it’s magnificent splendor. To this day the kids remember the family trip. And they will never forget the views of Half Dome.
Half Dome is easy for anyone to view – it is an 8,800 foot landmark in Yosemite. It can be viewed in the park from Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. You can also float down the Merced River with a view of Half Dome. Since it was summer and it was hot we brought our own rafts (pumped them up with our electric pump) and floated down the river. I would suggest water shoes – we hiked to the river with rafts in hand and then floated down the river. It would be hard to leave flip flops somewhere and have to go back to get the shoes.
Hiking Half Dome is a little more complicated then viewing. It is a 14-16 mile round trip so you must be in good shape. The hike can take from 10-12 hours so it’s best to start early if you want to tackle the whole hike. There are cables along the last 400 feet of the climb to the summit and you must be very careful in bad weather because the cables can become unsafe. You must also have a permit to hike Half Dome. There is a fee for the Half Dome hiking permit. Find info on the permits here. Find the trail head for Half Dome, how much water to bring and more useful info here.
I have never made it to the top but according to friends it is a difficult hike but with Education, Preparation and Motivation (EPM) one can certainly attain the goal of making it to the top of historic Half Dome! Whether you are viewing Half Dome, walking to Bridal Veil Falls or conquering the hike to the top of Half Dome just being inside the beauty of Yosemite National Park will take your breath away and make you long to come back soon after you leave.
Driving Directions: You can drive to Yosemite Valley all year from Highways 41, 140, and 120 (from the west). The Tioga Pass entrance from Highway 120 (from the east) is typically closed from November through June. Other transportation options are here. map
Phone: 209.372.0200
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