The Ultimate Springtime Yosemite Valley Adventure

This Spring I finally checked off a huge bucket list trip- Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is one of those places that needs to be experienced in person — but i’ll do my absolute best to use my words to describe the full magnitude of its’ beauty! Just make sure that you find some time to go see it for yourself one day!

Upper and Lower Yosemite falls seen from the valley floor

The time of year you visit Yosemite matters

Yosemite is stunning throughout the year, and there is a unique beauty that blankets the park throughout every season. But today, I’m here to convince you that the springtime is the best possible time of year to explore the park. Here’s why: the waterfalls, the weather, and the wide open space. The warm season fluctuates every year, but typically, May-June are the best months to see powerful waterfalls since the snowpack from winter is melting and cascading off the towering rock formations of the valley. The booming water gushes down Yosemite’s monumental cliffs and the cooling spray that these falls emit make for some of the best hiking you’ll find in any park! Plus, the warm temperatures give you a great reason to take a cold plunge into the refreshing icy water of the Merced river that flows through the valley. During the month of May, the park is generally uncrowded and open, with a lot more space to relax and take beautiful photos! This is what makes the Springtime the best time to see this spectacular park.

Curry Village where you’ll find food options, a general store, and all of the camping supplies you’ll ever need!

Getting Around the Valley

Yosemite Valley is essentially one big loop that runs through the park with amazing trails throughout. Parking in the valley is limited, and during the peak summer months, you’ll have a difficult time navigating through the crowds. But don’t worry— I have the best solution! All you need to do is bring a bike or rent a bike from Curry Village or Yosemite Village! Yosemite has 12 miles of winding, paved biking paths that will take you around the entire valley floor and bring you directly to some of the best viewpoints and trailheads. This means that you can spend your entire day relaxing and enjoying the fresh air and scenery rather than sitting in traffic waiting for parking spaces to open. Plus, it’s a carbon free option that the environment with appreciate! There’s really no better feeling than gliding through pine-scented forests surrounded by waterfalls, sunshine, and the sounds of rushing water.

If you’re not into biking, that’s alright! Yosemite Valley has a free shuttle that runs along the loop of the park and stops at every major trailhead or destination. There are parking lots at Yosemite Village and Curry Village so that if you do drive into the valley, you can leave your car there for the day and hop on the shuttle! During the springtime the shuttle was not crowded at all, but during peak summer months of July and August there can be crowding and wait times for this service, so plan accordingly!

Essential Trails in the Yosemite Valley

Yosemite is a big park, and it has a lot to offer for all levels of adventurers at many different elevations! Today, we are going to focus on the three most essential, breathtaking trails within the Valley.

The most accessible trail that every Yosemite visitor must explore is the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail! You can find this trailhead right next to the Yosemite Village visitor center where you will get the most picturesque view of the cascading Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls in perfect alignment with each other. This trail is relatively flat and you’ll only need to trek about a quarter of a mile to reach this 300 plus foot waterfall! Once you reach the base of the falls, you’ll be met with a roaring spray of pure, fresh, mountain water from the waterfalls landing point on the rocks below. Something about being sprayed by a towering and majestic waterfall just makes you feel so alive!!

If you’re looking for a unique photo op, head to Mirror Lake Trail! If you start from the trailhead on foot, this will be about a 2.4 mile hike. If you’re riding a bike, you’ll be able to pass the trailhead to continue down the road to park at the bike rack about half a mile from the lake! On the trail to the lake itself, you will come across a sandy beach that gives you access to the most refreshing, sparkling river that flows through massive walls of rock and stone! I highly recommend taking a moment to cool off by taking a cold plunge into this melted ice water. The current flows pretty strong here so use caution and stay near the sandy shoreline. A little further down the trail is where you’ll find Mirror Lake, boasting beautiful reflections of the surrounding cliffs and trees! This trail has slight elevation gain, but overall is still fairly accessible for most visitors.

Something important to note is that by the end of summer, Mirror Lake typically dries up for the season until the next snowmelt. Just another reason to visit Yosemite in the Springtime!

Last but not least: Mist Trail! This trail begins near Camp Curry and will take you alllll the way up to the top of Vernal Falls— and even Nevada Falls if you are a very seasoned hiker. Personally, I am not, which is why I was very happy to take the 2.4 mile trail to the top of Vernal Falls where I witnessed huge rainbows and thousands of gallons of water plummeting off the cliff edge! The first stretch of the Mist Trail is a steep climb on a mostly paved path that leads to the Vernal Falls Footbridge. Once you reach the footbridge, you’ve made it to the fun part! This section of the trail is composed of about 600 slippery rock steps that are gushing and overflowing with water. This trail definitely requires good hiking shoes since there is no railing and the water makes the steps slick. Along with proper shoes, a raincoat is needed for this hike— unless you are into getting soaked by giant waterfalls which is so understandable! If you do get soaked, you can lay out on the rocks at the top of Vernal falls to dry off while having a snack! Some people continue after this point to reach the top of Nevada falls or to continue on the Mist Trail Loop. The hike to Vernal Falls is pretty steep itself and I would only recommend it to people in decent physical shape due to the amount of elevation gain! This trail is a must see when visiting Yosemite National Park! There’s nothing like it in the world!

Camping in the Valley

To make the most out of your Yosemite trip, camping in the valley is essential! You’ll have direct access to some of the best trails and get the complete experience being fully immersed in the calming serentiy of the park. Plus, from almost any of the park entrances, you’ll drive about an hour to reach the valley, so staying right in there will truly make your experience magical and stress free.

So here’s the deal: It can be hard to reserve a camping spot in Yosemite Valley. But I know you can do it! Make sure to book about 6 months before your trip, as reservations in the valley go quickly. If not, you can always count on cancellations to be your way into these amazing campgrounds. People cancel all the time, so make sure to check recreation.gov as often as you can to snag a campsite. You can even set cancellation alerts!

I stayed at Upper Pines, which is nestled in the valley right next to Curry Village and some of the best trailheads. Every single spot in this campsite is amazing, and you’ll find yourself enjoying the silence of the natural world as you decompress from an awesome day of hiking and living your best life! There is also Lower Pines, right across the street and equally beautiful as it sits along the Merced River. Camp 4 is another option for campers within the park, but it is currently on a lottery system so your luck is much better tried at one of the pines campsites! There’s nothing like staying in the valley, and I would recommend these sites to anyone who loves a good campfire and waking up to the sunrise on the valley walls.

P.S. The only available showers for campers are in Curry Village. If you don’t shower on your camping trips, I don’t judge. But if you do, make sure to go to the showers during mid-day when people are out hiking since space is limited in the shower house!

Sunset Magic

For the best sunsets in the valley, Stoneman Meadow is the place to be! You’ll get amazing views of Half Dome as the setting sun lights up the rock with the most amazing orange, glowing hues. The mountains, trees, wildlife, and quiet nature of this spot will make for one of the most memorable sunsets of your life. There is even a boardwalk that crosses the meadow and allows you to take some panoramic photos of the scenery while the cool air of dusk settles in and surrounds you. You might even see some wildlife grazing in the meadow!

Another great sunset spot is Glacier Point, which only becomes accessible around mid-May due to icy road conditions. Here, you will get a panoramic view of the entire valley if you are lucky enough to make it up there for sunset! There truly isn’t a bad viewpoint in this entire valley, so pick a place and enjoy the magic of Yosemite.

Thank you so much for taking the time to experience my Yosemite Valley Springtime travel guide! I hope that this helps you plan the most magical trip ever that makes you feel like you’re a kid at summer camp again! Please always show appreciation for the natural world by packing in and packing out, never leaving anything behind in these parks that we are so lucky to have for our enjoyment!

Happy camping!

Cleo