Trails
Most people give Mariposa Grove about 45 minutes. They ride the shuttle up, walk to the Grizzly Giant, take a photo next to the California Tunnel Tree, and ride the shuttle back down. And honestly? I get it. It's an hour from Yosemite Valley, the parking lot is
Planning
You can absolutely do Yosemite on your own. Millions of people do it every year. They drive into the Valley, pull into a crowded parking lot, walk to a viewpoint, take a photo, and drive to the next one. Some go further. They research trails, apply for permits, buy gear,
Hiking
Every time someone tells me they have one day in Yosemite and asks which hike to do, I give the same answer. Every single time. No hesitation, no caveats, no "well it depends." The Mist Trail. That's the one. If you only have the time or
Hiking
I've hiked over a thousand miles in Yosemite. I've stood at Glacier Point at sunset, watched alpenglow crawl across Half Dome from Olmsted Point, and felt the thunder of Nevada Fall from the Mist Trail in May. I've seen this place in every season,
Permits
Standing on the summit of Half Dome is one of the most iconic experiences in Yosemite National Park. But before you can go up the cables and step onto that famous granite summit, there’s one hurdle most hikers underestimate: You have to get a permit first. Every year tens
Backpacking
Staring at Recreation.gov while Yosemite wilderness permits vanish in the literal blink of an eye can make you wonder if sleeping in the backcountry is some kind of myth. You refresh the page. You click the date. Everything is gone. How can that be!? The Yosemite permit system is
News
You Don’t Just Visit Yosemite. You Let It Change You. There is a moment that happens to almost everyone who visits Yosemite. You step out of the car, look up at the towering granite walls of El Capitan or the roaring mist of Yosemite Falls, and something shifts. The