My wife and I recently went out to the Bay Area to visit my son. Since Yosemite National Park is only a few hours away from San Fransisco, we decided to spend a few days there, as it is one of the national parks I was most excited to visit. It did not disappoint!

We were there in mid February, so we did not have to contend with the summer crowds, but there were still quite a few people there, and all seemed to want to see “firefall.” In mid February, as the sun is setting, Horsetail Falls, which is just a wisp of a waterfall on the side of El Capitan, can glow a fiery red for a etheral display. 

There were well over a hundred people with us there to witness the phenomenon, but it never really happened for us. Friday night, we thought we would get a glimpse, but the mist rolled in, engulfing El Capitan at the last minute to block the view. We returned Saturday evening and caught a slight glow, but we were at the wrong angle to see the falls lit up. 

I really cannot express with words the beauty of this place. Yosemite is a valley, surrounded by giant faces of granite, towering overhead in all directions. Really, there are no words. It is a magical place.

We visited several other waterfalls besides Horsetail Falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Vernal Falls, though we didn’t get very close to that one. Lower Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls were short hikes to the base, less than a mile or so round trip.

The hike to Vernal Falls was a little longer and more challenging, particularly for someone that is as out of shape as I am. It’s rated as a moderate trail, being less than 2 miles with an elevation gain of 400 feet, but it felt much longer to me. The views on the way up were fantastic, however!

The hike to the base of the falls is rated strenuous at about 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. We thought about it, but after reaching the footbridge with a distant view, we decided not to make the trip. Really, I need to get back into shape! 

The park is set up as most of the national parks we have visited are. There are central villages with parking, restaurants, gift shops, etc., and most of the major trails are paved (even Vernal Falls was paved to the foot bridge). Because of the placement of Yosemite Valley amongst the towering cliffs of granite, however, the drive into the park is quite something. Because we were there if February, and you need to drive over the 6,000+ foot mountains to get there, you drive through snow covered peaks. Tire chains are required to be carried or worn at times due to the frequent storms. We only needed to carry them, but when they are required, there are hefty fines that accompany not doing so, and with good reason. Our drive consisted of a winding 2 lane road through towering pine trees to the 1,000 foot cliffs with no guard rail at times. The sights along the roadway are stunning and can be distracting for drivers. I wanted to look at all the amazing scenery, but I’m not a fan of driving off cliffs, so I chose to pull off onto the many turnouts to get a glimpse. Really, the views are stunning! 

When you enter the valley from the West, you drive along the Merced River, which apparently has a healthy trout population. I saw one fly fisherman and was a little jealous, but I was not there to fish. I wanted to spend time in nature with my family. In the summer, there are reportedly tubers that float down the river as well, making fishing more challenging. 

Once the valley opens up, you are met with a view of El Capitan, a truly majestic sight. There is a good documentary called Free Solo, about a rock climber who free climbs the 3,000 foot face of El Capitan without ropes. Great film that really shows the magnitude of this giant granite monolith. 

On Sunday, we hiked to the Mariposa Sequoia Grove in the lower corner of the park, a really beautiful hike. You are away from the dramatic cliffs of granite, and immersed in an ancient forest with very unique flora and fauna. You embark on a beautiful 2 mile trail from the parking lot and end in a grove of dozens of sequoia trees, most of which are protected by railings. There are only a few hundred of these trees in the world, which is why they need to be protected. These trees are magnificent, towering overhead like giants over seeing the smaller, yet still large, pine trees. The trees range from 250-300 year old trees, to ones over 1,000 years old. It really put into perspective the idea that we are just a small part of our planet, that life was here before us, and will be here after as well, if we don’t destroy the planet on our way out.

The day we arrived was the day that more than 2,000 members of the National Park Service were fired abruptly by the current administration and it created some uncertainty among the staff, which atmospherically affected the park’s vibe, but these rangers are well-trained, professional, and dedicated to preserving our national treasures for future generations.  Please support our national parks. If you value nature, our state and national parks, and the planet, consider donating to organizations that work to preserve and protect these treasures. There was a small, well-deserved protest at the park on Saturday asking park visitors to call their local governmental representatives and demand that our parks and those that serve them be protected. I urge you to do the same.

The pictures really don’t do the magnitude of this park justice. I feel truly blessed to have been able to bear witness to this powerful example of nature’s awesome beauty. We are but specs in time on this planet, which is a mere spec in the universal perspective of time. Earth is beautiful, and we have to be vigilant to protect her. I highly recommend a visit to Yosemite National Park. It is truly magical! I got somewhat emotional while saying goodbye to the park on Sunday. I try to make it a practice to thank the earth for its bounty, in all forms, from the resources we consume to the beauty we witness. We are a part of nature, not separate from it. We are not better than, and we need to remember that. Nature is not to be wielded for our purposes, but rather joined for mutual success. Give and take, respect, and gratitude for each other and our environment is crucial for our survival, and the survival of this planet.