Yosemite National Park, California
Our last official stop on this road trip!
We arrived at Camp 4 and registered our site with the ranger at the kiosk. Usually, a site is grouped with 6 people. So for instance, if you won the camp 4 lottery, 5 people would join you at the site that is assigned to you. Due to covid, we were not only able to choose our own site, but we also were the only site dwellers for our stay. Also, once you have won the lottery, you or your group may stay up to 7 days maximum during the summer months. (We definitely chose to extend!) We set up camp and explored the park! Camp 4 has been renovated to be on the right side of the Camp 4 parking lot, your guidebooks will direct you to the old Camp 4 which is currently undergoing construction. Click here for more information on Camp 4 and the lottery system.
bouldering at Camp 4 - the Midnight Lightning
For this post, I thought it would be easier to make a list of things we did in Yosemite National Park and add some pictures to follow what we did because we were here for over a week and the hikes are more easily to follow on the Hiking Project website (click on the hyperlinks!)
1. Hiked to the Lower Yosemite Falls. Due to the season, no water was flowing… a super easy hike and you can also bike on the trail.
2. Hiked up to Eagle Peak! Starting at the trailhead, which is right out of Camp 4, you go through a continuous steep incline for about half the route. Ended with a total length of 12 miles with 4,000 feet of gain, we were greeted with insane views of half dome and the beautiful valley we were staying in. (Link to Eagle Peak)
the view from Eagle Peak
3. Biked the Valley Loop Trail (Link to Valley Loop Trail), explored Curry Village
4. Biked to Curry Village and hiked Vernal and Nevada falls loop trail. This trail was 7 miles long with 2,000 feet of elevation gain! Beautiful scenery all the way up and down. A really fun hike to do! The first half of the trail to Vernal Falls was crowded. The waterfalls were still flowing, but nothing like early summer when all the snow is melting. (Link to Vernal and Nevada Falls)
the top of Nevada Falls
Looking down on Vernal Falls! (are you able to spot someone?)
Nevada Falls
5. Bouldered around Yosemite Valley! Got some real good climbing in the last few days we stayed here!
***We bought a crash pad last minute in an REI in Fresno, CA. Fresno was only 2 hours away from Yosemite Valley so we decided to take a day trip and explore this city as well as go to Trader Joe’s to get more groceries (due to staying in Yosemite longer than expected).
our new crash pad!
We enjoyed every minute of camping in the Yosemite Valley and exploring this national park. This was our last stay before going back home to Georgia to prepare for our next trip! Keep a lookout for a post in the next few days for our packing list for our next trip! (and the destination!)