Ramled Loc: Victoria, British Columbia

We are driving from Victoria, BC. to Arizona at the end of October and I am wondering if this is a good time of the year to visit Yosemite. We travel down the I5 and have done quite a bit of photography along the way also a fair bit along the 101, but have yet to visit Yosemite National Park.

Robeng Loc: California

Hi,

If you never been to Yosemite, then I would recommend visiting there. To me it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. Right now the colors are changing to Fall colors. The waterfalls are flowing well due to the large amount of rain we had this year. Depending on how much time you have you should also consider visiting Mono Lake which is outside the Yosemite park on Highway 395.

Feel free to visit my website and checkout my Yosemite gallery.

Rob

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I agree with Rob. The crowds should be large, but since school is back in session, they should be manageable. Yosemite is a "don't miss" visit.

cemlaserman

Agree 100% if you have never been there it is a must stop and see. I was just there last weekend and the crowds were horrible when you sit in traffic in a national park there is something wrong but I would rather sit in traffic in Yosemite then in traffic any where else in the country.

You probably will not get to travel up to Tuolumne Meadows or Glacier Point because I just read that 120 / 41 is closed in both directions because of snow so you will only be able to visit the Valley however it is still worth the trip.

You can enter on 120 however only to the valley or you can take 140 into the valley.

Enjoy your visit to Yosemite

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Try and hit Yolo Bypass - some very interesting birds if you have a long lens.

Yosemite is interesting from mid-October to July. Snow can happen at any point in time and close Tioga pass, Glacier Point, etc. Read the story about the Donner Party.

Waterfalls are at their driest in late fall. Hordes of leaf peepers will make it a drag. The Dogwoods and Maples are set off by the evergreen forest, absolutely gorgeous! But the real show is at June Lake, Mammoth, and Mineral King Valley. Watch out for the marmots, which will render a vehicle undriveable after they get done chewing on car wiring and hoses. Great hiking if you are doing that. If you are not hiking, then stick to the eastern Sierra for the best fall scenery.

I have been to Yosemite in December and March, with no snow anywhere to be seen, but this past spring Tioga was closed until June because of 40 ft of snowpack. Have a plan B in case you get bad weather.

cemlaserman

Just did the eastern sierra loop trip unfortunately I was about a week early not everything had turned yet but it was still a wonderful long road trip up 395 over 120 and back down I5 in a weekend!!! (starting in so cal)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

👌👌 The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Refuge is a hidden gem!

cemlaserman

Here are a couple of photos of the tourist spots (everybody takes these shots) I hope this entices you to visit the park

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Just came back from Yosemite .I is a must see.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Tioga Road is only temporarily closed, not closed for the season. It's the second closure in as many weeks (opened after two days the first time).

I was up my fourth time this year just a few days ago. Try to avoid a weekend visit. The crowds aren't nearly as bad on weekdays during the fall. Tioga Road might be perfect for you because I think it's a must-see (for spots such as Tuolumne Meadows and many more along the way, including Olmsted Point for a different view of Half Dome) and because Tioga exits onto US 395 near Mono Lake - also very picturesque - where you can continue east on CA 120 (Tioga Road) through Benton to US 6 toward Tonopah to continue your trip to Arizona via either US 95 or US 6 to pick up US 93. Just be sure to check road conditions for Tioga Road before committing.

Yosemite, by the way, is always beautiful. The falls aren't roaring like they do in the spring, but they are flowing -- and the park is a must-see if you have the chance.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

watch out for falling rocks

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Here are the latest warnings & info re: water falls, smoke and "Fall colours for the park:


Current Conditions
ALERTS
Park Closure

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is closed until November 2017
The Mariposa Grove is closed for a restoration project.
more
Caution

Expect smoky conditions in Yosemite
Expect poor air quality and limited visibility due to fires in Yosemite.
more
Information

Hantavirus pulmonary disease and plague
Wild animals can transmit numerous diseases. Avoid sleeping in rodent-infested areas or near animal burrows. If you see evidence of rodent activity in your room or other facility, contact staff (don't clean it up yourself). Keep food from wildlife.

Fire & Smoke: Hazy or smoky conditions may occur during fall. This may be due to fires in the region or in the park. Lightning-caused fire occurs naturally in the Sierra Nevada. In some areas, the park may have prescribed fires to mimic natural fires to promote forest health and reduce the risk of larger fires. Additionally, accidental and arson fires can also occur, but firefighters typically attempt to suppress these fires immediately.
Rivers & Waterfalls: Water levels tend to be very low, with waterfalls (including Yosemite Falls) containing little or no water. Some waterfalls, including Vernal, Nevada, and Bridalveil, run all year; however, their flow slows to a trickle by fall.

Fall colors: Yosemite is not known for having spectacular fall colors because most of the trees are evergreen. Still, big-leaf maples, black oaks, Pacific dogwoods, and other deciduous trees tend to be showy around mid-October.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Mariposa Grove is indeed closed until November, but Merced Grove is open if you want to see some giant sequoias. Merced isn't as good, and you have to hike a mile round-trip, but it's very near the valley (indeed, it's on CA 120 which becomes Tioga Road), while Mariposa grove is more than an hour out.

Hantavirus is extremely rare in humans. If you really want to get it, spend the entire summer in Yosemite (especially around Curry Village) playing with fresh rodent urine and you might catch it; otherwise, it's not an issue (less than one in tens of millions chance of contracting it in Yosemite).

Smoke is gone and is no longer an issue as it was in the summer. A few days ago there was a small prescribed burn adjacent to Glacier Point Road that affected the immediate area only, and there could be another somewhere.

Fall color is not widespread, but there is plenty of color (brown) from pines that succumbed to years of drought and beetle infestations.

Avoid weekends, check the forecast, and enjoy. If you're lucky, you'll get there under a partly cloudy sky that makes for good photos even mid-day.

Ramled Loc: Victoria, British Columbia

Thank you to everyone for your input. I will make a point of going there and I am sure I will enjoy the photography.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Nice trip. The Oregon Coast is quite the Kodak moment. I suppose you have already stopped at Crater Lake on one of your trips. It is well worth the stop. If you haven't stopped at the RedWoods Park in Northern California, do stop there. Trees there are over a 1000 yrs old and over 250ft tall. I also liked Lasen Park in California. It is a volcano that blew up in the early 1900s. Happy Shooting