scoobydoo15

We are travelling to Yosemite from SF at the end of August for 2 nights (23rd) and I would appreciate some advise on the followingbr /> 1. What is the weather like?
2. Will the waterfalls be running?
3. Will it be really crowded?
4. Wheres the best place to stay outside the park so that we can then travel on to Monterey for 2 nights?

Thanks

J_Correa

Yosemite is probably going to be quite crowded since it is the summer high season. Most of the waterfalls will probably be running, but they wont be as spectacular as in the spring.

For lodging outside the park, a lot of people like the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal because it is pretty convinient to the valley. Yosemite West has houses and condos for rent - it is actually outside the park, but right next to the park border. South of Yosemite in Fish Camp is the Tenaya Lodge, which is pretty nice.

asdaven

Depending on how dry the summer is, sometimes the waterfalls are not running at that time of year. June is more ideal, not too cold, crowds but less crowded than august, and the waterfalls running really good from the spring runoff. Even though they are some of the tallest waterfalls in the US, they have some of the lowest water volume going over them. They are streams going over the cliff not rivers like niagra. But, they plunge a mere 1,000 feet!

JayZee

1. Hot (85-90F) in the Valley floor.
2. Depends on the amount of snow the Sierras get this winter. Most of the larger falls always have water.
3. Always crowded from July thru Labor day . Get to the park early, because the lines at the entrances are very long... sometimes an hour wait.
4. Tenaya Lodge is wonderful, but atleast another 30 minutes to the Village. Try staying in the park, much less travel time.

JayZee

1-3. Take BART http://www.bart.gov/index.asp from the airport to your hotel. For great hotel rates in the SF Bay area try http://www.hotelres.com Ride the ferry across SF Bay to Tiburon for lunch. Have mexican at Guaymas or try my favorite, Sam's a couple of doors down. Both are on the water with fabulous views of the SF skyline.

4-5. Spend two nights in Carmel or Monterey and drive down to Big Sur for a day trip. Must have lunch at Nepenthe for a great view of the Pacific.

6-8. Unless you plan to do a lot of hiking, 2 night in Yosemite is plenty. Make sure you go up to Glacier Point. Get to the entrances early as it is crowded in the summer and the Valley floor does get hot (85-95) in the day.

9-11. 3 nights in Tahoe is OK. I’d split it up between north (quite and more scenic) and south (casinos) shore. Also the west shore has a great restaurant & lodge Sunnyside Resort http://www.sunnysideresort.com/

I use http://www.chowhound.com/california/index.html for great ideas to restaurants in CA.

Have a great trip! jz

janisj

1) Probably hot. Also possible thunder storms in the afternoons.

2) maybe running - or maybe a bare trickle. Depends on what the rest of the rain/snow season is like.

3) YES It looks like you are talking mid-week so not as bad as on weekends. But that is the last week of summer break for many CA schools so it will be crowded for sure.

4) No place outside the park is ideal because you have to queue up to enter the park.

scoobydoo15

Thanks for the help. Is Yosemite Lodge at the Falls inside the park?

Also if we do manage to book a room inside the park, do you have to pay entrance fees each day?

utahtea

Yosemite Lodge is very close to Yosemite Falls. I know you can see the falls from the lodge parking lot.

You pay a $20 entrance fee that is good for 7 days or you can purchase a National Park Pass for $50 and it will get you into all the National Parks, National Monuments, National Historical Parks & National Recreational Areas for one full year from month of purchase. If you will be going anywhere else within in a year, it's a good deal.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/pphtml/fees.html

Utahtea

scoobydoo15

Thanks for the info. I am also considering the Wawona, which one would you recommend, since there is not much difference in the price. We will be staying for 2 nights in the park and then driving on to Monterey.

janisj

Jump at Yosemite Lodge - IF you can get in. Wawona is fine but it at the south entrance to the park and a fairly long winding drive into the Valley.

BTW Yosemite West is not in the park but is closer to the Valley than Wawona is. Don't confuse "in the Park" with "in/near the Valley". Yosemite NP is huge and Yosemite Valley is just a tiny part. Lots of places in the park are a looooong way from the Valley. On a short visit you'll want to concentrate on the valley.

Suzie

Yosmite Falls Lodge hands down. It's located right on the valley floor and within easy access to all areas. Wawona is in the southern part of the park and would require a drive into the valley.

utahtea

I would pick Yosemite Valley over Wawona. Wawona is going to involve a lot of windy road driving...back and forth!

Utahtea

FainaAgain

2. The waterfalls will be running out of water, the park rangers will have to turn them off at nights, so don't go there too early in the morning when they are not turned back on yet.

scoobydoo15

We have managed to book for the Yosemite Lodge in the park. Can anyone advise whether we can manage without the car for the 2 days we are there and just use the tram or shuttle to get around? If so, can anyone recommend an intinery for 2 unfit adults and 2 teenagers, arriving about lunchtime on the 1st day and leaving yosemite on the morning of the 3rd day to drive to Moneterey. Seriously we don't mind using the car whilst there and have considered driving to Mono Lake? Suggestions please on an itinery and Mono Lake? Thanks

J_Correa

Yes, you can definitely get away without driving while you are in Yosemite and I highly recommend it. The roads in the park will be crowded. You can take the shuttle around the valley, walk, or rent bikes. It is flat and there are good paved paths.

With only basically a day and a half in Yosemite itself, I would not try to drive over to Mono Lake. I would actually spend the entire time in the valley because there is a lot to see there. It is a relatively small area, but there is more than enough to keep you busy. On the way out, I would leave through the south entrance (Hwy 41) and stop at the sequoia groves at Wawona.

A nice way to see the valley is the open air tram tour. It last a couple hours and is led by a ranger so you learn a lot about the park.

utahtea

I agree with J_Correa, I'd spend my time in Yosemite Valley. So much to see and do. If you like hiking, then I recommend the hike to Vernal Falls.

You can do without a car in the valley. We usually park our motor home in the campground and will only drive if we haven't stopped at Bridal Veil falls on the way in or are going to a destination outside the valley. That is not on the shuttle bus stop for Bridal Veil falls and it's a pretty far hike and if you bike it, you have to ride on the main road...no bike path there...which is a real shame.

Utahtea