Yosemite in November?
 

We are considering going to Yosemite for a few days in early November. My goal would be landscape photography but I gather that the waterfalls may not be as impressive in the autumn. And the Yosemite NP website says to "expect poor air quality and limited visibility due to fires in Yosemite."

Has anyone been to Yosemite recently? Or have experience going to Yosemite in early November? Should I save Yosemite for a trip in the spring sometime?

Hopefully there aren't still fires burning by November which is generally past fire season. Last year there were early rains which made for some nice waterfalls in November but it's hard to say what this year will be like. We went in November last year and were treated to some nice falls viewing, autumn color and a very quiet park but we have the advantage of living 4 hours away so can make last minute decisions based on conditions. Spring is reliable for waterfall viewing but can be busy.

"but I gather that the waterfalls may not be as impressive in the autumn."

Some of the waterfalls are usually pretty much non-existant at that time of year. Last year was a little bit different and last winter was soooooo wet/such a deep snow pack that there may be more flow than is typical.

"And the Yosemite NP website says to "expect poor air quality and limited visibility due to fires in Yosemite"."

That is NOW -- not in November. It would be very unlikely there'd be any fires in Nov.

I've visited YNP in almost every month of the year -- Never in Sept. or Jan. but every other time of year. Mid-Autumn is a FABULOUS time to visit if for no other reason that then small crowds. But like Patty said -- the Fall colors and crisp weather make is a glorious time.

Thank you both for your input! We have to be in San Jose one weekend and in San Diego the next, so we are thinking of staying in California for the days in between - rather than spend 4 days flying across the country. And we decided to drive so we would have the potential to visit Moss Landing and Point Lobos, Yosemite, etc. (We have been to Napa, Lake Tahoe, Big Sur, Joshua Tree NP, and Santa Barbara on previous trips.)

Oh, if you're going to be here anyway, then I'd say it's a no brainer, go!

We've been to Yosemite for our anniversary in late October. It can be gorgeous, but there are no guarantees. (Then again, you can say that about lots of places at different times of the year.)

But if I couldn't get lodging in the Valley, I'd probably think twice...

"But if I couldn't get lodging in the Valley, I'd probably think twice…"

Or unless I could book at Yosemite View Lodge (in El Portal) or in Yosemite West. On the Valley floor rates #1 of course, but either El Portal or Yosemite West would be totally doable. Any farther out would DEFINITELY be a no go for me.

You should be able to find something in the valley at that time of year and without the spring/summer traffic, El Portal or any of the communities within the park (Yosemite West, Foresta, etc) wouldn't be a bad drive.

Patty, Jean, and Janisj - Thank you very much for your input! I am just coming back to planning our time in California. We will be in San Jose the first weekend, leave Monday to drive south to LA, arriving by late Friday afternoon to visit friends that second weekend.

Our options for Monday to Friday are:

1. Make a quick trip to Yosemite, arriving early afternoon on a Monday and leaving Wednesday to head south.

2. Visit Moss Grove and Point Lobos State Park and then drive to the Pismo Beach area for a night or two before heading to Santa Monica.

We could try to visit Yosemite another year - perhaps in May or October - for a few days instead of a whirlwind visit. Or take this opportunity to see this NP for the first time.

Any thoughts? Driving is not an issue for us.

Thank you!

If you do stay in El Portal, you can ride the YARTS bus into the valley instead of driving.
DW and I spent an anniversary in Yosemite in early November a few years ago. We spent the first night in Oakhurst before going into the park. After we visited the park, we stayed at the BUG hostel near Midpines. We returned the car to the Fresno airport and then went to the Fresno Amtrak station to continue our trip.
There is also a YARTS bus stop at the foot of the driveway of the BUG hostel if you ended up staying there.
The view from the viewpoint just north of the tunnel is spectacular even if the waterfalls are not flowing very much.
I'm hoping that the Maricopa Grove will be fully open sometime next year (south end of Yosemite).

Thank you, Tom. I looked at Colby Brown's tips for photographing Yosemite, and he definitely recommends Tunnel View lookout!

(https://www.colbybrownphotography.co...ting-yosemite/)

Both of your options have pros and cons. (BTW YARTS is pretty irrelevant IF you have a car - which you would)

IF you think you could visit Yosemite in May that would be the very best option since the waterfalls would be running absolutely full and the back country is often open by then (but not always)

Hwy 1 through Big Sur is still closed - so you can visit Pt Lobos and drive part way down for the scenery, but then you'll have to back track through Monterey and down 101 to get to Pismo Beach.

If it was me and I had to choose one or the other -- I'd probably do the coast (as long as I could visit Yosemite another time)

"I'm hoping that the Maricopa Grove . . . "

Mariposa Grove

Having recently done the same "Quick drive" to Yosemite I can tell you pros and cons from my view.

1. There is no such thing as a "Quick drive" to/from Yosemite. We drove from the bay area, and it took a full half day to get there (we knew that). We arrived mid afternoon, and were glad for an hour of daylight before dinner. November you will have much less daylight hrs. The last 30-40 miles are slow, windy roads. Not a leisurely Sunday drive.

2. We stayed for two nights. It was not my first trip there, but it was DWs.

3. Two days were not enough for us to decompress and shake off the long drive, and feel like we had a restful stay (for us, restful does not mean idle...) We basically spent 1 full day on a long hike up to the top of Nevada falls & back and would have loved another few days of the same to mentally decompress & escape.

4. The "not so quick" drive back to the bay area was another pain., with stops at Tuolome grove on the way back.

5. Much better would have been 3-4 nights to explore some of the high country, and more hikes in the valley.

6. That said, we would do it all over again. Our trip was a NorCal sampler platter, mixed with family time. If you've never been to Yosemite, then by all means it's ok to enjoy the limited time in what is truly one of the iconic landscapes anywhere. If you know you will return with more time, I agree with Janis - spend time on the coast and visit Yosemite another time.

Janisj and J62 - thank you both for your input. Much food for thought!

Yosemite is on my bucket list but we live near Philly and don't get to California all that often. So I can't count on going there again. But a visit in May would be ideal! Perhaps when DH retires....

We attended a January wedding in Big Sur one year, so we've explored that area a bit (and know the road is closed). But we only had a quick stop in Point Lobos. So if we don't go to Yosemite, the photographer (myself) would "settle" for Point Lobos and maybe Moss Landing - with the possibility of seeing otters.

Thank you again for your helpful comments.

Yosemite and Pt Lobos are two of my favorite places on Earth so you really can't go wrong. (I have the advantage of living 4 hours from either one - so I seldom have to 'decide')

Is there any way you could squeeze out one more night in Yosemite? The drive is long and as J62 says, the days are short (even shorter than on the coast because the sun sets behind the mountains earlier than 'official' sunset time.)

We were in Yosemite two weeks ago. Yes, the waterfalls are a trickle, but if you have never been, then go. Don’t wait for your husband to retire.

This trip was a quick few days to see the aspen colors in the Eastern Sierras. We came over Tioga Pass into the park. We only spent one night, mid week, at the Lodge. I reserved online a few days before. Growing up nearby, I had never spent the night, so loved our stay. This time of year is very different than the summer. No traffic, lines, or mobs of tourists. Plus the light of fall is wonderful. It was a bit smoky, but nothing to spoil the view (should be much better air quality now). If you can fit it in, try to go.

Janisj and MichelleY - thanks for your input. I have heard that the light (as well as the fall color) can contribute to some lovely photo opportunities in the autumn. And good point about the shorter days in the valley. Looks like the sun will officially set just before 5pm with the time change. While that means there are fewer daylight hours, it also means that one could photograph the sunset (if the weather cooperates) and then eat dinner. Hmmmm....

We have decided to make the trip to Yosemite. We will have almost two days there: Monday afternoon, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. So hopefully we will be able to sample its beauty and have some good photo ops if the weather cooperates.

Any suggestions for where to eat dinner Tuesday night? Do you recommend one of the restaurants in Yosemite Valley?

Many thanks!

Where are you staying? You don't want to be driving mountain roads in the dark any more than absolutely necessary.

The iconic place to eat is the Ahwahnee dining room (officially called the Majestic but I stick with 'The Ahwahnee'). Pricey but decent food and a GLORIOUS room. Lunch or breakfast would be even better because you could see the outdoors.

https://s3-media2.fl.yelpcdn.com/bph...lN_fdYVA/o.jpg

There is a nice restaurant (the Mountain Room) and a basic cafeteria in Yosemite Valley Lodge.

There is a deli/cafe with a pizza parlor upstairs in Yosemite Village.

If you are staying at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal -- they have an on-site restaurant. Nothing to write home about but convenient if you are staying there.

Are you aware of this?

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/chains.htm

We ended up booking two nights at Evergreen Lodge off Highway 120 after checking the driving time to Yosemite Valley and reading reviews of both Yosemite View Lodge and Evergreen Lodge. And I figure we may end up eating dinner there each night.

But it looks like it may snow a bit while we are there. And I just saw the snow chain requirements. So this could be a real problem.

Just talked with a staff member at the lodge, and it sounds like we should be OK if we rent a four wheel drive vehicle with snow tires. So we we'll see.

JanisJ - Coming back to your post, if it all works out we will try to have lunch at the Ahwahnee. Thank you!

Pat-in-Mich - Thank you for alerting me to the snow chains requirement. I saw it on the Yosemite NP website just before seeing your post, but could easily have missed it. And it does complicate things.

Still not sure how it will all work out, but will have to wait and see what kind of weather we have.

Thank you again for your help!

"We ended up booking two nights at Evergreen Lodge"

:( Cancelable I hope ( ? ! ) . . . The Evergreen Lodge is in Groveland and is an hour's drive from Yosemite Valley at the VERY best of times. Longer at night and much longer if there is bad weather. 120 is a very winding mountain road w/ lots of steep bits -- not a place I'd want to stay/drive at this time of year.

Did you try the properties in El Portal . . . a MUCH more convenient location. Yosemite View Lodge id best, Cedar Lodge is OK if budget is a big issue, but not as nice.

We could cancel and forfeit one night's stay. But if we cancelled, we would go to Moss Landing instead. We decided to make that call closer to our arrival -
literally and figuratively. (We will watch the weather, call the lodge, and then decide what to do.)

I chose Evergreen Lodge because it was the option I thought my husband would prefer, and he wasn't worried about the extra drive time. (The actual lodge is 8 miles from the west gate entrance and several people said it was a 45 minute drive to Yosemite Valley but we'll see.)

It is good to know that 120 is very windy w/lots of steep bits. We aren't planning to be driving it at night, and my husband has no issue with driving mountain roads but snowy mountain roads are another matter altogether.

One of my nephews worked at Yosemite for one or two summers, maintaining trails in the backcountry. I may contact him for advice, too.

Thanks again for your helpful input on all of this.

"The actual lodge is 8 miles from the west gate entrance and several people said it was a 45 minute drive to Yosemite Valley but we'll see."

I know exactly where it is. When I am visiting Yosemite from the Hwy49 gold rush area I take 120 (and I have a Mini Cooper 2 seater and LOVE the road . . . in Spring or September when there is essentially no traffic or wintry weather. I would not drive it at other times of year.

people who say it is 45 mins -- well it is sort of like child birth. Afterwards one doesn't remember the scary bits ;)

I am very surprised they have such an onerous cancellation policy. Most places allow full cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Hi Janisj - Looking at the weather app again it is saying possibility of snow flurries, so perhaps the wintry weather will arrive after our trip. Wish I had asked for more information about the roads before I booked!

I think both Yosemite View Inn and Evergreen Lodge had a more stringent cancellation policy than the norm. I've seen that before in resort areas.

Hoping for the best but preparing for whatever comes our way.

Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHn1DwRTEng

Enjoy (this is via a motorcycle, not an SUV)

Actually - unless they've changed Yosemite View used to have a 3PM same day cancellation policy . . .

You shouldn't have huge problems w/ the weather though. What are your actual dates? The big change is supposed to come in next Saturday. This Wed is forecast to be a high of 50°F and gorgeous, by Sunday it is supposed to be 24°F and snow showers. The problem w/ hwy 120 is it goes up to about 6200 feet so there can be snow up there when it is dry in the Valley.

•••• Just checked their website and it has changed. Cancelation up to 4PM on arrival day but if w/i 7 days, 25% of the deposit . . . so essentially about $35-$50 for the normal (non-suite) rooms

JanisJ - Unfortunately, we were planning to arrive just as the weather changes. Arriving the Monday after the snow and leaving Wednesday. Wish we were arriving this week. Looks like I will be bringing some warmer clothing with me!

I can see why you like driving this road in nice weather! The part shown in the video appears to be a road my husband would be comfortable driving unless it is slippery. We have driven from Breckenridge, CO to Maroon Bells Wilderness to Aspen then back to Breckenridge over Independence Pass - all in one day - a couple of times. We got some snow at the top of the pass - in August.

Did you like Yosemite View Inn? Some of the recent reviews put me off but others have liked it.

"Did you like Yosemite View Inn? Some of the recent reviews put me off but others have liked it."

You mean Yosemite View Lodge? In fact I've never stayed there (several friends have), though I have stopped there a few times. Once I parked there (for 3 days) and took YARTS into the Valley when there was pretty heavy snow and I didn't want to put chains on the Mini. Was staying in the Valley but left my car out at El Portal. (Should have brought my other car - major miscalculation on my part). In snow season I always take hwy 140 since it s the low altitude route along the Merced River and through El Portal.

When visiting Yosemite I ALWAYS stay in the Valley -- normally at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls/Yosemite Valley Lodge but a couple of times at the Ahwahnee. My philosophy is with limited time in the Valley I want to say IN the Valley.

One thing about reviews of mountain properties -- MANY people use standards they'd apply to a Marriott in NYC or Los Angeles. It is by far the best property within a short drive of the Valley.

Heck, some people give the Ahwahnee bad reviews -- It is a very historic/old property (like El Tovar and Old Faithful Inn) with great service and a few rough edges - in a <strike>million</strike> billion dollar location.

But never mind -- you have your booking and driving Independence Pass is MUCH higher than little ol' 120 :) Like twice as high. You'll be fine. Yosemite Valley with a dusting of snow (or a heavy blanket of snow) is magical.

Thank you, JanisJ, for the additional input on Yosemite View Lodge and the Valley in the winter.

We may end up cancelling sooner than later now that I see more snow in the forecast. But I'm sure it is magical in the snow! We have visited Boulder a few times in February and driven up into RMNP. Very cold and windy but very beautiful!

Make sure you are checking the forecast for Yosemite Valley, not Yosemite National Park. Big difference in forecasts as there are elevations in the park. Early November usually does not bring storms of any significance.

Thanks, MichelleY - You are correct in guessing that the weather app is telling me the weather for the NP not the valley itself. Someone at Evergreen Lodge checked this morning and said Tioga Pass may get some snow but that it is unlikely in the valley. So that is a relief! Thanks.

I would not expect any snow at Valley level out of this system. When you might hit snow is around Crane Flat on 120 between Groveland and the park.

Thanks for the heads up janisj !