Paragkash

Am coming from India and am planning to have a driving holiday through California with my wife. My Itinerary would be
13th June (Thursday) Leave Las Vegas early morning- Drive via Death Valley scenic route and June Lake to Lee Vining before sunset- Sunset at Mono Lake

14th June (Friday)- 1. Sunrise- Mono lake again (Or should I try some other location)
Drive via Tioga Pass, Scenic route to Yosemite. Overnight at Yosemite View, El Portal.

2. Not sure about this itinerary. What do I see enroute. How much time for sites on the way.
3. Where should I be at the sunset- the only sunset I will see in Yosemite park. Should I be at the Tunnel view or Glacier Point. Also would like to try and see the moonbow at the Yosemite falls as on this day the moon does not set.

15th June (Saturday)- 4. Where should I be at the sunrise- Mirror lake or Glacier point. Being a Saturday, roads and park would be crowded after 9 am. Though, from the photos that I saw, the half dome gets sunlight in the 2nd half and is better for the sunset.
Wish to see a few sites till 1 pm. Have lunch and drive to Monterey for 2 nights.

I would like to see the 3 or 4 most famous waterfalls, Mariposa Grove- Giant siquoas, Tunnel view, Mirror lake, Glacier point.

Am keen on photography in the golden hours and would like to know the best places to be at sunrise and sunset ( Does the sun rise late in the valley because of high mountains)
Cannot figure out what should be my route and itinerary. What all can I see in the limited time that I have. Please help.

Surfergirl

Hi!

This is a very interesting post, because yes, the sun does rise later in the valley (and sets earlier in the Valley) because of the mountains surrounding it. And over the years between May and September, when there, I have tried to capture the sunsets, particularly from the valley floor of half dome. I generally try to do this from the Ahwahnee, since there's a little patch of trees that sort of envelope or circle the peak, then shoot right when the dome turns orange, then red.

But time? Whoa, I don't look at my watch, so I can't answer that. What I would do, if i were you, is check out the Yosemite webcam from the Ahwahnee and see when it is setting. A link to the webcam can be found within the link below.

http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/


Then, compare it with the calendar below of sunsets and sunrises:

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/yo...alifornia.html

Then, calculate the difference between what it says on the link and what is going on at the webcam -- since the chart may not be for the valley.

Also use the site below and input "Yosemite Valley"

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/

I'd personally rather be at the Tunnel (assuming you mean the one off Hwy 41?) at sunset than Glacier Point, because you can capture the gold better -- Glacier Point is so high, you are looking DOWN on everything, so you end up, IMO, missing the color change.

Then go to June 2013 to figure it out.

Paragkash

Surfergirl, Thanks for the feedback.
I will take your suggestion and be at Tunnel view parking lot for the sunset.
I already have the sunrise/set & Moonrise/set time charts for those days.
I personally prefer to be near a water body/ lake at the sunrise or the sunset. It gives a much better opportunity to capture the orange, mauve shades of the sunlight reflecting in the water.

I am thinking of being at the Mono lake on one day and Mirror lake for sunrise..
Any suggestions for the sunrise location?

Surfergirl

Mirror Lake will be stunning.

MichelleY

Keep looking on the Yosemite website for cancellations. Your time will be more productive if something comes up in the valley for you .