Yosemite trip questions
 

Hi,

We plan to have a trip to Yosemite National Park in the late Apr or early May. This will be our first trip to Yosemite. Questions:

1. Is 2-3 days enough?
2. What about Curry Village? How's the location for looking around? Is it now too late to book? If yes, what are the good alternatives? Basically lodging is our main concern right now.

Thanks a lot!

Two to three days should be enough to view the highlights, as long as you don't do any major hiking.

To check all lodging options, go to

www.yosemite.com/tripplan/lodging.html

Thanks a lot, Paul.
From the link I see lots of options are outside of the park. Does it matter? For Yellowstone, you'd better stay inside unless you don't mind to drive A LOT.

Thanks again.

If you can stay at Yosemite View Lodge outside the park you are pretty close to the valley anyway. It is very late to make lodging arrangements for inside the park. You can frequently check the web site for in-park lodging as cancellations do occur.

We stayed at Yosemite Lodge in the valley and can recommend it for cleanliness and spectacular views!
http://www.nationalparkreservations....mite_lodge.htm
If interested and it is booked, keep calling for cancellations.

We are having a pretty late winter this year, so I wouldn't plan on staying in the tent cabins at Curry or Housekeeping. Definitely stay in hard-sided lodging. There might still be snow on the ground in April and May.

That said, Curry is a nice location for exploring the valley.

As others have said, if you can't get lodging in Yosemite valley, try El Portal - it is only a short drive from there into Yosemite valley.

Just for clarification. The Yosemite Lodge is in the valley http://www.nationalparkreservations....mite_lodge.htm
and the Yosemite View Lodge is outside the park
The two names are so simular, it's easily confused.

I'd shoot for 3 days and I would try very hard to stay in Yosemite Valley. Curry Village is in Yosemite Valley. If you don't get reservations now, keep trying and trying for a cancellation. Ten days before you leave is the best time to get in on a cancellation.

Yes, there has been a lot of snow this winter, but it's mostly in the high country and Yosemite Village isn't that high. I just looked at the web cam this morning and there isn't much snow in the valley. http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/AhwahneeMeadowCam.htm

You can get snow in April & May, but usually not much in the valley. We've been in April and wore shorts and been in May and had 2 inches of snow in the valley. Each year will be different. If you can go mid week your chances of getting lodging are better. The week before and after Easter will be busy!

Utahtea

Thanks to all.

Looks like everything inside park is fully booked. Well, what about Cedar Lodge? Is it 45+ mins drive to valley? Since we will spend a weekend over there, it might be worse...

I think it's less than that. I think that's the place where there were murders of three tourists (late 90's maybe, a lady & two teenage girls), by the then maintenance man. Maybe someone else remembers the details. It probably wouldn't influence your decision, but I thought I should still mention it.

Here's a link:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_k.../update_3.html

Yeah, I heard of this story. Thanks.

You have to reserve a year in advance for the village.We stayed twice in Mariposa.Very nice place and a scenic drive to the park.Paul

If you guys stay in a condo/vacation home (Yosemite west), do you have to cook yourself every night after a long and tired day?

You don't have to cook - you could eat out just like you can if you stayed in a hotel. There are several options at Yosemite village, which isn't very far.

There are tent cabins available at Curry Village mid-week, both the weeks beginning April 24 and May 1. Here is the link for "in the valley" lodging: http://www.yosemitepark.com/

We have stayed here in mid-April and it was fine. IF the river is running high, some of the units may be closed due to flooding, but they will provide you with something else. I think it is so important to be IN the valley, not a 30-minute drive away, that a bit of "rustic charm" like Curry Village is just fine. There are dining opportunities in the valley so you don't have to cook.

I neglected to mention there are also "in the park" rooms available at the Wawona, an historic hotel near the sequoia groves. Not in the valley itself, but not a long drive either.

Yes, Curry Village is a great location, I think it's so much nicer to be in Yosemite Valley if you just have a short trip. There is a range of accomodations, including heated tent cabins. Linens are provided. The cabins use a shared shower block, so it's a bit like camp. I'd make a reservation now and keep trying for the Lodge.

Stayed at the cabins in curry village. i loved it. keep trying. they usually have cancellations. try calling vs booking online. sometimes they will be able to accomodate you if you are willing to jump from one cabin to another. 3 days was not enough for me in yosemite but then again, i hiked alot when i was there. the panorama trail is beautiful!

the valley didn't do much for me, way too crowded, but I thought Tuolomne (sp?) was one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. When I go back, that's where I will go. We were there in August, so I don't know about the snow situation.

Momliz,

The orginal poster will be going in late April or early May and Tioga Pass (hwy 120) to Tuolumne Meadows will not be open yet. If you want to see Yosemite Valley without the summer crowds go in mid week either during early spring or late fall.

Utahtea

Not sure if April is a good time to go any longer, it's been raining nonstop and looks like it will continue through Easter....anyone else have thoughts on this?

They are prediciting the rain & snow to continue though the middle of April.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recre...opnav_outdoors

But after that, it's anyone's guess!

Utahtea

Yosemite is great! Entering from the westside, once you go through the gates if you go to the left it will take you down into the valley, go to the right and you'll end up at the top of the valley looking down. This is the most beautiful breathless view and the multiple falls you will see will be full and spectacular, if you miss this you will have missed 75% of the parks beauty. Along the drive up stop and walk through the seqouia(?)trees until you reach the 2nd largest tree in the state, it's unbeliveable (this is a large turn-out parking area, you can't miss it. On your way down to the valley there is an old two story white Inn that wil be on your right, make reservations for dinner, very good food and atmosphere. Enjoy!

KeithA,

Your directions are confusing to me and I know the park very well. Which west entrance were you referring to? Big Oak Flat entrance on Hwy 120 or Arch Rock Entrance on Hwy 140?

On Hwy 120 your first left takes you up Hwy 120 to Tioga Pass. On Hwy 140 your first left takes out Hwy 41 to the Big Oak Flat entrance.

We you referring to Glacier Point as the beautiful view? There is a good chance that this will be closed in late April - early May.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/travel.htm

Utahtea

Utahtea, sorry for the confusion, I've only been there twice and the first time I came in from the Nevada side. But I was referring to Highway 41, we stayed at the Tenaya Lodge and entered just up the road from there.

Definitely stay _in_ the valley. It's not crowded in late Apr and early May even inside the valley. CV tent is fine if you are used to camping. Otherwise, housekeeping camp is highly receommended because you can bring along a portable space heater. We stayed there once and it snowed suprisingly on the 2nd nite and it was just fine. Actually, very pleasant!! Go at least for 3 days. You may experience spring, summer and winter weather at this time of the year!! We did and it was very very nice and memorable.