Leaving Mono Lake our road leads into the Sierra Nevada range and crossing the Tioga Pass at 9,943 feet, before dropping down to Yosemite National Park.


A rest stop was required at the summit overlooking Tioga Lake and Mount Dana. If ever there was a “loo with a view”…


Note to self: Remember to confirm all children have returned from the ‘long drop’ before driving off. Apparently leaving one behind is frowned upon in family circles.

The Merced River rises in the Sierra Nevada and flows through the Yosemite Valley on its way westward to join the San Joaquin River.


The Yosemite National Park is centred around the Yosemite Valley, a fertile valley floor surrounded by towering Granite cliffs from which waterfalls contribute their flow to the Merced River.


Yosemite Valley represents a tiny fraction (1%) of the total area of the Yosemite National Park, but the river and microclimate create an ecosystem supporting a wide diversity of plant and animal life.

In an effort to preserve the valley there is limited accommodation and limited (but still too much?) parking on the valley floor. Visitors are encouraged to use the bus service and ‘flatbed’ people transport. In any event get out of the car, put boots on and explore the valley floor on foot.


On entering the National Park from the west on the right will be the Bridalveil Falls (sadly very little water was flowing in August), and the Cathedral Spires.

On the other side of the valley is the stunning and unmistakable monolith of El Capitan, a magnet for the serious ‘Big Wall’ climbing fraternity.


Exploring the valley bottom is stunning and a day well spent, but aim to get out of the valley and up onto the granite tops to escape the crowds and really appreciate the beauty of Yosemite National Park.

Located around 10 miles from Yosemite Valley, but still within the Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Grove, an area of majestic conifers and Giant Sequoia trees.


The hike to, and around, the secluded grove takes around 2 hours and provides a welcome break from the crowds around Yosemite village. It also gives a different perspective on the ecology of the national park.

Glacier Point is a viewpoint high (7214 feet) on the south wall of Yosemite valley.

The view is quite stunning and very different to that from the valley floor.

Glacier Point offers an extraordinary view of the Valley bottom, Half Dome, and the Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada falls, although there is little flow during the high summer, and the falls are not seen at their most impressive.

The unmistakable form of Half Dome lies at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley. The north face is a sheer wall towering over the Tenaya Valley, whilst the remainder is a smoothly rounded and eroded form.

There is active debate as to whether the ‘missing’ portion has been lost to erosion or faulting has resulted in it being dropped and buried below the Tenaya Valley floor.

Today the ascent of Half Dome, is open to tourists and whilst strenuous, is achieved by many, following a long hike and a series of steps, ladders and fixed cables to the summit.