WARM DAYS, COOL NIGHTS
In Yosemite MariposaCounty
YosemiteMariposaCountyand Californialocalsknowthe stretchbetweenLaborDay andThanksgiving offers a“fifth season.”It’s awarm,soothing,herbaceousblend of late summer &earlyautumn. Toasty,summer-likedaysand cooler nights,allwith thecrispandclearair of achangingseason afoot.Theseasonsmellsdifferenttoo,with morningdew onthesummerdriedgrass,orcampfire smokeand freshly brewed coffeehanginginthemorningair.
No wondermanylaudthe weeksaroundtheautumnal equinoxfor offeringthe finestweather of theyear. This was
ShoulderSeasonisPerfect ForHikingandBiking
Earlyautumnisone of thebestseasons for hiking Yosemite.WithLabor Daychecked off andkidsbackinschool, Parkvisitationlowers dramaticallyand Yosemiteseemstogroweven bigger.High countryhikesareabsolutelyinplay, withnumerousdayhikeoptionsspurring off TiogaRoad andin TuolumneMeadows.Coveted wildernesspermitsandHalfDomeHiking permitscan be easiertosnagfor overnight backpackingexcursions, too. Note:Tioga Road closeswith firstwintersnowsobesuretocheck currentroad conditionsbeforeheadingup.
Nowyouhave thetrailall to yourselveswith nothing to distract youbutthecryofa redtailhawkcirclinghigh overhead.Preparefor multiple hikingepiphanies. Twonot to miss:the YosemiteValleyLoop Trail offers 13modular mileswhere youcanjumponand offat multiple pointsfor agrand tourwithvistasof Yosemite’s monumental geology.Theprimarytrailheadis nearthe start of the LowerYosemiteFalls Trail wherebathroomsandparking areavailable,but youcanaccessthetrailatmultiple Valleynodes.
MirrorLake unofficiallybecomes Mirror Meadowinautumn, revealingsandbars where youcandrop abackpack,spreadout atowel andsoakupsomeSierrarays.Autumnpicnics taste evenbetter asHalfDome hovers above, supersizedandsmooth,andtheeccentrically coloredleavesalong the MirrorLakeLoopseem to glowbetween thepineswhenthelightisjust right.
The Mirror Lake Trail is asatisfying five-mile circuitwith gentleundulation as youweave alongthe forested,granite-linedpath.Mirror Lakeisone of themostaccessibledestinations in YosemiteValley with apavedbike/wheelchair routeand verylittleelevation gain.
Boththe ValleyLoopandMirrorLaketrails arebike-friendly,with tree-linedtrailsandthe naturalair conditioningthatbiking affords. B.Y.O. bikesor rent your wheelsin YosemiteValley. YosemiteConservancy’sseasonalBike Share Program(free)isanothergreatway to wheelup.
Thenetwork of Sierra National Forest fire trails near Tenayaat Yosemite provides aclusterof cruises. Take aneasyspindownJackson Road or gearup forlonger ridesthrough theNelder Grove of GiantSequoiasoruptoahistoric fire toweratSignal Peak.
LocatedinNorthwest MariposaCountyatan elevation of 867 feet, Exchequer Mountain Bike Park has700 acresofcrunchy,chain-stretching joyoverlookingLakeMcClure.Here, mercurytippingsummers giveway to warmautumn days.Fifthseason!Discoverfull-servicefamily resorts featuringprotected swimareasanddayusepicnictables.
As inallseasons,thereistough competition forthe best thingstodoinYosemiteMariposa County.
atimeofindustryand celebration forthe SouthernSierra Miwuk, Yosemite’sindigenous people,astheyprepared forthe shorterdaysahead. Follow their lead, at least in the celebration aspect,toenjoyspectacularseasonalactivities.
It’s notjustthepeople of YosemiteMariposa Countythatlove theextendedsummer,but theanimals do too. Withwinteron itsway in,the bears,deer andcoyotesare busystocking up on theircaloricintaketoprepfor the cold winterahead.
AFeast fortheSenses
Earlyautumnisaharbingerofthe coming harvest when your everysense canbeengaged with aseasonal cornucopia of things to taste andsavor. YosemiteMariposaCountyisan agriculturalpowerhouse withits Sierra foothill terrain.In particular,winegrapesandapples absolutelythrivehere.
Mariposa County’s warmdays andcrisp autumn nightsaretheperfect stageforcider apples to producepremiumjuice. Book aspoton the orchardtour at Sierra Cider to gettothe core of theirapple alchemy. Theengaging toursconclude with adelicioustastingand the opportunity to scorebottles of “campfire champagne” to takehome.
Theannualharvest brings edible bountyas well. Freshandlocal produce, meats, honey, artisan and bakedgoods fillthetables of the popular MariposaCertified Farmers’Market,held every WednesdayeveningfromMaythrough October. Thesense of touchisanotherendlesssummer all-star.Withample opportunity foroutdoor recreation,taking abreak fora spa resetis exactlywhatthe vacation doctorordered. The YosemiteHealth Spa at the YosemiteBug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines offers fullbody serenity,frommassageand yoga retreats to locally-sourcedherbal-steeped baths, hot rockssaunaandjumbo stainless steel hottub. The Ascent SpaatTenaya Lodge isoneofthe Sierra’s topspas, offering arejuvenating range of treatmentsincludingmassage, body wraps, facials,saunaandsteam rooms.
•During the“fifthseason,”dailyhighand lowtemperaturescan rangedramatically.Suitcase strategy is required.Withthe fluid transitionbetweensummerand autumn, you’llneed to pack alittlemoretomakesure you’reready forsunny,hot days,coolnightsandthe offchanceofanearly storm.
•Summermaybeinthe rearview mirror,but fifthseason weather stilldemandscareful attention to hydrationand skincare. Extrawaterandsunscreen required!
Affordable Accommodations
Summer-likeweatherwith affordable rates— who’sin? Lodgingoptionsthatmay have been booked solid over thespringand summer rush aresuddenlywide-open, oftenatsignificantly lowernightly rates. Thisincludes Yosemite MariposaCounty’s notable collection of hotels andmotels,as wellas vacation rentalsand cabins.Mid-autumnalso affordsthe ability for morespontaneity in bookingdecisions.Weather looking awesome this weekend? Bookingjusta fewdaysinadvanceofyour getawayisinplay.
•Thisisthepeak of wildfire seasonin California —be fire safe.
•Withholidaysonthehorizon,it’sgotimefor earlygift shopping. Mariposa’slocalmerchants —including antiqueand consignmentstores, boutiques and bottle shops —leanin withanartisanal,one-of-a-kindvibe.
Tenaya at Yosemite
ElCapitan
Tenaya FirePit
VIEWS,HUES ANDADVENTURE
AutumninYosemiteMariposaCounty is atime to roam wondrouswilderness, where granitegiantsmeetgolden hues. To visit historicGold Rush-eratowns,with charming restaurants,shops,and welcomingstays.Tobreathecrisp airand revelinviews divine. To slowdownand reconnect,tohaveanexperience thatlasts foralltime.
DiscoverYosemiteViewLodge,the closest hotel to Yosemite’swestentrance.Enjoystunning river views, cozy rooms, on-site diningandunbeatable access to thepark. Locatedjustminutesfromthe park entrance,you’llcreatememoriesthatwilllasta lifetime withthoseyou love themost.
ExperienceAutumn AdventureatTenaya at Yosemite Tenayaat Yosemite is apremiermountainresort near YosemiteNational Park.Guestsenjoy fall foliage, crispair andaccesstooutdooradventureslike rock climbing, gold panning,archery and more—plus nightlys’moresand funfamilyactivities,allincluded. At Tenaya,theadventurecomes standard.
TRAVELWITH PURPOSEINYOSEMITE MARIPOSACOUNTY
YosemiteMariposaCountynaturallyactivates agenerousdose of stewardship forthe responsibletraveler.Wanderinginthe shadow of Half Dome andElCapitan,bikingthe gentle rollercoasterofoak-dappled Sierra foothillsandvisitorsfeel at once upliftedandprotective of this citadel of conservation.
Thebenefits of nationalpark travel aremany, flowing both to thetraveler via experiencesand to thelocal tourismeconomy througheconomic impact.Whenthe traveldestinationis Yosemiteandits gateway communities,these benefitsareamplified inboth directions.
Inaddition to respectingtheenvironment,thereare easy ways forvisitors to maximizetheir stewardship. From hotelbooking to diningand shopping, making mindfulchoicescandrivedollars deeper into localcommunities. Here’s abriefguidetotravelingwithpurpose in YosemiteMariposa County.
Diningand Shopping: Go Local
Another waytosupportlocal businesseswhilevisiting Yosemite MariposaCountyis by opting forindependentkitchensand merchants. This is anothersimple step,asthegreatmajority of restaurantsand shopsare “mom and pop,”independent businesses.
Homegrowndiningoptions abound,including 1850 RestaurantandBrewery —equal partscraftbrew havenandfarmto-table find.1850’sawesome, from-scratchomnivoremenu complementsits rotatingtaps of flagshipandseasonalbrews. Coulterville’s CoulterCafé& General Store is afoodieoasis wherevisitorscanenjoychicken& waffles forbrunchorgrab abottle of local wine forthatMariposa Countypicnic.
Locally-sourcedgiftsbring part of yourtravel experience homewith you.Thelocalartisan gameis strong,withplayers andplaceslike Chocolate Soup, Nativearth Footwear,andgift shops at MariposaMuseum& HistoryCenter and Yosemite Climbing AssociationMuseum& Gallery.Insidethe Park,the Ansel AdamsGallery sellsoriginaland authentic worksofart,withone of Yosemite’sbestcollections of books,maps, handicraftsand Native Americanjewelry.
Hotels:BookDirectto Support LocalBusinesses
It all startswith your hotel reservation. Is it better to book directlywith ahotel?Absolutely. Without goinginto atravel distributiontutorial,it’s always better to “bookdirect” instead of usingan“OTA”(onlinetravel agency) suchas Expediaor Travelocity.
Yosemite.com’sBook>Direct is the bestresource forlocallodging availability,connectingtravelers directly to the hotelowner’s reservation system. Booking this wayputsmorerevenuein thehands of local ownership and avoids extrafees paid to the corporate OTAs.Begin your Book >Directsearch by selecting your preferredlodging category: hotels &motels,Airbnb, cabin rentals, bed &breakfastorcamping/ campgrounds. You’llbeable to quickly filter by region,budget and must-have amenitiesthatzoom in on yourideal placetostay. Further,byselectingan independent,locally-ownedand operatedlodgingoption, you’ll keep moredollars withinthe localeconomy. Placeslikethe historic River RockInn,tucked justoff main street intheheart of downtownMariposa next to itsadorable onsitecoffeeshop, Sticks Coffee,are independent businessesthatemploylocal workers. It’s stepsawayfrom shopping,dining,drinks and the YARTS bus, agreat public transportation optioninto YosemiteNational Park.
The YosemiteViewLodge is anotherlocally-owned property, the closestresorttoYosemite Valleyjustminutesfrom the Park’s Arch Rock entrance,with adramaticsetting on theWild& Scenic MercedRiver.
Vacation rental properties arebountifulacross Yosemite MariposaCounty,providing private vacation rentals to visitors —and supplementalincome to local owners. Locations are available both insideand outside of YosemiteNational Park.Inside, there areplenty of options in YosemiteWest, Forestaand Wawona.The Loft at 1850 is an excellentoutside-the-park example, aMariposa vacation rental owned by thesame family behind the popular 1850 RestaurantandBrewery
The YosemiteBugRustic Mountain Resort is amagical realmwherefamilies, backpackers andinternational travelerscan rest peacefullyin agrove of blackoaks perched above Bear Creek. The Bug is home to the popular June Bug Cafe as wellas the Yosemite HealthSpa,and accommodations rangefromtentcabins to private rooms, and dormitory-style bunks to vacation rentals.Thereisa lush seasonalcreekwithaswimming hole justa shortwalkfrom the property,or, justa fewmiles down the hill at the historic Briceburg SuspensionBridge,guests can exploretheMercedRiver Recreation Areawhererafting, swimmingand hikingprovide onestopoutdoor fun.
Feeling extra-inspired to support thelocaleconomy?Manylocal shopshave online stores,including old townMariposa’s Brick Wall Boutique featuring adedicated Madein Mariposa tab.
GoingDeeper with Purposeand Stewardship
Thinkingdifferentlyabouthowwe travelopensupnewparadigms andreal-worldopportunities. Thesimpleactofstayinglonger inonedestination(“slowtravel”) asopposed to thewhistle-stop tourlessens yourenvironmental footprint, keeps fuel bills lowerand fullyactivatesa“vacation state of mind.”
Voluntourismisanother wayto divein, awork-play hybrid that givesbackandenhancesyour connectiontolocalplaces, people andculture. You’llmakeatangible andpositiveimpact,and return homewith an everlasting place in yourheartfor YosemiteMariposa County. Benefitsinbothdirections!
To explorelodging options,things to doandplaces to eat,visit Yosemite.com,the #1trip planning sitefor vacationstoYosemite National Park andhistoric MariposaCounty.
Half Dome
YosemiteViewLodge
Yosemite Valley
SierraCider
COLORS & COMETS:
Autumn
FoliageMeets
Stargazing in YosemiteMariposa County
WithitsGoldRushhistoryandbootleather vibe, YosemiteMariposa County wouldseemanunlikelyposterchild for refinedJapanese aesthetics.But come autumn,when thesun findsthatperfectangle andtheleavesbegin to turn,this radiant phenomenon awakensinthe mostdazzling way.
AutumnColorsBy Day
Due to anelevation range of 12,000 feet, the adage “autumnmarches downhill”ringsespeciallytruein Yosemite Mariposa County. Translation? Autumn colors first appearinthe cooler, high elevations of the Sierra crest, then maketheirmerry waydownwardto thelowerelevations of theSierra foothills.The resultisavividdisplay that flashesfrom yellows to orangesand reds overthe course of consecutive weeks.
To enjoyautumn’s first colors,headup to the Yosemite high country along Tioga Road.Golden stands of quakingaspencanbe found inplaceslikethe TuolumneGrove trailhead and YosemiteCreek Picnic Area,whilelowgrowinggrouseberryandwhortleberry flashorangey redalongHighway120 up to Tenaya Lake.Set at 8,150 feet and flanked by uniquegranitedomes, the 2.5mile loop along its sapphireshores ispure pixel magic asautumncumulus clouds keeppace overhead.Note:Tioga Roadcloseswith firstwintersnow so be sureto checkcurrent road conditions before headingup.
When To Go: Typicallylate September through October,thoughtiming can shiftfrom year-to-yeardue to conditions that causethe colorchange.
At anelevation of 4,000ft, Yosemite Valley is thenext colorscape to unfurl. Thediversecast of players includebigleaf maples,dogwoods,black oaksand black cottonwoods whichenjoylifealong the MercedRiver.A fan favorite istheelectric redsugarmapleacross from the Yosemite ValleyChapel.
Fora komorebihike,trythesection of the ValleyFloor Loop Trail between Bridalveil Fall andthe FourMile Trailhead along the Valley’ssouth wall
When To Go: TypicallymidOctober throughNovember.
Situated at thesame elevationas Yosemite Valley, the wooded enclave of Wawona invitesguests to aquieter colorwheelas youdrivealongHighway 41 (Wawona Road).Blackoaks,dogwoods andbigleaf maples can be found, as wellasblack cottonwoodsalongthe meandering South Fork of theMerced River. Stretchout yourlegsalongthe Wawona Meadow Loop Trail,thencheck out theoutdoor exhibits of the YosemiteHistoryCenter nearby. Surrounded by theSierraNational Forest justoutside Yosemite’s SouthEntranceisthe historic community of FishCamp,where aspen flutterautumn gold along BigCreekandtheSummerdaleCampground. For more bold colors, pop over to Tenayaat Yosemite forasignature High SierraBloody Mary at thisluxe mountain resort.
When To Go: TypicallymidOctober throughNovember
As we chasetheautumn colorsdown the Sierra slope, the rolling foothills of MariposaCounty comeinto sharp reliefwithoak-studded vistas, stately barns andhorsesgrazingondrygrasslands. Leaf peepinghereismore aboutslow drivesalonghistoricbackroads combined withlunch or dinner stops at the region’scharmingGoldRush towns.TheChinese Pistachetreesacrossfrom the old west Jeffrey HotelinCoulterville addapop of red comelate October whiletheblackoaksdottingthe ranchlandsfrom Catheys Valley to Hornitos capturethemood of local countrylife. The town of Mariposa isamust-stop foritshistoryas“Mother of Counties” whenCalifornia firstbecame a state (1850),not to mentionitsdiningoptions andshopping
When To Go: Late Octoberthrough November.
StargazingBy Night
Farfromthecitylightsand predictable routinesbackhome, Yosemite MariposaCountyisthe perfect place to get lost inthe stars. Celestial bodies stretchoutendlesslywhether your “starbase”isone of its signaturemeadowclearings,unobstructedvistapoints or eventheporch of your rentalcabin.Champagnesupernova neversoundedso good.
Gettingcloser to the starsalwaysmakesthemsparklealittle brighter, and climbingTioga Road forsomehigh country stargazingdoesjustthat.A stop at Olmsted Point feelssoclose that youcan reachoutand grabthe handle of the BigDipper,whilefartherup the roadtheimage of moonlight rippling Tenaya Lakewill stickwith you forever.
Foranotherhighelevation stargazing experience,headup Glacier Point Road to the Glacier PointOverlook wheretheMilky Wayisvisibleon moonlessnights,and moonrisesduring the rest of themontharepure pizzapie overthedistant Yosemitebackcountry. Nearby Washburn Point isanother gem— fewerpeople,equallyimpressive views.
As thenexus point forallthings YosemiteNational Park, Yosemite Valley provides stargazingthat’sallaboutanglesand reflections. Your view isn’t as panoramic,buttheinterplaybetweenthenight skyand the Valley’s massive rock formationslooming overhead—not to mentiontheglow of moonlight offsheergranite— is hard to beat.Someprime viewing spotsinclude ElCapitanMeadow,theboardwalk at Cook’sMeadow, the SwingingBridge and TunnelView
Wawona offers its own celestialsorceryas youcruisethe Wawona Meadow Loop Trail andwitness the twinkling overSouthern Yosemite. With overahundredproperties nestledin Wawona, there’s nobetterspot to relaxonthe porch of yourcabin rental,hotbeverage inhand,as the shooting starsanimate the coolautumnnight.
Anytimeinautumnisprime forSierra stargazing,but severalannualmeteorshowers are worth considering whenplanning your travel:
•TheOrionids: October2–November12,2025, peakingOctober22-23
•The Leonids: November3 to December2,2025, peakingNovember16-17
•TheGeminids: December1–December21,2025, peakingDecember12-13—Note thatTioga Road andGlacier Point Road(pastBadger PassSkiArea) close forthewintersobesure to checkcurrent road conditions.
Whilemoonless nightsmake forthebest conditions to seethefullpalette of stars,somevisitors enjoy aheartyfull-moonhike as Yosemite’s granite walls reflectasilveryglow. Checkoutthemoonandplanet phasesthisautumn, findaplace to stay and get ready fora goodhowl.
Forusspace cowboys who want some companyanda trustedguide,thereare stargazingprograms offered in YosemiteMariposa Countythat extendinto the autumnmonths. YosemiteNational Park offers several nighttime tours, as doesthe Yosemite Conservancy. Sierra-lux resort Tenaya at Yosemitetakesadvantage of itsheavenlyperchwithon-site offeringssuchas Sierra Stargazing, Evening TelescopesandaNight Skies Package,whileAutoCamp Yosemiteincludes stargazing“happenings”inits lively calendar.
It’s oftensaidthatthewholeisgreaterthanthesum of itsparts,and that certainlyholds true foranautumnvisit to Yosemite MariposaCounty.Basking in komorebi by day, seeking celestialinspiration by night,itall addsup to an unforgettable experience at amoment in timewhenthe Parkisquieter, the aircrisper. Rent acabinwith a porchbeneaththe starsor cuddle in yourcamp chairsas Polarishelps you find your truenorth.Combinethiswithautumntravel specialsand yourColors&Comets getawayis complete Let the kaleidoscope spin!
Yosemite ValleyFloor
Yosemite Falls
SWEETMIDWEEK:
3DaysInYosemiteThis Autumn
Autumnbringsaregal beauty to YosemiteMariposaCounty. Leaves dance onthebreeze in abold spectrumfrom yellowtoorange and red.Thesunhangscloser to thehorizon,castingdistinctive shadows acrossthe Park’s signature granite.Bearsprepare fortheirwinterrespitebysearching fora cozyden. Frompeak to valley, things slowdowninonebig rejuvenatingexhale.
Forretirees withYosemiteatop their bucket listsandremote workerscraving achangeof scenery,tojustabout anytraveler whoappreciatesthe value of profoundpeaceandbreathtaking quiet, avisit to YosemiteMariposa Countythis autumnissureto provide areset. Pairthisenchanting seasonwithmidweektraveland youhavea twofer of tranquilityand affordability.
FINDYOURBASECAMP
Complementingthenatural beautyin YosemiteMariposaCounty is anabundanceoflodging options thatserve as your trustedbasecamp.Fromluxury resortsand rentalcabins to affordable motelsandcampingunderthe stars,there isa comfortleveland pricepoint foreveryone.Byvisitingmidweekin autumn, you’ll have free rein whenitcomestochoices, with someproperties goingthe extramile featuring seasonaldeals.
ThedesiretowitnessYosemite Valley’sstunningtableaurightout of the gate ishardtoresist.So,on dayone, we’llimmerseourselvesin this wonderandawe intheleadup to the“Grand Reveal.”
To experiencethe kaleidoscope of fall colorsand“sheer”power of the Valley’scliffs, aminimum of ahalfday(with amaximumof severallifetimes!)is recommended. Enteringfromthe west,visitorsare greetedby Bridalveil Fall.It’sthe perfectplacetostretch yourlegs and walkthe1/4milepavedtrail to itsbase,whiletheviewofmassive ElCapitan lookingnorth across the Valleydemands aperspectivebendingresetwithits3,000ft (900m)face.
Hikethroughtheautumncolorson thesection of the YosemiteValley Loop Trail from Bridalveil towards the FourMille Trailhead.This mostly flat path meanders along thebase of the Valley’ssouthern wallwith adisplayofdogwood, oakandbigleafmaple. Aroadside stunneristhe sugarmaple(nonnative)across from the Yosemite ValleyChapel
Afteryourspin throughthe color wheel,it’s time to grab abiteto eat. At Degnan’sKitchen andthe VillageGrill in YosemiteVillage,or the PizzaDeck andtacos at the MeadowGrill in CurryVillage,or heartymeals at TheAhwahnee or the YosemiteValleyLodge.Craving acocktail?EnjoyanElCapitini on thepatio of the AhwahneeBar orgrab alocal brew on tap at Bar 1899
Fortheultimate dayone finale, makeyour wayto Tunnel View for anunforgettableYosemitesunset. The west-facinggranitewalls of Half Dome and ElCapitan reflect thegoldenglowlikenoother.For analternativesunset view of Half Dome,as wellthe expanse of the Yosemitehighcountry stretching out to the east,headup Glacier PointRoad to the Glacier Point Overlook andhaveyourcamera ready.Thesunbegins to setearlier inautumnsobe sure to checkthe sunset calendarandarriveearlyas bothspots arepopular.
Daytwo isupand at ‘emas you explorethe vastness of Yosemite NationalPark.Discovering regions outside of YosemiteValleyalways feelslikeanadventurewithinan adventure.
OptionOne:Northern Yosemite
With YosemiteValleynestled at 4,000ft andTiogaPasssoaringat 9,943ft,it’s no wonder the drive upTiogaRoad(Highway120)in Northern Yosemiteprovides asense ofawe.Gravity defying pine forests giveway to graniteescarpmentsas aspensgroves quake autumngold inspotssuchasthetrailhead for Tuolumne Grove andthe Yosemite CreekPicnic Area.Forkiller views, stopat OlmstedPoint whereHalf Domestrikes apose from adifferent angle.
Stop at Tenaya Lake foryourhike/ swim/picnic combo.Picnictables arelocatedatbothendsofthe lake, andthere’sabeach on theeastend. The Tenaya LakeTrail is apleasant 2.5mileloop along water’sedge when youwanttoburn offthat shorecuterie.
Comeautumn,thegrassyexpanse of TuolumneMeadows becomes the color of asoftmoccasinsetagainst theblueskyabove.The Tuolumne River asitmeandersslowlythrough thebeauty of thesurrounding peaks.The opportunities for fishing,photographyand plein airpaintingabound, while hikers can take advantageofthe only-
in-Yosemiteviews from atop the graniteextrusionsof Lembert Dome (3.4 milesout &back) or themorepetite Pothole Dome (1 mileout &back).Note:TiogaRoad (Highway120)closesseasonally due to winterconditions. Be sure to check currentroadstatus before headingup.
OptionTwo:Southern Yosemite Connecting YosemiteValleywith the historicburg of Fish Camp, Wawona Road (Highway41)winds gentlythrough the forest lands of Southern Yosemite. Highlights alongthe wayinclude Wawona, home of the South Fork of the MercedRiver,and cabins(many forrent)interspersedthroughout thetrees.The outdoor exhibits of the YosemiteHistoryCenter tellmanya fascinatingtale of the Park’spastfromthe lives of local artists to the contributions of the Chinese community.Byautumn Chilnualna Falls has reduced flow but the strenuousclimbis aworthy challengenomatterthe season. To experienceautumn colors(and agentler walk),trythe Wawona MeadowLoop forsomebrilliant dogwoods.
Oursecondstopisthe Mariposa GroveofGiant Sequoias.Located justinsideYosemite’sSouth Entrance,this collection of massive treesis proofofnature’senduring spirit. As youwalkintheshadows of their brawny boughs, consider this:some of thesespecimens have been aroundsincethe first OlympicGamesin ancientGreece! The Mariposa GroveWelcome Plaza operatesafreeshuttlefrom the parkinglot,typicallyearlyMay
Packingup and sayinggoodbye to one of the moststunning landscapes on earthisnevereasy, but there’s abright side:YosemiteMariposa County offers some additional destinations to visit in the Sierra foothillsbefore youhead home.
Thehub of All-Season Highway 140iswithout adoubtthe town of Mariposa.The still-operating MariposaCourthouse is testimony to its historic rootsasthe “Mother of Counties.” Withthreemuseums (MariposaMuseum &History Center YosemiteClimbing Association Museum &Gallery California State Mining &Mineral Museum),the percapita tales of yesteryeararehigher thanjustabout anywhere. To topitoff,localdining options aboundwhetherthat’syour postcheckout lunch or getaway dinner.
Another stopon the “roadhome” is the Gold Rush gemof Coulterville Locatedatthe junction of Highway 49and Highway 132, Coulterville boasts morehistoric buildingsthan residentsasitinstantly transports visitorsback to theOld West.Grab lunch (andvisitor information) at the Coulter Cafe &General Store.For pureautumnbeauty, theChinese pistache treesacross from Hotel Jeffrey turnavibrantred come Halloween time,which is theperfect seguetoanotherfoothillsecret. Hornitos,theone-timehauntof bandit-heroJoaquinMurrieta,isn’t technically aghosttownbut sure feelslikeone. Bringa picnic lunch and checkout thehistorical markers forremnants of the storeoffamed chocolatierDomingoGhirardelli. TheHalloween connection? Hornitoshosts itsannual DiaDe Los Muertos/AllSoulsDaycelebration every November2. Lovedones arerememberedwithacandlelit procession from the town square up the hill to the 1860’sSaintCatherine CatholicChurch.
Ready to book your sweetmidweek trip Yosemite.com is the #1 resource forplanning youradventureto YosemiteMariposa County.
Day1 TheGrand Reveal
Day2 Up Close &Natural
Half Dome
Coulterville
Tuolumne Meadows