As one of the oldest National Parks in the United States, Yosemite holds an important place in US history and is a glorious place to visit. We are so pumped to officially introduce our products to five different Yosemite National Park locations! It is one of our favorite places. This exciting development has definitely had me reminiscing on my Yosemite trip...
The impressive granite cliffs of the Yosemite Valley are a sight to behold, and there is no better way to see them than the approach through the Wawona tunnel. A slow and winding road leads you to the long tunnel. Rock towers above the entrance and the gray concrete tunnel blends right in. The almost one mile long distance between entrance and exit gives you all the time you need to build anticipation. Finally, you pour out into the sunshine and are greeted by some of the most iconic Yosemite landmarks; El Capitan, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock.
Even though my visit in March was well outside of the popular and "best" time to visit, there was still plenty to enjoy! I highly recommend starting with a stroll around the valley to take in the towering cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife. If you wake up early, it is something special to see the sunrise hit the surrounding granite. During my wander through the valley, I walked up the Stoneman Meadow Boardwalk to get a better look at an American Kestrel and was also rewarded with magnificent views of Half Dome.
My travel companions and I camped at the Upper Pines Campground in a small pop up camper. It's right by the Merced River, which is a great place to cool off in the summer, but also makes a fine view during the winter month we were there. I'd highly recommend planning and booking your camping well ahead of time if you want to camp!
Even with off-season March dates I booked our site about 4 months out and it was VERY full already. I imagine it is even more challenging landing sites during the busy season. Even though it was full, it was pretty quiet! It's a quaint spot in the trees with occasional mule deer wandering nearby.
If you are a tent camper, Camp 4 is first-come first-served during March, and it wasn't full when we were there. It has some rad climbing history, nice shared bathrooms, and nearby climbing.
We had a climber amongst my travel buddies, so of course we had to check out the climbing scene. The Camp 4 area is great if you are looking for bouldering problems and social climbing. We also checked out the base of El Capitan. I stayed safely on the ground with the local critters.
We even spotted some climbers on the wall!
For one of our longer excursions, we drove out to Tuolumne Grove and walked among the Giant Sequoias. As someone raised in the midwest, these trees blew my mind. We have nice trees, but none tower over you like a Giant Sequoia does. I'd been dreaming of views like this for a long time.
We found one tree that was tipped over, and just the base of it was intimidating.
We spent hours exploring around Tuolumne Grove. It was definitely worth the trip and I'd highly recommend it to anyone! The hike out is a bit tiring, and all up hill, but still...worth it. A lot of snow was melted during our visit, but you can snowshoe in if it's real snowy. Total round-trip distance is about two and a half miles, we took plenty of time to pause and reflect.
Another favorite hike was Mirror Lake. We hiked the loop around the lake, and although March isn't considered prime time for Yosemite, it is a great time to see Mirror Lake! The water levels for this lake fluctuate year round and it is fullest in the spring and early summer. You may even catch some beautiful reflections!
Finally, we stopped by Yosemite Falls, for a well-rounded ending to our trip. You may want a rain jacket if you make this stop and hike up close!
If you’ve been to Yosemite before let us know your favorite sights and hikes! The next time you’re there be sure to grab some Heather’s Choice goodies at the Mountain Shop.
March Trip Schedule:
Day 1: Arrive, take in the scenery along the way, stop at Tunnel View! Set up camp at Upper Pines or Camp 4.
Day 2: Check out the Yosemite Valley, including the Merced River, El Capitan, and The Stoneman Meadow Boardwalk. Look for wildlife like Mule deer and American Kestrels!
Day 3: Tuolumne Grove Hike.
Day 4: Mirror Lake Hike.
Day 5: See the sunrise, check out Yosemite Falls, and pack up camp!
Abby is the Heather’s Choice Customer Service Expert and provides sales support. She made the long drive from Michigan (twice) back in 2022 to make Alaska her new home. She has a strong love for food and a background in organic vegetable farming. Outside of the office you can find her climbing or doing yoga at the local rock gym, hiking in Alaska’s wilderness, or reading.
