By Amanda Huffman
Contributing Writer
One of the highlights of military life is taking time during a non-PCS summer to enjoy exploring parts of the country (or world) that you haven’t visited before. This year, my family took time off to visit Yosemite National Park.
You could easily spend a week there and still not see it all. Beside the main tourist area in the Valley of Yosemite, there are plenty of other areas of the park to discover. If you are considering a trip to Yosemite, here are some of the best things to do.
Reservations and Passes
It is important to note that on some days, reservations are required to enter Yosemite National Park and they change seasonally. At the time of our visit, reservations were required on weekends and holidays from April to October, and every day between July 1 and August 16. You can learn more about reservations here.
Military Family Bonus: Active-duty servicemembers can get a free National Parks pass with the presentation of a military ID at the park’s entrance gate, and Veterans can get a free Lifetime National Parks pass. Learn more about how to obtain a National Parks Pass here.
Getting There
Yosemite has four entry points. You can arrive via Highway 41, which comes from the Central Valley of California. Highway 41’s entrance is about an hour drive from the Valley, but along the way you will be able to see beautiful views in the Valley along with the Giant Sequoias just past the entrance.
You can also enter from Highway 140, which travels through Mariposa. This entrance is about 15 minutes from the Valley and connects with Highway 120, making it easy to get to the Merced Grove and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
The final two entrances are on the west and east of Highway 120. The East entrance is closed during snowfall on the Tioga Pass, which is typically from November to May. The West entrance, near San Francisco, is a drive past the Merced and Tuolumne Groves of Redwoods which then heads down into the Valley.
Explore the Valley
Yosemite has a free all-season bus system to help get visitors to different locations within the Valley of Yosemite. Since parking is limited during peak season, the bus system is the best way to see all that the Valley has to offer. It stops at various trailheads, accommodations, eateries, and more. In fact, there is so much to see and do that you will have many great options along the route.
Hit the Trail
While the bus will get you close to each destination, you will likely need to hike a bit further to get the best views, depending on where you get off.
Short hikes are available for Bridalveil Falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, Cook’s Meadow Loop, and Mirror Lake. There are also half-day and full-day hikes available. The most popular full-day hikes take you to the top of upper Yosemite Falls or, if you’re up to a more challenging hike, you can go to Glacier Point. Both offer great views of the Valley.
The Mist Trail is across from Vernal Falls. It is a strenuous, mostly uphill hike, but when you get close to the waterfall, the trail turns into stairs that generally get a gentle or sometimes strong mist from the waterfall. This location provides great views and, if you take your time, you will be able to make it to the top.
There are many more hikes available, as well. If you go to a ranger station or the Visitor Center, you can get help from a park ranger to find the right option for you.
See the Giant Sequoias
There are three groves of Giant Sequoias within Yosemite National Park. Mariposa Grove is available by bus ride or by hiking two miles from the parking lot. Once you get to the grove, it is a short hike to see the trees. You can take a shuttle back to the parking lot or hike back down the two-mile trail. There are also two Sequoia Groves on Highway 120, which are close together: Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove.
Where to Stay
There are accommodations in the area around the park entrances, but you can also stay inside the park. The Yosemite View Lodge and Ahwahnee Hotel offer the opportunity to stay right in the middle of the Valley, making it easy for you to see as much as you can. Or you can camp at any of the various locations throughout Yosemite. Backpacking permits are available for those interested in getting away from the usual tourist spots to see some alternative and amazing sights.
If you live on the West Coast, or want to travel there to visit unique locations and amazing vistas, add Yosemite National Park to your must-see list. The views and incomparable territory will be an enriching experience for your whole family — and you will all come away from it with your own memories to share over the years.
Amanda is a military Veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a Civil Engineer who served on a combat deployment with the Army in Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career in the Space Force. Amanda is the host of the Women of the Military podcast. There she shares the stories of women who have served or are serving in the military. The podcast has over 200 episodes and over 100K downloads. Amanda is also an author and has published two books. Her first book, Women of the Military tells the stories of 28 military women who served in the military. Her second book, A Girl’s Guide to Military Service, is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Winner for Teen Non Fiction. It is a guide for high school girls considering military service to help them build a strong foundation for their future career. She also works as a freelance writer and has been featured in a number of military publications including The War Horse, Military.com, Military Families Magazine, Clearance Jobs, Military Spouse Magazine, and more.
